Later, while I folded clothes into a suitcase and sorted his medications into labeled containers, I heard a voice behind me.

“Ready to go home?”

It was Flávia.

She wore a simpler dress than usual, but her face carried the same warm smile. Flávia hugged me tightly.

“Almost,” I said. “I just need to finish organizing his medication.”

Flávia leaned in, a hand settling on my shoulder.

“I came to pick you up.”

“You do not need to worry about that,” I said quickly.

I was not ...