A street girl helps a millionaire repair his car, but what he didn’t know was that this girl kept a secret that would change her life forever: that morning, the sun beat down on the hot concrete of the city, the air smelled of gasoline, burnt food and desperation, between the noises of cars and the screams of people passing by in a hurry, a skinny little girl and with her hair in a mess she walked barefoot on the sidewalk, her name was Lupita and she was 11 years old, her clothes were dirty, torn on the sides
and her hands were full of dirt, but her eyes were wide as if they were always looking for something or escaping from something, she carried an old box with chewing gum, lighters, mints, she stopped at the traffic lights to offer the drivers, some told her no with others didn’t even look at her, sometimes someone would buy her but most would just throw a coin at her without talking to her, she had been there for a while when a luxurious car stopped suddenly, right in front of her, she was not like the others, she was big, black, shiny, but with the hood smoking, something was failing the engine, the

The driver got out annoyed, checking the car, it was a man in a suit with a face of not being used to something not working for him, you could tell that he had money, the shoes he was wearing with what they cost, Lupita could have eaten a whole month, but he was not scared, she was used to talking to anyone, it broke down, she told him without shame, the man turned around surprised, he was not used to a girl of the street spoke to him so directly, he nodded without saying much, it seems that the engine warmed up, I can help him if he wants, my friend from the workshop is here nearby, Lupita insisted,
“do you know about cars,” he asked half jokingly, more or less, she replied with a smile that showed crooked but sincere teeth, sometimes I help Don Chui in his workshop, if you want, I’ll keep an eye on him while you call someone Fernando, which was his name, the man hesitated, but something in the girl made him stay there, it was as if it reminded him of someone, although he did not understand why, he finally opened the chest and stepped aside, Lupita approached, put her head in, checked some hoses and said, “Sure, it is the radiator hose, it is
loose, that’s why she threw water, if you want, I will bring her a small bottle to refill, while the mechanic Fernando arrives.” He looked at her, more impressed than he wanted to show, she ran to a small store, asked for a bottle and trotted back, on the way she almost dropped it, but she didn’t let go of a smile while they filled the tank, he asked her: “What’s your name?” “Lupita.
“And you?” Fernando, and why does he bring that beautiful car here, here they steal Fernando Rio, the first real laugh he let out in days, he had been locked up in his world of offices, numbers and loneliness, he couldn’t explain what he was doing in that part of the city, he had only taken a different route after leaving some flowers in the cemetery, like every Sunday his wife had died recently, but not even in life they spoke to each other. A lot while they were talking, Fernando noticed something, Lupita raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead and then she saw
it, the ring was a small gold ring with a blue pebble in the center, a very particular design, it could not be a coincidence, that ring he knew, he had given it to Claudia many years ago, when they were together, when they were happy, he had it made, especially with an inscription inside No one else could have one like it, where did you get that ring, she asked her suddenly, with a strange tone, Lupita lowered her hand as if she were suddenly scared, looked at the ring, then Fernando, I’ve always had it, my mom left it to me, Fernando felt a blow on the
chest, Claudia could be, but no, that was impossible, I didn’t know anything about her for years, they separated, without much explanation, she left. One day she disappeared from her life and she never heard from her again: “Your mom, what was her name?” he insisted, trying to sound calm, Lupita hesitated, sometimes she changed her mother’s name when someone asked, but this time something told her that she could tell the truth, Claudia Claudia Ramírez, Fernando froze, her heart beat as if it was going to come out, it couldn’t be a coincidence, it couldn’t be just a ring
It couldn’t be that just today, in the middle of a forgotten street, he came across a poor, dirty, little girl who was carrying a ring of Claudia on her finger, do you have a photo of her? He asked her in a half-broken voice, Lupita put her hand in her box and took out an old card folded in the corners, it was a woman smiling, her long hair The big eyes, the moon-shaped mouth, it was her, Fernando recognized her immediately, Claudia, the one who broke his heart without warning, the one who never called again, the one he thought had decided to forget him forever and now
that girl with her dirty face and her brave voice told him that she was his daughter or something very similar to that, but Claudia had died, no, why did that girl have The ring, why did he have his photo, why did he have his eyes, the traffic began to move again, but Fernando could not see anything else, he could only look at that girl with a million questions in her head and a single certainty, that encounter was not a coincidence, Fernando was driving with a lost look, the traffic did not even notice it, the city continued its routine of chaos and honking but he did not hear anything he could only
see an image in his head, Lupita’s face with that ring in her hand and the old photo she took was Claudia, there was no doubt about it, even if she wanted to invent something else so as not to think nonsense, it was her she parked in the garage of her house without realizing it, got out of the car and went straight into her office, closed the door and stood there without moving, looked at the shelves full of books, the perfectly tidy desk, the leather armchair where he used to read at night, everything was the same as always
, but he felt that something inside had broken, he opened the oldest drawer he had, one that he hadn’t touched for years, he began to take out papers, envelopes, black and white photographs, old invoices, until he found a small wooden box inside there was a broken bracelet, a chain without a charm and a folded photo was of him with Claudia on a beach hugging her, she had the same ring on, she looked at him for several seconds as if she could understand what was happening, she sat down and turned on the laptop, looked for the full name, Claudia Ramírez
López, a lot of results came out, old social media profiles, lost documents in blogs, one or another ad where she had nothing to do with it, nothing clear, she tried with his second surname, then with different combinations, nothing, not a recent clue, he wrote to Arturo, a friend he knew from university, he worked in an area of the government that had access to civil registries, he asked him if he could to look up if Claudia was still alive or if there was a death record, he did not give details, he just said that it was something important, 3 hours passed in that time
Fernando didn’t do anything, he just sat there with his eyes fixed on the off screen, sometimes he saw the photo, sometimes he looked at the window, but he didn’t speak, he didn’t move, his head was spinning, the cell phone rang, it was a voice message from Arturo, he sent it to him like that because he didn’t dare to write it, Fernando does appear, she appears as deceased 5 years ago, the system tells me that she died in a General Hospital, there are no details of the record, it is marked as confidential, I don’t know why it doesn’t say that she died or if anyone claimed the
body, yes, no registered family member appears, there is only an old address, one that no longer exists, sorry compadre Fernando did not answer, hung up and stood there with his gaze fixed on the floor, Claudia was dead, it was not an idea, it was not a rumor, it was real, it was he went and he didn’t know anything, no one told him, no one looked for him, no one told him that she was sick, that she was alone, nothing, why did Claudia say in a low voice, almost without realizing it, she stopped, went to the living room, opened the display case where she kept the bottles, poured a drink without thinking much about it, nor he had been drinking for months since
his wife died but now everything was a mess he thought of his wife also that she never knew about Claudia although once he saw her in a photo and asked her who he was, he only answered that she was an old friend but it was not just any friend, Claudia was the great love of his life, one of those that stay stuck even if the years of those that are not forgotten even if you say yes, he sat down again, turned on the computer again and looked for an address where he could hire a private investigator, a good one, he didn’t want to leave this
like this, he had to know what happened, why Claudia had disappeared, so why a girl like Lupita wore that ring, why no one warned her anything, he sent several emails, he received quick responses, he chose the one who had more experience, he sent her the little he knew, the full name, the information about the hospital and the girl, the researcher promised him that in three days he would have something, that night he couldn’t sleep, he tossed and turned in bed, he got up to walk around the house barefoot in a dressing gown, he looked at the paintings, the furniture, the wall clock, everything in his life was beautiful, expensive,
clean, but now he felt more alone than ever, his wife had gone months ago due to a long and silent illness and although they didn’t get along badly, they didn’t love each other anymore as they used to don’t talk much, it was a cold relationship as if out of commitment, that’s why it hurt him that the only woman he really loved had died without him knowing and now that girl and if she was Claudia’s daughter and if she was his went to the mirror he looked carefully then he remembered Lupita’s face looked alike, yes, but it could also be a matter of the imagination, of guilt
, of the memories that one keeps, even if you think you already let go, you thought about looking for her again, you wanted to know more, where did you live with whom, what did you really know about your mother, what burned you the most was that doubt, if Claudia died alone, who took care of Lupita all that time, and if it was not her daughter, why I had the ring, something didn’t add up, something was wrong, and Fernando, for the first time in years, felt a need that he couldn’t ignore, he had to know the truth, no matter what it cost, no matter what came out, he couldn’t let that girl disappear too, without answers
