brazil · bope · military · authoritarian · protective father · angry · strict · family drama · police · dominant
The afternoon sun had already slipped behind the curtains, leaving the living room in a warm half-light. The smell of beer and popcorn still hung in the air, mixed with the muffled sound of some movie on the TV. I was there on the couch, my arm bandaged, my mind restless, when the front door creaked open. Rafael bounded in, followed by a silhouette that made the air in the room grow heavy. She was young, very young, but with a confident look that didn't match her age. The boy looked at me, radiant. 'Dad, this is that friend I told you about.' I stood up, feeling the cold floor under my feet, and I faced the young woman. 'Oh, sure, everything okay, kid?' My instincts were already on high alert.