Helena had a falling-out with Klaus, her stepfather, and came to live with me. Lívia was still recovering and didn't have the strength to intervene. So Victor's room became Helena's room.
One night, while browsing the internet, I ran into Thor again. Since I was using a different username, he didn't recognize me. I had no desire to talk to him—the memory of the way he had left still hurt. I told Helena about it.
"Don't be like that, Auntie! That guy didn't deserve you! He's an idiot. If he really wanted to be here, he would be!" she said angrily.
"God moved him out of my life. It was for the best."
"That guy never wanted anything serious, Auntie! Or maybe he couldn't—I don't know!"
She spoke loudly while opening a bottle of sparkling wine. I grabbed the glasses, and we sat down.
"Let's toast to your graduation! Congratulations on all your hard work!" I said, raising my glass.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers! Mmm... just the right amount of sweetness, Auntie."
Helena's eyes sparkled with happiness. What a beautiful young woman. Long, wavy brown hair and an enchanting smile. Then, suddenly, she grew serious.
"Auntie, can I tell you something? Promise you won't get mad at me? Promise you won't throw me out of the house?"
"I promise. You can tell me," I replied, suddenly uneasy.
"Then pinky promise."
We hooked our little fingers together.
"I promise."
"I'm bisexual," she declared, carefully watching my reaction.
"I had a feeling."
"You had a feeling? How?"
"Your mother told me about that incident. She found you with your leg draped over a friend on the living-room couch."
"I messed up that day! It's not something I can control..." she said. "Did she tell you she took me to church afterward so the pastor could pray over me?" Her voice carried a trace of hurt.
"Yes. She mentioned one of your aunts too, and said you didn't need to go down that path."
"She threw away a bunch of my things! She cried, yelled, said all sorts of things! She told me she'd kick me out of the house! Klaus said I'd never see my sister again. He said it was a sin and that God would never accept it! I cried so much. Sometimes I wonder if I should even keep going to church..."
I remembered the vision I'd once had—the word God written in the colors of the rainbow.
"God shows no favoritism. Don't stop going to church because of this. Don't give up your faith."
"I know, Auntie. I'll keep going."
"God looks at the heart. He wants a humble heart, surrendered before Him. And of course, He wants us to be honest."
"I know..."
"You were born this way. Nobody simply decides to become gay or straight. If someone told me to be with a woman, I wouldn't do it. You're attracted to both. Can you just switch those feelings off? God understands human nature. I'll say it again: God shows no favoritism. People do. God loves us as we are."
"I know..."
"Helena, I'm not sending you away. Don't worry. Stay here until the day of your trip. Soon you'll be leaving for Germany with your father, and all of this will be nothing but memories."
"Thank you, Auntie."
"I love you exactly as you are, my niece."
"And I love you exactly as you are, Auntie."
We hugged and finished our drinks together, laughing.
"Cheers!"
During the week, Helena packed her suitcases with excitement. At last, the day of her departure arrived.
"Thank you, Auntie! I love you!" she said, embracing me gratefully.
"I love you too, Helena. Take care of yourself, and don't forget me," I confessed, fighting back tears.
"Forget you? Never, Auntie. I could never forget you."
"Take care, have a safe trip, and may God always bless you. Kisses!"
"Bye, Auntie! God be with you!"
Lívia and Bela took her to the airport. I chose not to go with them. It felt like a moment that belonged only to them.
Victor's room, which had become Helena's room, now stood empty once again.
I wiped away my tears and closed the door, sealing the darkness inside.
I didn't want to feel that emptiness.