, early Monday Fernando was already awake, before the sun came up, he hadn’t slept at all, but he wasn’t sleepy either, the only thing he wanted was to receive The first report of the investigator checked the cell phone every 5 minutes as if that was going to arrive faster, the message at 8 o’clock a notification rang, it was him, I need you to come see me, I have something important, Attached address, Fernando didn’t think about it, got dressed quickly, got into the car and drove non-stop to an area not so nice but not dangerous either, it was a small office, medium
hidden among workshops and tinted glass stores, climbed some metal stairs and knocked on the door, the researcher, a guy in his 50s with a face like he had seen many ugly things in his life, received him with a coffee in his hand, pass him what I have, it’s not definitive, but it’s already starting to smell strange, Fernando sat tense, I found the hospital where Claudia died, she was indeed hospitalized a few weeks before she died The cause of death is not clear, they put respiratory complications but there are no details, the curious thing is that in his
history there is an alert note, someone asked that no external contact be notified not to try to contact no family member or partner is signed by a certain Meche, does it ring a bell Fernando shook his head, and the girl yes, there are records that Claudia arrived with a girl, but in the notes they marked her as not registered, there is no birth certificate, no CURP, no full name, they only said the minor after Claudia’s death, someone went for the girl again, Meche said she was her guardian, the hospital He let her go with her, no verification was done, Fernando frowned, and
who is that Meche, the investigator turned on his computer, showed him a photo, it was an older woman with short hair with a hard expression, Mercedes Medina, they call her, Doña Meche has several records for using minors for economic purposes, in other words, she uses children to beg, clean windshields, sell chewing gum, all of that, they have never caught her in something big. because he always escapes or pays underwater, he lives in popular neighborhoods, changing houses every now and then, there are reports that he walks around Candelaria, Fernando felt a pang
in his stomach, and Claudia, how did he end up in that hospital, the researcher lowered his voice as if they were surrounded by people, Claudia lived the last few years in a shelter, one without official registration, an improvised place, it seems that he fell there after 1900 losing her job, she was alone, no one visited her, some people from the shelter remember that she talked about a certain Fernando, who was her ex, she said that she wanted to look for him, but that she did not know how, that someone had taken her cell phone and had her under surveillance, there is no evidence, but there are witnesses who swear that Meche was the one who gave her help in exchange for staying with the girl when
she She went out to sell things, Fernando remained silent, he felt as if someone was squeezing his chest tightly, Claudia alone, poor sick woman with no one to help her and him on the other side of the city eating in fancy restaurants with no idea what was going on, I also got a copy of a medical report, Claudia asked to speak to someone before she died, she said a name, Fernando, but the note is crossed out as if someone had edited it, that part is blurred, very suspicious, and the girl asked Fernando, already with red eyes,
if the one you saw is the same and everything points to yes, then Meche grabbed her since Claudia died, I don’t know if for money, habit or for another reason, but what is clear is that that girl does not belong to her legally, in fact, no one knows who it is Claudia never spoke of a father or yes, but no one listened to her, Fernando got up and started walking around the office from one side to the other, he was furious, sad, confused, how did no one warn me, how did they let him die like this, how come no one did anything, the investigator looked at him seriously, because when you are poor and you are alone,
no one listens to you, that happens every day, Claudia was not the first and will not be The last time, Fernando felt his throat close, he remembered, when he met her, she worked in a music store, he went often because he was looking for a record that he couldn’t find anywhere, she attended to him with that soft smile that needed no effort, they started dating without planning it, they loved each other without complications, but one day she left without explanation, she only left a note that said: “I’m sorry, but I can’t stay.” And he, out of pride or pain, never looked for
her, I want to see that woman, ameche, said Fernando with gritted teeth, it’s not so easy, he hides, he changes houses, he uses the children as shields But if you want to find it, find it today, the investigator nodded, Fernando left the office with his heart in pieces, got into the car, but didn’t start the engine, he stayed there with his head leaning on the steering wheel, there were so many things that he didn’t understand, so many things that he didn’t know, so many years that he didn’t realize what really happened, and now there was that little girl, Lupita, who was she really
What did he know, there could be something else behind it, a part of him wanted to cling to the idea that it was his daughter, that Claudia had not forgotten him, that it was all a misunderstanding, but another part knew that the truth could be uglier than he imagined and even so, he was determined, he was not going to leave this like this, not this time Fernando returned to the same street where he had seen Lupita for the first time He parked the car in a half-hidden place and got out without taking off his dark glasses, although it was early, the heat was already felt, he walked on the sidewalk, slowly
, looking around, looking for that skinny little face between the windshield wipers, the children who offered candy and those who begged for money on the corners, an hour passed and he did not see it, he stopped in front of a store, bought a bottle of water and asked the man From the counter he has not seen a short girl with tousled hair, about 11 years old, she sells chewing gum, the man raised an eyebrow, Lupita does come almost every day, but today it has not happened, sometimes they send her later, they send her, yes, with the other kids, a lady is the one who gathers them, gives them their boxes and distributes them
by areas, what lady, one they call Doña Meche, bad as she alone but no one says anything because if you talk too much she looks for you and breaks you, the mother Fernando thanked her and left without saying more, the name sounded like poison meche, that was the one who had taken the girl, the one who had left Claudia to die alone in a hospital, the one who had somehow taken over a girl who was not hers, went back to the car and marked to the investigator I know that Lupita is walking with that wick, they told me that sometimes she sends her later, I’m going to wait, don’t expose yourself,
that woman is not just anything, if she feels that someone wants to take away one of her children, she goes crazy, I don’t care, I don’t leave without seeing her, Fernando stayed all afternoon walking around the area, he walked, he got in the car, he got back down until About 5 o’clock Lupita saw her, she was sitting on the sidewalk with her box on her legs selling popsicles, she was wearing the same dirty dress as the other day and sneakers without laces, she seemed tired, but when a car stopped she ran immediately to offer her merchandise, Fernando approached
slowly, Lupita turned around and when she saw him she stopped as if she was going to run, but she didn’t, hello, she said She with a low voice I don’t want to do anything to you, I just want to talk to you, why because I met your mom and I think there are things you don’t know, Lupita looked at him suspiciously, pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, my mom is dead, that’s all I know and I don’t have dad, Fernando felt the blow again but took a deep breath, I know you’re with a lady Doña Meche, she’s your family I don’t just live with her, she takes care of me, or so
she says, she treats you well, Lupita shrugged her shoulders, she didn’t answer, she just said, if she sees me talking to you, she’s going to scold me or worse, then come with me, just for a while, we’ll eat something, we’ll take you before it gets dark, Lupita hesitated a lot, but her stomach cracked as if she had an opinion for her, she looked at her box, then she looked at him, are you going to buy me? something from here, of course, everything if you want, she nodded, put her things away quickly and got into the car without saying more, she sat quietly while Fernando drove to a nearby
square, they entered a small inn and ordered steak tacos, she ate them as if she hadn’t tasted meat in months, “How long have you been living with that lady?” he asked without rushing her, since my mom got sick, first we lived in a room Then Meche came and told my mom that she was going to help us, that I was going to be better with her, at first she took me to school, but then I didn’t start selling candy anymore, she tells me that if I don’t work, not like your mom, she didn’t leave any letters, something for you, not only do I have this, she took the same
old photo that I had shown her before, Fernando took it carefully and he put the ring on me before falling asleep, he said that it was very important that I never take it off, that one day if I was lucky he was going to take me to a better life, Fernando swallowed hard, looked at Lupita in the eyes, they were the same as Claudia’s, but that was not proof of anything, it was just a premonition, a hunch that was driving him crazy, do you want me to help you, to get out of there? So you don’t have to work on the street, home, school, food, and why, why did you
Fernando take a deep breath because I think you are very important, more than you imagine, Lupita lowered her gaze, began to cry without making a sound, only the tears falling while biting the taco, Fernando put a napkin in her hand without saying anything, then took her back as he had promised, left her in the corner And he saw her enter through a rusty fence that overlooked a neighborhood all graffitied from the entrance, a fat woman with a face of few friends was waiting for her, she didn’t say anything, she just pulled his arm and
slammed the door shut, Fernando stood there feeling how anger rose through his chest, he took out his cell phone and called the investigator, I know where he lives, I need you to do your thing, get You try anything, but I want to get that girl out of there, give me two days, Fernando hung up and knew very clearly that this was no longer just a search for answers, now it was a war, the neighborhood where Lupita lived was old, dirty and smelling musty, the yard was full of hanging clothes, buckets of green water and two
