Josiah Marquez Part 2

It was curious to see Ana write a thriller since she had always dedicated herself to poetry and small romance books. I even asked her where the inspiration for that dark story came from, which seemed devoid of any love. Sweetheart just smiled and told everyone at her book signing session that *Dark Dress* had come from a crazy dream she had.
Whether it was a crazy dream or not, a legion of app readers had fallen in love with her writing, and the name Ana Oliveira was starting to gain recognition in the national literature scene.
I felt so proud and happy seeing the woman I loved realizing her dream of publishing a book. It was beautiful to see that, despite her traumas related to reading, Ana was still able to write, tell stories, and follow her dream.
I used to show Ana’s photos to my friends, and they always said my woman was gorgeous. I made a point of telling them that I was going to marry her, that we’d have kids, that I couldn’t imagine a future without her. Harry would comment that Ana must be serving some “good tea,” causing everyone to laugh. I’d get annoyed, as sex was just a small part of what had won me over with that goddess.
Finally, I was going home after being away for fifteen days. I hadn’t mentioned that I was coming this weekend because I wanted to surprise her. Bernardo was with me, tasked with filming the momentous event that would follow.
In my coat pocket, I carried the black case with the perfect piece of jewelry I had bought, a white gold ring with a solitaire diamond. The ring I’d show when I kneeled and proposed to my goddess.
I arrived in the middle of the night, and thick clouds were subtly drizzling over the city of Rio de Janeiro. I got out of the Uber in front of the building, and Bernardo complained beside me for not agreeing to wear his dress shirt for the proposal.
“It’s going to look weird, like a vampire, all dressed in black for a marriage proposal. If you wore the shirt I suggested…”
“Stop shouting!” I grumbled, him hurrying beside me, carrying the bouquet of red flowers I had bought for Ana. “My mother’s room is right here at the entrance, and she’ll end up hearing us.”
“I just think…” he whispered, pulling out his phone, “it would’ve looked nicer with the dress shirt instead of that outfit making you look like a caricature.”
“Be quiet!” I muttered, turning my key in the lock, cautiously.
We slipped into the house, which was almost entirely shrouded in darkness. Surely my mother would be asleep by now, as it was past midnight. I placed the heavy backpack on the living room floor, in front of the entrance, carefully not to make a sound.
Bernardo turned on his phone, the flash illuminating the surroundings. I took the bouquet of flowers from him, who smiled as he filmed me pulling the ring box from my black leather jacket. I walked ahead of him down the hallway.
The door to my room and Ana’s was open, with a sliver of yellow light spilling into the hallway. I heard Ana’s soft laugh and imagined that Luana or Isabela were there too. When I finally stopped in front of the door, my heart pounding in my chest, I took a deep breath.
I opened the door… and what I saw was the beginning of the end.
Ana was lying on my bed, in white panties and a white t-shirt, reclining against the headboard, with Lucah crouched in front of her, resting his forearms on my damn mattress, while she laughed at something he was showing her on his phone.
“Damn it, Ana!” I yelled, throwing the bouquet of flowers at them.
I felt my heart shatter, my life in slow motion, as I felt like no one could stop me from punching Lucah’s face. I dropped the ring box on the floor and lunged at him. As soon as he saw me, he got up and staggered backward.

I grabbed my brother by the shirt and landed a punch on his cheek. As I prepared to throw another, I felt Bernardo restraining me from behind, locking his hands on my chest.
“Stop it, damn it! You’re losing your mind!” my friend yelled in my ear, his voice sounding distant as I saw Lucah, stunned with a bleeding mouth, retreating from my sight.
“Ana! You bitch!” I shouted, my voice trembling with tears.
She betrayed me… I… was a fool.
“Calm down, Josiah! You misunderstood everything!” Ana yelled as I broke free from Bernardo’s grip, pushed him away, and jumped on her, squeezing her jaw between my fingers.
I felt the vein in my neck bulging, my blood coursing furiously through my veins, and I was on the edge of losing control. It was beyond sadness and betrayal; it was a dense, dark, cruel feeling—anger…
“Are you trying to make a fool out of me, you bitch?” I roared, bringing my face closer to the traitor in front of me. “How long?”
“Let me go!” she shouted, hitting my arm. She seemed enraged, defiant. “Did you just insult me? Are you crazy? You’re not even letting me speak…”
“How long have you been fucking my brother?” I growled, squeezing her face tightly. Ana shook her head, crying and completely red. Her eyes were wide, terrified.
“Let her go, man!” Bernardo shouted, tugging at my coat. “Let her go and talk like an adult, damn it!”
“Get out of here, damn it!” I snapped at my friend. “Speak, you bitch, how long have you been cheating on me right in my bed?”
“I’m not cheating on you, you jerk!” Ana screamed, trying to bite my hand. “Let me go, damn it!” she shouted, hitting my arm.
Ana’s anger was palpable as she glared at me, turning red. How could she still be defiant after being caught cheating?
“You lying bitch!” I growled, releasing her and stumbling away from the bed.
I looked at the woman huddled against the bedroom wall, her back against the black headboard. Marta appeared in the doorway, her glasses crooked, a black cap on her hair, and a long red silk nightgown, covering her mouth with her hand upon seeing the scene.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Did you know, Mom? Did you know this bitch was cheating on me right in my bed?” I yelled.
“They’re friends, Josiah! Just friends!” Marta whispered, afraid of the rage radiating from me.
“So you knew? Damn it!” I shouted, rubbing my head, furious, screaming in pain. “Damn it!” I raged. “You’re both fakes! Both traitors!”
“Guys, what the hell is going on here?” Luana murmured, clutching her heart as she entered my room, wearing a very short leopard print nightgown.
“And you, Luana? Did you also know about Ana’s ‘friendship’ with Lucah the pedophile?” I asked, pointing a finger at her.
“Man, what’s wrong with them being friends?” she mocked, crossing her arms as she faced me. “Get a grip, you’re out of control!”
“Go to hell!” I yelled. “All of you need to get the hell out, and I never want to see any of your faces again. All of you making a fool out of me, damn it!” I pointed my finger, waving it in the air towards the women around me. “And you, Ana, I had bought a damn ring to propose to you.” I bent down and picked up the ring box, which had fallen haphazardly on the bedroom rug. Ignoring Bernardo’s worried look, I took out the ring and threw it at her. “Now, you bitch, you’re leaving this house!”
“What? This house is mine!” Marta screamed, stunned, trying to grab my arm. “She’s like a daughter to me, and I’m sure she and Lucah have nothing going on because he…”
“Get out of my room, Ana!” I roared. Avoiding my mother’s grip, I grabbed Ana by the arm and dragged her out of the house.
Luana lunged at me, slapping me down the hallway, trying to make me let go of her friend.
“Let her go, you bastard!” my cousin shouted, pulling at my shirt, digging her nails into me.
“Go away, bitch, get out of here! Go after your lover!” I yelled, throwing Ana out into the street.

She landed on the sidewalk, losing her balance and almost falling. Ana stared at me, hurt on her face. She looked around the street, seeing neighbors appearing in windows to witness the commotion. A storm had started, and the rain streamed down her body, soaking her, marking her breasts through the wet shirt, while the look she gave me was one of disappointment.
“It’s over. Are you hearing me?” I shouted, slamming the gate in her face. “Go after the bastard who was fucking you…”
I went back to the living room and grabbed my backpack, enduring another scratch from Luana. As I left the house, kicking the gate, I passed by her, who remained standing in the rain, half-naked. I knew there was no turning back...
It was the beginning of the end for us both.