In one hand she carried a hair clipper and in the other a pair of gleaming scissors , as if she were prepared for a rehearsed « show. » The moment she saw Mariana, she hissed in a sour, lemony voice:
—You, the one who clings on! Come out! Today I’m going to make this whole neighborhood see the face of the one who doesn’t understand! I’m going to shave your head so you learn!
The screams woke the entire alley. Neighbors who had been sheltering from the heat behind their doors opened them a crack to look, curious. Doña Rosa , the lady who ran the little shop on the corner, ran forward, her face pale, when she saw a “well-dressed” woman pointing a hair clipper at… a pregnant woman.
Someone wanted to intervene, but Valeria’s violent demeanor was intimidating.
Mariana remained seated. One hand rested on her belly—the baby inside was moving, restless from its mother’s tension. Mariana took a deep breath and spoke with an almost unreal calm:
—What brings you here? My husband isn’t home.
That serenity didn’t calm Valeria—it enraged her even more. Valeria believed Mariana was afraid.
He burst into the yard, stood with his hands on his hips, and brought the running machine, which was whirring « brrr, » almost to her face:
« I’m not here for Javier, I’m here for you! Do you think you can intimidate me just because I’m pregnant? It’s because of you that he hasn’t been able to break up with me! Today I’m going to humiliate you so you won’t dare go out in public! »
The neighbors began to murmur. Doña Rosa spoke worriedly from the back:
—Miss, you’re pregnant. If you have something to say, say it calmly. Don’t do something crazy and then have to live with the consequences.
« Shut up! » Valeria glared at him fiercely. « This is none of your business! »
Then he turned to Mariana, raised the scissors as if he were passing judgment.
—I’m going to count to three. If you don’t kneel down and beg for forgiveness… don’t blame me. One… two…
Time seemed to freeze. The entire alley held its breath.
Just as Valeria was about to grab Mariana’s hair… something unexpected happened.
Mariana—the pregnant woman who seemed slow—suddenly threw the paper fan to the ground with a sharp “thwack!” Valeria jumped and stood motionless for a moment.
Just one second.
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