skinny dogs that didn’t stop barking in the back room where the light barely entered through a small window lived Doña Meche, fat, short hair, gray hair badly painted black and a huge mole next to her lip, she had a hoarse voice from so many cigarettes and a look that could make anyone tremble, she was sitting in an old armchair watching a soap opera on a small TV when Lupita came running in with a red face and teary eyes, she lowered the volume and the He looked out of the corner of his eye, where were you Escuincla, I went to sell
as always, like this, and then, why do you arrive at this time with the box almost full, Lupita stayed silent, don’t lie to me, eh, you know what happens, if you make me angry, I met the man in the car, he bought me everything, but he invited me to eat, I didn’t do anything wrong, meche, he stopped suddenly, he was big, he imposed not because he was strong, but because he was strong, but The way he spoke he was the type of person who with a single word made you feel small, what gentleman, the one who broke down in his car the other day, the one who helped me pour
water on him, wick, squinted his eyes, you could tell he didn’t like what he had just heard at all, did you get on his car, yes, but I came back as promised, did you get in her car, Meche repeated, this time louder, with her voice resounding on the walls of the room, Lupita took a step back, she didn’t do anything to me, we just ate, she asked me things about my mom, Meche, she approached slowly, she didn’t hit her, but she grabbed her arm tightly, listen to me, you brat, you don’t talk to anyone, don’t trust anyone, did you hear me, everyone wants something, everyone He said his name Fernando, the name fell like
a fuse bomb, he was silent for a few seconds, then he let go of Lupita’s arm and went straight to his drawer, took out an old cell phone, took the battery and began to check a notebook, that Fernando asked you about your mom, yes, what more than if I wanted to go with him, but I didn’t, I told him not to fight, he didn’t say anything, he just looked at her with those Cold eyes as if he were calculating her, as if he were deciding what to do with her, you’re not going to talk to her again, if you see him, you cross the street, did you understand, yes, and tomorrow you don’t go out, you’re going to help me here, I have to
think, Lupita lowered her head, she knew that when Meche thought something bad, Doña Meche was coming, she stayed up all night, she sat down to smoke by the window, looking out at the street she remembered Claudia, Lupita’s mother, that woman had given her problems from the beginning, when she arrived at the shelter with her daughter, she could barely walk, she was sick, weak with a cough all day, Mech helped her, yes, but not for free, he gave her food, shelter, medicine in exchange for leaving the girl to take care of her, Claudia accepted because she had no choice
, but then she became rebellious, she began to say that she wanted to look for her. a certain Fernando who wanted to leave, who was going to report Meche until one day she fainted, they took her to the hospital, but it was too late and Meche took advantage of the chaos, he took the girl and said she was her aunt, no one asked anything and now, after so many years, that damn Fernando appeared destiny muttered between his teeth, stood up and dialed from another phone a number that he only used when things got worse ugly, well, answered a male voice, Julian, we have a problem, what did you do now,
nothing yet, but that bastard Fernando appeared and is looking for the girl, there was silence on the other side, are you sure it’s him, the brat said it, his name is Fernando and he’s around, you can tell he wants to know things, he can’t know a single thing, if he finds out what happened with Claudia, if he puts everything together for that I’m calling you an idiot, you’re the lawyer, don’t you help me stop him, do something legal, whatever, but that girl can’t go with him, let me think, tomorrow I’ll warn you, Meche, hung up, took a deep breath and looked out the
window again, the street was silent, but in her head everything was noise, she knew that guy wasn’t going to leave the matter, it was noticeable on his face, it was noticeable in how he looked at her. the girl, as if it had something to do with her, “damn Claudia” murmured and for the first time in many years Meche felt afraid, Fernando being able to sleep again, it had been three nights in a row, going to bed with his eyes open, turning his head with his chest tight, and the feeling that he was losing control, Lupita’s was not a simple mystery
It wasn’t just a coincidence, every minute that passed he felt stronger, the idea that this girl was connected to him by something more than a ring or a photo, had sat in his office early in the morning, had a mountain of papers from work, but couldn’t concentrate as much as he cared about, he was out of there, his world was now in a old neighborhood, where a girl lived with a woman who smelled of danger, called the investigator twice and didn’t answer, sent messages, didn’t stop, walked from one side to the other, went from the
window to the desk like a caged lion, he felt like he was in a race against the clock, as if someone could disappear Lupita at any moment, at 11:30 the phone finally rang, “I have something,” said the investigator of the “But I need you to come see it in person.
“Fernando didn’t say a word, he just hung up, grabbed the keys and shot away, 20 minutes later he was in the same office with dirty walls and warm coffee, the researcher already had everything ready on the table, papers, printed photos and a manila envelope that seemed important, I was asking around the hospital where Claudia died, I met a nurse who worked there at that time, she remembered her, Fernando sat down in silence he told me that Claudia arrived very sick, that she did not want to be hospitalized, but that she could no longer even breathe well, she entered alone, without
family, without money, but the strangest thing was what she said to that nurse when she was in the emergency room, the researcher took out a sheet, it was a document with yellowish handwriting, as if from an old note, she put it in front of Fernando, this is not in the official file, it is not in the official file the nurse was left because she felt sorry for her, Claudia wrote a name before she was transferred to the floor, Fernando Robles wrote it down herself with her signature below, she said that if something happened to her they would look for it, but that never happened, why because the next day, according to the hospital report, a woman named Meche
arrived with a written order that said Claudia did not want to be bothered by anyone, supposedly signed by her, false Clearly, but the doctors didn’t realize or they played dumb, Fernando couldn’t believe what he heard, he had the document in his hands, his name, Claudia’s signature, he had wanted to see it, he had asked for help and it never came, and that false order can’t be reported, yes, but we need more, I already asked for a copy of video surveillance, if they didn’t delete them, I also searched the DIF file, I found that Lupita was there registered as a girl in a vulnerable situation
but did not last even a week, guess who went to claim her, no, yes, Doña Meche showed up with a sheet signed by Claudia before she died where she supposedly gave her forged custody, they also gave it to her without investigating anyone, she checked anything, Fernando hit the table with his fist, he was fed up, that woman had done what she wanted with Claudia and with the girl, no one He prevented her, everyone failed and now if she didn’t hurry up it could happen again, I want to take her away, and today you can’t just like that, if you take her out by force
, they take her away, meche is going to say that you kidnapped her and you, with your public profile, would look like a rich madman who wants to steal a poor girl, then what do I do, we need real evidence and fast, I’m getting access to adoption records, statements, whatever gives us a legal loophole, but it’s going to take time, a few more days, maybe a week, Fernando gritted his teeth, he couldn’t wait a week, he felt that every hour that passed Lupita was in danger, not because Meche beat her or did something like that to her, but because that woman could disappear with her at any moment, he could
take her to another state, change her name, use her for something worse, she came out of The office with more rage than He never got into the car, started the engine and drove aimlessly for more than an hour, ended up in the cemetery where she was buried, his wife stood in front of the grave with her heart in knots, “I’m sorry,” she said, although she didn’t know why she said it exactly, “I can’t keep pretending I’m okay anymore, I can’t carry this anymore, there’s only a girl out there who maybe is mine or maybe not, but I want to protect her and I’m going
to do it even if it costs me everything, she stood there for a while, then she went back to the car, took out her cell phone and called her personal lawyer, not Julián, the other one I trusted, I knew for years, I need to prepare a request for temporary custody, for whom of a minor does not have official papers, but I have proof that she lived with her biological mother and that she was Illegally handed over to someone else, I’m looking for a way to legally adopt her, but I need protection, in the meantime I don’t want her to disappear, give me the data, I see it today
, Fernando hung up, he was no longer going to sit waiting, he was no longer going to watch life go by through the window while others decided what happened to him or his family, that day something broke, or maybe it ignited because for the first time For the first time since Claudia left, Fernando felt that he had something to fight for and he was going to do it with everything, three days later Fernando received a call that took him straight out of a meeting, it was the investigator, he only said one sentence, I already have what you were looking for, Fernando did not wait for them to hang up, he closed his folder, he told everyone that he had to
leave and left the building without looking back 20 minutes then he was already in that office with a minit, the smell of cigarettes and cheap coffee, where he was waiting for him, the truth is here is Claudia’s complete medical file, the real one, no, the one I showed you the other time, this one is not edited or manipulated, I got it through a person who works in the physical document warehouse of the hospital, it cost me but it was worth it, said the researcher handing him a folder, Fernando opened it with his hands trembling, it was thick, with more than 30 sheets
, many of them handmade by doctors, he began to read quickly, diagnosis, advanced respiratory failure, severe anemia, untreated lung infection, probably tuberculosis, he had been untreated for months, he was late, but that was not what made him stop, what left him breathless, it was a note written by a doctor surnamed Godines, a patient mentions having a daughter who did not It is biological, she says that the minor was abandoned in the house where the girl’s mother lived, Claudia never returned, Claudia decided to raise her on her own and
