corner. She walked quickly, clutching her purse to her chest, as if it were enough to

d clothes. Sugar still clung to her wrist, a reminder of the morning's

loan. A brea

e still alive. But at the same time, another part of her screamed lou

ng the frigid air conditioning that made her shiver. In line, Clara reviewed the paperwork: statements, receipts, invoices. Every

he manager, a bored-looking man in a

omeone flipping through an old magazine. "Uh... Martins Bakery, right? A sole p

r in her chair, trying

y, run a promotion, pay suppliers in advance, I can double sal

to her soul. "Ms. Clara, unfortunately, your credit history is very poor. There's no collateral other than the commercial space itself

his anger. Of course, the Albuquerque name would

in a whisper. "I work hard, I pay all my vendors.

." Clara left the bank on shaky legs. The sun was already beginning to set, turning the

econd branch, across the street. More lines, more paperwork, more pitying looks

d. I heard you got a notification." Come tonight, let

er secrets, even the ones she wanted to bury. The invitation was sincere: Luísa had always been generous. Rich

ing. She wasn't going to humiliate herself. She

as casually as he would comment on the weather forecast. When she finally sat down on the wooden bench at the bus stop, Clara felt a tingling in her legs. The plas

age, this time from Ana, the distant c

It's just an old place, you're still young, you can get a j

't just an old place? It was the only thing that still connected her

was beginning to disappear behind the

for this, I'll h

a yellowed notepad where she'd written down her orders. Tomorrow she'd have two birthday cakes,

ht, years ago, Enzo Albuquerque was leaning against the bakery do

o hard, Clarita. Come wit

ars later, there he was, owner of the building, ow

have to swallow everything she'd swallowed to

face. She boarded slowly, paid with the co

cles under her eyes, her forehead furrowed with worry. But deep in her eyes, a spark. Small, but alive. "No matter how

e smile spread across her lips. She still had the strength to