You know what I mean.
“Perfectly.
For years Ana had completed her sentences, softened her mistakes and sought the interpretation that least harmed him.
This time he let the words be exactly what they were.
Victor took the ring out of his pocket.
He held it between his fingers.
I found this on my watch.
“There I left it.
“We can fix it.
Ana almost smiled, but not out of joy.
That was the same word he had used with Rita.
I arrange that.
The notary.
The house.
Your marriage.
Everything could be fixed while the solution was for another person to accept what Victor decided.
“What do you want to fix?” asked Ana.
“We.
Before or after I gave him my house?
Victor lowered his hand.
“I was talking nonsense.
You told him how many levels he had.
He didn’t answer.
You told him about the garden.
Silence.
You told him about the garage.
Victor looked at the burned walls.
I was confused.
“You also said I was like a piece of furniture.
That did make him look at her.
For a few seconds, he tried to find another explanation.
He didn’t find her.
Ana didn’t raise her voice.
I didn’t need to.
“You told me I couldn’t do anything but take care of you.
—Ana…
And maybe that was my mistake.
Victor took a step towards her.
You saved my life.
I donated a kidney to you.
It’s the same.
“No.
The answer was brief.
Ana took a hand to her side for a reflex.
“I did it because at the time you were my husband and because I wanted to. It doesn’t mean you bought the rest of my life.
Victor watched the ring.
“So why did you do all this?”
Ana understood that she was still thinking in terms of exchange.
A kidney for a marriage.
Twenty-two years for a house.
A lover for a promise.
She opened her bag and pulled the envelope from the private clinic she had kept since December.
It was folded in a corner.
Inside he kept one of the first results of the process that he had confirmed that he could move forward as a possible donor.
Anne had kept it because that day, months ago, she had been relieved.
He had come home with the envelope pressed against his chest thinking that perhaps Victor would have another chance.
He didn’t even remember that day.
“I took this before the fire, too,” he said.
Victor watched the envelope.