never registered the fact, legally she considers that the minor is her total responsibility, she does not reveal more data for fear of losing her, Fernando closed his eyes, he felt his heart skip a beat, Lupita was not Claudia’s daughter, so whose is that not all, said the investigator taking out another sheet I found Dr. Godines, she is retired but she lives right here in the city, she received me at her house, at first she did not want to talk but I showed her the photo of Claudia and she broke down, she told me that Claudia was one of her saddest
patients, she arrived physically destroyed, but she never stopped talking about the girl, she said that it was the only good thing that had happened to her in recent years, what else Fernando asked, without taking his eyes off, he said that Claudia cried every day, not because of her illness, but because she couldn’t leave anything for the girl who scared herTo pray and that Meche stole it from her, he said that that woman appeared from time to time, that he watched her, that he asked her strange questions and that one day before she died, Claudia gave something to the doctor, the researcher opened a small envelope, took out a folded
sheet of paper several times, Fernando took it with both hands, it was a letter, the handwriting was Claudia’s, trembling but clear, if you are reading this it is because no longer I’m here, I don’t know if you’ll remember me, Fernando, maybe yes, maybe not, but if life puts you in front of Lupita, I want you to know that she’s not my blood daughter, she came to me when she was just a year old, her mother lived in the same neighborhood as me, I was young, she left one day and didn’t come back, no one asked, no one looked for her, I took charge because I couldn’t let her die She saved me more times than she imagines,
the ring she wears is the one you gave me, I kept it as a souvenir and passed it on to her in the hope that one day it would come to you, because even with everything that happened, even after so much time, I always thought of you, I never forgot you, take care of her, if you can, protect her, she deserves a better life than the one I could give her, Fernando she couldn’t continue reading, she put her elbows on the table and covered her face with her hands, she didn’t know if she was crying for Claudia, for the girl or for everything she had missed, Lupita wasn’t her daughter, not because of blood, but she was Claudia’s daughter,
daughter of her love, of her memory, of her story and the real mother asked Fernando with a hoarse voice, no idea, Claudia never gave names, the doctor says she asked once, but she only answered, she left, she didn’t know how to be a mother, there is no record, there is no fingerprint, nothing, Lupita is invisible to the system, she was never registered, Fernando remained silent, that changed everything, now she understood why Meche had her legally, Lupita did not exist, she was perfect for what she did, a girl without papers, without a name, without a past, but that was about to end, do you know what Fernando
said getting up decisively, I don’t need a DNA test, nor do I need to be told if she has my blood or not, that girl is mine, because Claudia chose her because she raised her and because she left her to me, the investigator looked at him seriously, are you ready to fight more than ever, Fernando didn’t want to wait any longer, not a day or an hour, he grabbed his car and went straight to the neighborhood, he didn’t talk to the lawyer or with the investigator he already had everything he needed: Claudia’s letter, the hospital documents, Lupita’s eyes in his head, that look that asked for help without saying a single word, it was
4 o’clock in the afternoon, the sun was beating down very hard and the pavement seemed to be boiling, Fernando got out of the car, closed the door with a jerk and walked straight towards the rusty gate at the entrance, he knocked hard, not a single time. twice, five times with his knuckles, fast without fear, on the other side came a voice that he already knew, who the fuck plays like that, Doña Meche peeked between the bars with a cigar hanging from her lips and a cloth in her hand, when she saw it her expression disappeared, she recognized him instantly, ah the rich man again, what, did you already forget where you live, or what
? “You’re here I’m coming for the girl,” said Fernando bluntly, he laughed, a dry, ugly laugh, one of those that don’t have any funny things at all, “Which girl here is there no girl of yours?” Lupita, ah Lupita said mockingly, feigning surprise, “And since when has she been yours, since Claudia left her with me, since I found out everything you did with her?” Meche threw the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it calmly. Look Mr. Elegant, I don’t know what stories they told you, but it’sEscuincla has neither father nor mother, Claudia left her lying like everyone else in this place, I was
the only one who picked her up, fed her, dressed her, took care of her when no one else wanted to, did you use her, Fernando replied with a firm voice, you put her on the street to sell, since she was a baby you stole her the opportunity to have a life and now that someone wants to help her, do you lock her up, did she cross her arms without Lower your gaze, what do you know about going around struggling, about taking care of hungry children, you just come because you got guilty, no, you’re old, you’re bored at home and you think that with a girl you can fix your conscience, Fernando got closer to the fence, looking
directly at her, it’s not about me, it’s about her, about Lupita and I’m not going to allow you to continue exploiting her? and you think you can come here to yell at me in my house, yes because this is not your house and Lupita is not your daughter and I have proof, meche changed her face she was no longer smiling she was no longer pretending, she looked at him with a dry rage, at that moment Lupita peeked out from the back she was standing behind a post with the box in her hands watching everything without moving, Lupita shouted Fernando “come with me You don’t have to be here.” She didn’t say anything, she just
looked at him scared, with her eyes wide open, she turned to see Meche who didn’t turn around, but she did clench her jaw, don’t move from there,” the woman told her without even seeing her, Fernando noticed the fear in the girl, he felt it like a blow to the chest, “see?” said Meche, she doesn’t want to go with you, you were late, this girl is no longer your story, it’s mine, it’s not Claudia’s story and she was afraid of you and she wrote it and you know it, Meche took a step back, I told you, you don’t know anything, you don’t have the right to come here to take away what is
mine, Fernando took a folder from his backpack, showed it to her through the fence, this says the opposite, here is the letter, here is the statement of the doctor who treated her, here are the Proof that you falsified documents Do you want me to call the police right now? Meche stared at her and didn’t move, her eyes shone with pure courage, then without saying a word she turned inside and shouted: “Get in, Lupita and don’t come out until I say.
But Lupita didn’t move, Fernando looked at her again, “You decide, no one is going to force you, but if you stay you’re going to continue living in fear and if you come with me we’re going to fight for you, for your papers, for your life, I promise you, meche turned around suddenly, shut up, don’t fill his head with dreams, he has no idea who you are and you don’t know who you are, Fernando ignored her, he just looked Lupita lowered her head, remained silent for a few seconds, then began to walk slowly with the box in her hand, I told you not to move, Meche shouted, Lupita did not stop, opened the gate, came out, stood next to Fernando without saying anything
, just looked at him and said softly: “Are you really going to help me?” Fernando bent down and put his hand on her shoulder, for real behind them, Meche let out a cry of rage, kicked the fence and went into her house slamming doors, the war was not over, it had just begun, but Lupita was no longer alone, Fernando didn’t say anything as they walked, he was afraid of breaking the moment, Lupita came to his side with her little box hugging his chest as if outside a shield he did not speak but he did not move away, he just walked slowly without looking back, when they reached the car Fernando
opened the door for her and she got in without asking, closed the door carefully, settled into the seat And she stared out the window, her lips were pursed and her eyes wide open, as if she expected that at any moment someone would come to pull her arm and return her to the neighborhood, Fernando climbed up on the other side and started, let’s go to my house, you’ll be safe, there’s no one to yell at you or send you to the street, she said slowly, without looking at her, Lupita didn’t answer, she just nodded her head, without taking her eyes off
The road was silent, not even the radio came on, Fernando was driving unhurriedly, with one hand on the steering wheel and the other squeezing her knee, her nerves were in knots, she didn’t know how to talk to her, I didn’t want to pressure her, but I also wanted to tell her a thousand things, that everything was going to be fine, that she didn’t have to have Afraid that now she did have someone but she didn’t say anything, when they got home she stood in front of the gate as if she didn’t know whether to enter or not, the house was huge compared to what she knew: Blanca Limpia, with a small garden
full of plants that smelled of lemongrass, do you live here, she just asked finally, yes, since my wife died, Lupita lowered her head, she didn’t know how to respond to that, she just went inside, everything was silent, there was no street noise, no dogs, no screams, only the sound of the air conditioning and the soft ticking of an expensive clock hanging on the wall, Lupita stood at the entrance, Fernando told her: “You can take off your shoes if you want and leave your little box there, no one is going to take it from you.” She bent down carefully, untied her
torn tennis shoes and left them by the door, then put the box on top of an armchair, looked at everything with a face, “This is another planet,” Fernando went to the kitchen, “You’re hungry a little,” she replied, “Do you like sandwiches, yes, with ham or chicken, Ham Fernando prepared two, put them on plates and took them to the living room, she was already seated, but she didn’t lean down, she was on the shore with her hands on her legs, straight, she passed the plate, “Thank you,” she said softly, “Here you don’t have to ask permission to eat, if you’re
hungry, you eat, if you’re cold, you bundle up, if you’re tired, you sleep, this is not like there, she gave the primEr bit carefully, then another and another, in less than 5 minutes Fernando poured her a glass of milk, then showed her the guest room, a medium-sized bed, a bureau, a lamp, a large window with light curtains, you can sleep here, it’s all yours, there are clean clothes in the closet, I don’t know if you have any fit, but tomorrow we’re going to buy more, can I take a bath, she asked as if asking permission to exist, of course, the bathroom is next to it, there are towels, soap,
shampoo, whatever you need, Lupita nodded, entered the bathroom with her clothes in her hand, closed the door and for the first time in a long time she bathed without haste, without fear of someone knocking on her door screaming, without water fLaughing Falling in buckets, Fernando, meanwhile, sat on the couch, staring at the ceiling, felt so many things that he couldn’t sort them out, sadness, courage, relief, fear, all together, the only thing he knew for sure was that he wasn’t going to give up, when Lupita came out, she was wearing a T-shirt that was too big for her and shorts that fit
just right, her hair was wet, slicked back and her feet clean, she no longer looked like the girl in the street, but her eyes were still alert, can I watch TV, clear, take control, sat next to him without getting too close, began to change the channels, found one of old cartoons, smiled barely and for a while they didn’t speak when night came, Fernando lE said she could fall asleep if she wanted to, she shook her head, I’m afraid that tomorrow you’ll return to me, Fernando looked at her seriously, I’m not going to do that, meche, he can’t touch you anymore and if he tries something, he’s going to have
problems, but I don’t have papers, I’m nobody’s, you’re yours and now you’re with me, Lupita looked at him and for the first time stopped tensing her shoulders, did you really love her, she loved you very much, Fernando swallowed hard, yes a lot, Lupita settled on the couch, closed her eyes, didn’t say more, she fell asleep right there with her legs crossed and the control in her hand, Fernando covered her with a blanket and stared at her, he knew that this was just beginning, but he also knew that he was no longer alone and that she didn’t have been three days since Lupita arrived at the house either.Fernando’s wife gradually let go of
her fear, although she was still sleeping with the light on, she no longer asked if they were going to return her, but she didn’t let her guard down either, she ate better, she slept more and sometimes, when she thought no one was watching, she smiled alone, watching cartoons or listening to music with the headphones that Fernando lent her, Fernando had stopped going to the office, he didn’t care, he asked his partner to take care of everything, for a few days his head was not in business, it was Lupita and how to make sure that no one took it away from him again, he was
involved in the legal procedures, he had already filed a request for temporary custody, he had Claudia’s letter, the medical files, the doctor’s testimony, but even so he lacked the most important thing.Lupita’s official documents and since she was never registered, she did not exist in any system, that complicated everything, so that morning she decided to contact someone she had known for years, a lawyer who had worked with him on other things, his name was Julián Esquivel, an elegant guy always in a suit, with just the right smile and a well-trained
voice to sound confident, he was one of those who knew how to move everywhere, from the courthouse to the boardroom and although he had never failed him, Fernando knew that Julián only moved if there was something to gain, “I need your help with something delicate,” Fernando told him when he received him at his home, delicate as there is a minor: “She has no papers, I am taking care of her, her mother died, I am trying to adopt her legally.
“Julián looked at him seriously, crossing his arms, and why you, because his mother left her to me, because no one else is going to do it, because I feel it as a responsibility that I can’t ignore, Julián grimaced as if he wasn’t completely convinced, do you have proof, did he show him Claudia’s letter, the copies from the hospital, the researcher’s papers, Julián reviewed them quickly without showing much emotion, this is not enough, without a birth certificate, or CURP, or anything, it doesn’t exist and you, no matter how well intentioned you are, you can’t stay with a girl who is not registered, they are going to accuse you of beingI wonder if someone gets involved, and you can help me or not, Julián
was thoughtful, then said: “Let me make some calls, there are ways but they are not simple, Fernando nodded, gave him access to everything and asked for discretion, but he did not know that he had just made a mistake, that same night Julián met someone else in an expensive restaurant, at a table away from the noise, he handed a copy of the documents to a woman who had been waiting for him since before he arrived, it was Doña Meche, dressed better than usual, without shouting, without her street face, now she spoke softly, with a calm voiceAnd even polite, what are you going to ask me for
this, she asked, taking the papers, nothing yet, and why are you helping me, because if Fernando adopts that girl he is going to move a lot of things and I don’t want that to happen, I have matters that depend on him not getting into more trouble, she smiled coldly, then we are on the same side for now, yes, I want him to take him back from this, I want him to give up, to return him, to understand that he can’t beat me, don’t worry, he’s going to understand very soon, meanwhile in the house, Lupita slept in her room, she had a new teddy bear that Fernando had given her from Tati, it had
been hard to find one that wasn’t cheesy or huge, but she hugged it as if it were the only thing she had wanted since she was a child, Fernando in his office read Claudia’s letter for the third time, she knew it by heart, every word, every letter was printed on her guideOn a plastic sleeve and also stuck on the wall as if it were a promise, he knew that something difficult was coming, but he did not expect that so soon the next morning he received an official letter, summons from the court for illegal possession of a minor, the complainant
Julián Esquivel, representing Mercedes Medina, Fernando felt as if they were ripping out the floor underneath, he did not understand, Julián, his lawyer, the one who was going to help him, ran to get his cell phone, called, did not answer, sent a message, what did you do two minutes later, an answer is the best, you are getting into serious trouble, you have no idea, Fernando threw the cell phone on the desk, stared at the screen, then went to Lupita’s room, opened the door slowly, she was already awake, sitting on the bed, combing her hair with her fingers, are you okay, she
asked him, noticing his face FernaHe tried to smile, yes, there are only things we have to fix, but everything is going to be fine, he didn’t know if it was true, but he was going to fight it as if it were, Fernando had the envelope in his hand, he had picked it up that same morning in the private laboratory that he himself had contacted, he hadn’t told anyone, not the new lawyer, not the investigator, not even Lupita, he had made that decision only with his head full of doubts, not because he believed that he needed to prove something, not because he thought that what he felt for the girl depended on a
test, but he wanted to know, he couldn’t stand the question in his head anymore and if it was his daughter and if Claudia never told him to protect them and if the ring was not the only thing that united them, he had done the test in silence, without anyone accompanying him, they took his blood, they told him that in 48 hours he would have the results and now there it isHe was with the white envelope closed with his name on the label, he stared at it for several minutes in his office, he didn’t open it, he just turned it in his hands, he took a deep breath, rubbed his
forehead, stood up, sat down again until he finally broke the seal, took out the sheet, read in a low voice, not compatible result, there is no biological relationship between the samples analyzed, Fernando remained motionless, he felt a kind of emptiness, it was not sadness, it was not anger, it was something stranger, as if a little light had been turned off that he had turned off deep inside, he had clung deep down to the idea that yes, that Lupita was his, that destiny made sense, that the love he felt for Claudia had a real blood bond that could not be broken, but no, it was not
his daughter, not on paper, not in biology, not in laboratory tests, he stopped, walked into the hallway, opened the door dLupita’s room, she was sitting on the floor playing with some figurines that Fernando had bought her the day before, everything was fine, she asked, seeing him with the sheet of paper in his hand, Fernando looked at her, he didn’t know what to say for a second, yes, I just came to see how you were, I’m fine,” she replied with a slight smile, Fernando felt a knot in his chest, it wasn’t his daughter, but it was his girl, his responsibility his life he knew it at that
moment stronger than ever, he returned to his office and left the sheet on the desk just a few hours later his cell phone rang, it was his new lawyer, the one who was on his side, we have a problem, another yes, Julián presented the DNA results to the court, he already had a copy, I don’t know how he got it, but he used it as part of his argument to say that you are Obsessed that you are trying to appropriate a minor with whom you have no relationship, Fernando felt that his blood boiled, that test was private, someone leaked it, it may be that the laboratory is
bought or that someone is spying on you, we do not know, but that is not all, what else has the judge already received the complaint and as part of the precautionary measures they have just issued an order for you to hand over to The girl temporarily to Child Protective Services Fernando remained silent What do you have 48 hours to hand her over, if you don’t you can be accused of contempt, Fernando squeezed the cell phone so hard that it almost broke it, I don’t plan to hand her over, I’m not going to leave her with strangers, or with mech, or with anyone, I understand, but we need to move,
appeal the order, present Claudia’s letter, reinforce everything with the testimonies, do you have the video of the Doctor, yes, I recorded when she spoke to me, perfect, send it to me, we’re going to prepare an urgent defense, but I warn you, Meche is not acting alone, someone is backing her up, she has money, she has access to things she shouldn’t, this is bigger than we thought, Fernando hung up, he went to the kitchen, he found Lupita eating cereal in silence with a huge cup that almost covered her face, he sat in front of her, Lupita there is something that I have to tell you
, she looked at him with a spoon in hand, I did a test to see if you and I were blood family like dad and daughter, Lupita lowered her gaze, she didn’t say anything, it came out negative,” he said bluntly, “I knew it,” she whispered, “I never thought you were.
Fernando was surprised, “why do you say that?” “Because my mom never talked to me about you, like dad she talked about you as someone who loved a lot, but not like my dad, and that bothers you?” “No, because it doesn’t matter, you’re the only one who has really taken care of me.” Fernando felt a direct blow to the chest, as if his daughter really told him, I don’t know what’s going to happen, Lupita they’re trying to separate us, but I’m not going to give up or let go of you, neither is Fernando caressed her head and at that moment he knew that he wasn’t going to let anyone take her with DNA or without DNA, she was his and that was the only thing he wanted
. It mattered, the day was cloudy, the house was quiet, Fernando had gotten up earlier than usual, he hadn’t slept well again all morning, he thought about the DNA, in Claudia’s letter, in the court summons, he was afraid, he didn’t say it, but he had it, not because of him, but because of Lupita, and that was ground inside, he was drinking coffee in the kitchen with his cell phone in his hand When the doorbell rang, he jumped, put down the cup and went straight to the door, it was the investigator: “I have something I didn’t expect to find,” he said: YesN say hello Fernando let it
in, they sat in the living room the researcher had a yellow envelope crumpled in the corners he put it on the table I found it this morning a lady from the shelter called me I was cleaning an old room where they kept things of the patients who died he found this in a box with Claudia’s name on it, they never opened it or delivered it Fernando took it without saying a word he opened it carefully It was a letter sealed in a smaller envelope with his name written by hand, Fernando took a deep breath, opened it, began to
read, Fernando, I don’t know if this letter will reach you someday, maybe they’ll burn it, maybe they’ll throw it away, but I need to write to you, even if it’s just to feel like you’re listening to me, I know I left without telling you anything, I know that I disappeared, not because I didn’t love you, but because I didn’t know how to stay, I got scared, I got stuffed in my head, I moved away from you so as not to get in your way, it was a mistake, I know, but I can’t change it anymore, there’s something I never told you and I’ve kept it for so many years that I don’t know if it’s fair anymore, but I need to get it out, Lupita, if it’s your daughter, I knew it from the beginning, I
found out shortly after I left, I tried to look for you, but you were already married and I didn’t want to get involved, I didn’t want to ruin your life, I didn’t want to make you carry something you might not want, so I raised our daughter alone and I don’t regret it, I registered her under another name, I didn’t want anyone to look for her, I hid from everyone, but I couldn’t protect her as I should, I got sick, I got tired, I gave up sometimes, Meche appeared and took advantage of everything, she took everything from me, even from her, that’s why, if one day this letter comes to you Please look for her, protect her, not for me, but
for her, I don’t ask you to forgive me, I just ask you not to leave her alone, she deserves a better life and you, you were always better than I knew how to take care of, Fernando read everything with heavy breathing, the letter was shaking in his hands, he couldn’t believe it, then the proof was wrong or manipulated, he stopped suddenly, looked at the researcher and if the The test was false, it may be, if Meche had access, if Julián leaked it, they could have changed it, everything can be falsified with money, I need another test, but in another laboratory, one outside the city, I am in charge of it, Fernando nodded,
he had the letter in his hand, he wanted to scream, cry, hit something, Claudia had told him the truth, but no one allowed him to read it and the worst thing is that now with that false test they wanted to take away his Her own daughter went to Lupita’s room, she was lying down watching a video on her cell phone, she took it down when she saw him enter, are you okay, Fernando asked and sat next to her, his eyes were glazed over, do you remember something from when you were very little, do you remember something about when you were very little, how do you not know if your mom told you something about your dad, Lupita shook her head not much, sometimes she told me that you were someone
Special, that if one day I found you, I was going to do better, Fernando took her hand tightly, his fingers were shaking, I found a letter from her, from your mother, she wrote it to me, she said that you are my daughter, Lupita looked at it without saying anything, I don’t know if you believe me, but it’s true, she wrote it in her own handwriting and then why did the test come out negative, that’s what I want to find out, maybe someone has changed her, they want to separate us Lupita but they won’t succeed, she nodded, she didn’t cry, she didn’t get excited all at once, she just said something that Fernando would never forget, then I’m not going to feel
borrowed anymore, Fernando hugged her and for the first time felt that he wasn’t grabbing someone else’s girl, he wasHugging his daughter, Julián was always an elegant guy, luxury car, fine suits, a shiny watch on his wrist, but behind that clean image there was something else, a guy who knew how to take advantage of every opportunity, every legal loophole, every carelessness, he was an expert in seeing where to sneak in and take advantage of any situation, and Fernando had unknowingly left the door open for him while at home he tried to organize the papers, prepare the
appeal, understand how to fight legally for Lupita, Julián already had another advanced move, one that had nothing to do with justice, everything was strategy, that morning Julián met with Meche in an apartment rented for days, he did not want them to be seen together, he knew that if someone suspected everything would fall apart, “have you seen this?” said Meche, throwing a folder with copies on the table, what is the letter, the original, they have it Fernando already knows that the girl is his, Julián was not surprised, he just poured himself a whiskey even though it was 11 in the morning, it doesn’t matter, they will have to
try it with another DNA and that new result will not come out before the hearing, the appointment is already set, if they do not deliver the girl they get into trouble and if they deliver her, you pick her up, he smiled. Showing your teeth and then then you take her out to another state where no one asks, I have contacts, if you do what I say you can get a lot of money out of this, and what do you gain, Fernando is going to lose the trial and when he does he is going to be ruined publicly, he loses his image, his company, his reputation, that leaves me free to negotiate contracts that he
used to He drove Meche, he looked at him with distrust, all this for business, not also for ego, did he do something to you, he closed many doors on me, he treated me as an employee, never as a partner, I always believed that I was going to be able to climb with him, but he left me stagnant, now it’s my turn, Meche, he gave him a long look, you are more crooked than I can be, said Julián, smiling sideways, that same day Fernando received an urgent notice from the court. the custody hearing was brought forward, he had 24 hours to appear with the minor, if he did not attend he would be automatically out of the
process, it was a trap, he knew it, he went to Lupita’s room, he was drawing in a notebook that he had given her, he was drawing a house with trees and a figure of him and another of hers, Fernando felt that his heart was shrinking, we have to go to a place tomorrow, but I don’t want him to worry, it’s about the lady, yes, but she’s not going to win, she looked at him seriously and if they want to take me I’m not going to leave you at night, Fernando met with his lawyer, showed him the new papers, the leaked messages and the recording that the investigator had obtained, a
conversation where Julián talked about manipulating evidence was not complete, but it was something, this helps, but it is not enough, said the lawyer, we need a clearer confession, something stronger and if I confront Julián, yes, he should trust him, that he believes that they have already won, maybe he will let go, the lawyer hesitated, but then nodded, if you do it, let it be with someone recording everything, the next day Fernando summoned Julián in a cafeteria, they looked as if nothing had happened, two guys drinking coffee like any pair of acquaintances, but in Fernando’s pocket there was a small microphone connected to his cell phone
that transmitted everything live to the investigator who recorded from a car outside, how are you Julián calm and you with the water up to your neck thanks to you Julián laughed don’t take everything so peAre you trying to take my daughter away from me, it’s not your daughter? You and I know that yes, Julián lowered the cup, he looked straight at him, Fernando, don’t play the hero, you asked for the test yourself, you gave the blood, the result came out negative, end of the issue and if the test was altered, then you will have to prove it, but time is not on your side and I already won, Fernando stayed
Still, what exactly did you gain, peace of mind, being able to do a little bit of everything, when you lose this case, you’re going to be so burned out that no one is going to want to work with you, you’re going to have to sell your company and guess who’s ready to take it, Fernando let out a dry laugh, so it was always that, it was always that, don’t play the victim, you used me for years, now it’s my turn and Meche, what, is it also part of your business? Julian thought about it for two seconds Let’s say we do mutual favors I cover her she gives me what I need You don’t even know who you’re playing with, that woman has no limits
and neither don’t you Fernando stood up thanks Julian You helped me more than you think Julian looked at him weird What do you mean Fernando just smiled and left in the car The investigator was waiting for him with a smile We have everything He said clearly, we recorded it, Fernando took a deep breath, then now we are going with the whole court building, it was cold, gray, soulless, that kind of place where you don’t feel time or air, Fernando arrived punctually, with his heart beating his chest as if it were a drum, he carried in his hand a thick folder
with copies, documents and most importantly, a USB memory with Julián’s recording, Lupita was going to his On the side, she was nervous, but she looked strong, she was wearing a white blouse and new jeans, she had combed her hair alone and although she didn’t say much, she didn’t let go of Fernando’s hand, the lawyer was waiting for them at the entrance, they are all there, she arrived 10 minutes ago with Julián and the judge, the judge they had assigned, withdrew from the case, there is a new one, young man, strict, but just maybe it’s better, Fernando took a deep breath, nodded, they went up for the corridor and they entered the room, Meche was sitting there as if
nothing had happened, she was wearing a flowered blouse, a hairstyle that gave her the air of a decent lady next to her, Julián in a dark suit reading some papers with a face that everything was under control, when they saw Fernando they smiled, but it was that fake smile that is used when you think you are the winner, the judge entered, everyone stood up the hearing Julián began he was the first to speak, he asked that the order to immediately hand over the minor to child protection be complied with, alleging that Fernando had no legal link with the girl, there are no papers, there is no blood and
now, Mr. Judge, there is a risk of emotional kidnapping, Mr. Fernando is confusing the minor with false stories, Julián said with his voice trained to sound confident, Fernando looked at him without moving, but inside it was boiling, the judge asked for silence, Mr. Fernando, you have the floor, Fernando stood up, opened his folder and took a deep breath, Mr. Judge, here I have proof that Julián Esquivel has manipulated this process from the beginning, I have a recording where he himself admits that he has personal interests in making me lose custody, that he works in alliance with Mrs. Mercedes Medina.
to take economic advantage of this situation the judge raised his eyebrows do you have that recording yes your honour here it is fernando handed over the USB the judge passed it to the technician the screen turned on the sound came out of the loudspeakers, there was Julián’s voice, clear, sure, talking about business, damaging Fernando’s image, having won, protecting Meche, when the courtroom ended he was silent, Julián did not smile, the judge wrote something down, do you have anything to say about it, Mr. Esquivel, Julián tried to stand up but stuttered, that recording is illegal, I was
not warned that it was being recorded, that does not make it any less real, the judge replied, you spoke of manipulating the trial, that calls into question everything that has been presented, Fernando’s lawyer intervened, in addition, we have a handwritten letter by the mother of the minor, Claudia Ramírez, in that letter confirms that the girl Lupita is Mr. Fernando’s biological daughter, we also attached a second DNA test done in another laboratory that contradicts the first, the judge read the letter quickly, carefully, he mechanized She was stirring in her seat, she looked nervous for the first time, she
moved her hands, she cracked her fingers, she sweated, all that is a lie, she said in a low voice, but the judge listened to her, she has evidence to deny the letter, no, but that woman is already dead, how do we know that they didn’t invent that, Fernando stood up again, I knew Claudia, I lived with her and if there is one thing I can swear, it is that everything she wrote is real, she looked for me, but you silenced her, the judge asked for silence again, this is no longer a matter of papers, it is a matter of truth, the minor was manipulated, she was used and there is evidence that her custody was obtained through false documents, we are going to investigate all that, Julián wanted to
get up, your honor, you cannot make a decision based on isolated recordings and then what do you suggest, that you ignore all this, that you believe only you, Julián fell, the judge fell on him. He stared while the entire legal situation is resolved, the minor will remain under the temporary care of Mr. Fernando, this courtroom needs more time, more evidence, but one thing is clear: here there is a girl in the middle and I am not going to allow anyone else to use her as a bargaining chip, he flicked on the table, this is a trap, the judge looked at her harshly,
one more word and took her out of the room, Fernando let out the air, he had finally endured it the whole trial, Lupita hugged him, she did it alone without him saying anything, she hung from his neck as if he knew that this was not going to happen soon, and he did not let go of her, it was Friday afternoon, Fernando was exhausted, his head was a mess, his shoulders hard from so much stress and a tiredness that could not be taken away by anything, but at the same time he felt a kind of calm, for the first time in weeks Lupita sleptShe was in her bed without fear, without any startles, without waiting for them to
tear her out of there, Fernando was in the living room watching TV, without paying attention to her when the doorbell rang, do you wait for someone, asked her lawyer who was there, finishing some papers with him, no, no one went to open the door, on the other side of the door there was a woman in her 50s, brunette, short, with a lilac sweater and a crossbody bag, she looked nervous but also determined, fernando Robles, yes, who are you, my name is Rocío, I was Claudia’s friend for a long time, we lived together in the shelter, I found out all this from a neighbor who saw the news of the trial on networks, I saw your face and I couldn’t stay
silent, Fernando opened the door for her without thinking twice, please come in, Rocío came in and sat down, she had her eyes fixed on the floor, then she looked straight at him, I was there when Claudia got sick cuAndo asked for help when she wanted to look for you, but no one would let her, meche, controlled her, took her cell phone, hid her papers, even told her that you already had another family that you had forgotten, Fernando clenched his fists, why did he do that because he wanted to keep the girl, he always said it, he said that Claudia would not last long, that Lupita
would be his, that no one was going to ask about a girl without papers, I heard everything, but I was afraid, meche was one of those that make your life impossible if you take him against him, once he broke a girl’s nose with a blow, just to talk more, Fernando remained silent, why does Rocío tell me now, she took an envelope from her bag, she put it on the table because I kept things, letters, notes, a notebook where Claudia wrote many things, she was afraid that everything would be lost like this that I took it secretly the day she died, I never dared to take it out, until now
Fernando opened the envelope, took out several crumpled sheets, a small notebook with flowers on the cover and a photo was Claudia with Lupita in her arms on a stool, the two smiling, Claudia looked thin with a tired but happy look and Lupita was about three years old, Rocío continued talking, Claudia said that the ring was her last hope, that if Lupita ever found you, that ring would make you understand, but she also said that Meche was going to do whatever it took to prevent it, that’s why she hid this notebook so that if something happened someone would know the
truth, Fernando read the pages quickly, there were handwritten paragraphs, today Meche told me again to sign a paper that I gave to Lupita, she said it’s for safetyBut I know he doesn’t want to use it, he wants to sell it, my God, I can’t allow it, I tried to write to Fernando but I don’t have a way Rocío told me that she’s going to help me, but I don’t know if we’ll get there in time, if one day Fernando forgive me, I wanted to tell you so many things, but I can’t live anymore, Fernando couldn’t take it anymore, he went to the hallway, leaned against the wall and
closed his eyes, he had been holding on for days, but this time the tears came out on their own, Rocío sat down, the lawyer looked at the documents without saying a word, “these sheets are gold,” he said after a few minutes, if we present them in court, all of Meche’s arguments fall, they are direct evidence, written by the biological mother, dated, detailed, shows control, abuse, manipulation, Fernando came back, are you willing to testify, yes I’m not afraid anymore, do you know what you’re risking, yes, but I owe it to myself, I owe it to Claudia
and I owe it to that girl, at that moment Lupita appeared in the hallway, half asleep, rubbing her eyes, what’s going on, Fernando bent down, come my love, I want you to meet someone, Lupita came over, Rocío got up, hello little girl, I met your mom, she was my friend, she took care of you as if you were golden, Lupita looked at her with surprise, did you meet her, yes and she talked to me about yourself every day, she said that you were the best thing that had happened to her, Lupita lowered her gaze, then smiled a little, Fernando stroked her head, “Thank you for coming,” he said to Rocío, “Thank you for not letting go,”
she replied and at that moment everyone knew that the fight was no longer just one, now there was more than one heart defending Niris: “Lupita silly.” And that was what Meche was waiting for us: the appointment was in a meeting room that Julián used to use for his private meetings, Fernando had called him with an excuse: “I want to talk before the next hearing, we can prevent this becomes bigger.
“Julián confidently accepted, what he did not know was that Fernando was no longer coming, only Rocío accompanied him, she accepted without thinking when he proposed to be present at that meeting, not to make a scandal but to face the people who destroyed her friend’s life and she did not know that everything was going to be recorded, Fernando and the Minno Sinominas lawyer had installed a microphone in a small camera hidden in A button on the sack, the researcher was waiting in another building recording the transmission in real time, Julián arrived on time with that
usual smile, one of those that seem friendly but don’t say anything, he was alone, although you could tell that he knew he had all the power in his hand, Fernando Rocío, what a surprise to see her here, he said, feigning politeness, I come to listen, Rocío seca replied, “I think it’s good to solve this calmly, not without so many judges.” Without so much paper, Fernando held his gaze, what do you want, Julián, the same as you, friend, that this ends well for everyone, for everyone, Rocío intervened, or for you and Meche, Julián looked at her calmly, but something moved
in his face as if he had been pushed, a truth that I didn’t expect to hear so directly, I have no idea what you’re talking about, he replied very calmly, of course he did say Fernando, we record you, we have the conversations, we know that you are up to your neck in this, Julián laughed, “And what, are you going to go with that to court, a recording without context, we have more than that,” said Fernando, letters, testimonies and now this meeting is also being recorded, for the first time Julián frowned, are you recording this, yes, that is not legal, what you did
“Neither is it,” replied Rocío, Claudia, “I knew you, she said that you helped Meche to put together the false papers, you closed the door when she wanted to look for Fernando, you knew that the girl was her daughter and you didn’t say anything, you can’t prove that,” Julián replied now, “Are you sure?” asked Fernando and put a folder on the table, here’s your signature, Julián on the document that Meche used to take out. you told Lupita from the hospital that he was her lawyer, that the minor was his niece and the date is just the day after Claudia
died, Julián remained silent, his jaw hardened, he looked at the papers but did not touch them, how much did he pay you, Fernando asked lowering his voice, how much did Meche offer you to help him steal a girl, Julián looked up, do you really want to get into that? you are no saint Fernando, you had a daughter and you didn’t find out in 11 years because you helped hide her because you erased the path I did what I had to do Claudia was going to ruin your life you were already married, you had a company, a name and you weren’t going to leave everything
for a sick woman and a daughter you didn’t ask for, Fernando froze Julián didn’t even realize that she had just admitted all that, you think, Fernando said in a low voice, I don’t think so, I know, you only reacted when the guilt fell on you, but it’s too late, Fernando, the girl is no longer yours, you can’t clean yourself with that anymore, Rocío stopped suddenly, you have no idea what Claudia happened, she loved it until the last day and you took everything from her, Julián remained silent, Fernando se he also raised thanks for speaking Julián
everything you said is recorded and this time you are not going to come out so clean they left without saying more when leaving the building Fernando gave the material to the investigator what ifThe first thing was to present everything to the judge, but not only that, also to the press, there was no longer any need to hide, the complete story had to be told with names and surnames, Lupita was no longer a lost girl and those who wanted to erase her no longer had a mask, the news began to circulate early on, a high-profile lawyer involved in
falsification of documents to appropriate minor, new evidence of a child exploitation network covered up by authorities, recordings involving Julián Esquivel and Mercedes Medina are revealed, in case of illegal adoption, everything was there, the audios, the letters, the testimonies, Claudia’s story had been made public and not out of revenge, but out of necessity so that no one else would doubt what had happened, so that no one could cover up again what they did to that girl and her mother that same day the judge called for a
new emergency hearing, she did not want to wait any longer, Fernando arrived with Lupita by the hand, she no longer dressed like a street girl, but it was not the clothes, what had changed, it was her gaze, she no longer lowered her eyes, she no longer shrank in her seat, she sat straight, calm as who knows that now she does have someone who is going to defend her, the judge entered seriously, carrying in his hands a folder with the red seal of the court, gentlemen, he said bluntly, what we have today is not just a custody case, it is a story that hits us in the face as a system
, someone took away a mother’s voice and another someone tried to take the life of a girl without using or A single blow, everyone listened in silence, Julián was present, no longer with an expensive suit but with a defeated face, he knew he was finished and Meche was there too, with a lost look, without strength on his shoulders, without that attitude of a neighborhood lady who is not afraid of anyone, this time he had no one to manipulate, Mercedes Medina continued the judge, you are in custody for use of minors for illegal purposes, forgery of documents and participation in exploitation network, the
process will be criminal and will begin immediately, two police officers approached, Mechen did not fight, he only lowered his head, Julián Esquivel, his participation as a legal facilitator in these acts is serious, in addition to losing his license as a lawyer, he will face charges of obstruction of justice and aggravated concealment, he will be summoned to testify and arrested as appropriate, Fernando did not say anything, did not smile, did not celebrate, only took a deep breath as if he could finally let go of everything he had been carrying since the day he saw Lupita for the first time, the judge continued
: as for the minor Lucía Guadalupe Ramírez, known as Lupita, it has been proven through written letters, eyewitness testimonies and updated DNA tests that she is the biological daughter of Fernando Robles, Lupita looked at him, she did not know whether to cry or smile, full custody is granted to Mr. Robles, the State will support with Everything necessary to regularize the legal identity of the minor, ensure her rights and protect her from any attempt at contact by the defendants, Fernando could not take it anymore, closed his
eyes and for the first time in a long time felt peace, the hearing ended when he left, several journalists were waiting for them, but he only covered Lupita with his arm and they walked straight to the car, he did not say anything, he did not seek applause, he just wanted to go to the car. That night Fernando’s house smelled of homemade food, he cooked nothing fancy himself, just some muffins with beans and cheese as she liked them They sat down to eat in the dining room with the TV on in the background, Lupita looked at him all the time as if she couldn’t believe
that this was already her reality, can they really not take me away anymore, she asked softly, really, Fernando replied and I can stay with you always, she always smiled and this time without fear, can I tell you, dad, Fernando felt everything loosen inside, of course yes, daughter, Lupita got up, went to him and hugged him tightly with both hands clenched behind her back, he held her and thought of Claudia, about what it cost him to take care of that girl, about what he had to keep quiet about everything that was stolen from him and he promised her silently, right there with his whole heart, that no one
was ever going to hurt his daughter again, it had already been two weeks since the hearing, Fernando’s house no longer seemed so empty, there were drawings stuck on the wall of the Refrigerator, backpacks lying around and even a stuffed animal forgotten on the couch, Lupita had started school and although it was difficult for her at first, little by little she gained confidence, Fernando adapted, he also learned to prepare breakfast as she liked, to put together poorly made braids, to read stories at night, and although he had fatigue stuck to his skin, he had never felt more alive, that afternoon when
they arrived from school there was an envelope in the mailbox, it had no return address, it only said his name, Fernando Robles was thin, white, with handwriting, he did not give it importance, at that moment he put it in his jacket and continued with the day until night came, Lupita was already asleep, the house was silent, Fernando prepared a coffee, sat in the living room and remembered the envelope, he opened it without haste what he read, the APFernando challenged his chest, I don’t know if I should be writing this, but I can’t take it anymore with the weight I carry, my name is Teresa and I was a laboratory assistant in the first
DNA test you did with Lupita, I’m sure you don’t remember me, but I was there, I was the one who received the samples and I was the one who received the order to modify the results, Fernando froze, he read the line again, then again a man called me before the results arrived, he knew all your name, the girl’s told me that I should make sure that the result came out negative, that if someone asked everything it should seem normal, that there would be no consequences, he offered me money, I accepted, I regretted it from the first day, but I was afraid and then when I saw in
19 the news everything that happened I understood what I had done, I don’t know if this is worth anything, I have no wayOr try it, I just have this truth that I can no longer keep, I don’t apologize because I know that doesn’t erase anything, but at least I want you to know, the first test was false and you were always right, Lupita is your daughter, Fernando lowered the letter, she couldn’t move, her face was hot, her eyes were fixed on nothingness, the second test, the real one, had already confirmed that, but now she knew for sure that everything had been set up, that it wasn’t a mistake, that Julián and
Meche not only tried to separate him from Lupita with lies, they did it on purpose, with total awareness, they used everything they could to break them and they almost succeeded, she went up to the room, slowly opened the door, Yola Lupita slept on her stomach, with one leg hanging from the bed and her arm on top of the bear that Fernando had bought her, she came closer, stroked her hair carefully, “I swear they will never lie to you again,” she said in a voice”Neither you nor me.
“He left the room with the letter in his hand, he went back to the living room, he put it in the same folder where he had the first evidence, the second, the photos, Claudia’s letters, everything, that was his story, the one of the two of them and no one else was going to write it for them, just as he closed the folder, the cell phone vibrated, it was from the investigator, I just found something strange in Claudia’s files, I call you in Five, Fernando answered the second beep, what happened, look, this doesn’t change everything, but there is something you should know, I found a social assistance application that Claudia filled out years
ago, it’s in an old digital file, on that sheet she puts another name as an emergency contact, what name, Rocío already confirmed it, it was someone Claudia met when she was pregnant, the strangest thing is that a note appears in the margin, says the father. He doesn’t know, I don’t want him to know, Fernando remained silent, what are you saying that it could be that Claudia didn’t tell you the truth from the beginning, that the first test was not false, that Lupita may not be your blood daughter, Fernando didn’t answer, he just stood there with the phone stuck to his
ear, but listen to me, said the investigator, that doesn’t matter anymore, the girl is yours, he left her to you. You chose you and you’re not going to let go of her, Fernando hung up, he didn’t say anything, he went to the window, he looked at the street, the wind was moving the branches of a tree in front of them, inside the house, everything was calm and at that moment he understood everything, yes, maybe Lupita wasn’t his biological daughter, maybe she never was, but she was his daughter anyway, because you don’t need blood say what your heart already cried out a long time ago because Claudia with everything she could
not tell her said it with a single gesture she left him the most important thing he had and Fernando now more than ever was ready to take care of that forever