01/04 Chapter 526: New Friends And New Places To See
Yesterday, when I was overwhelmed with everything that was happening, I ended up posting a message in my sales group. I wrote, “Good evening everyone, I know this is a long shot, but if anyone has close contact with an appeals court judge, please let me know. Thank you 😔 I truly mean it, I will be grateful for the rest of my life. Sometimes help comes from people we would never expect, because the ones we do expect are the ones who disappoint us the most. Again, I would be eternally grateful.”
At first, I posted it very genuinely. It’s my group, there are about 400 people there, many of my clients are close to me and like me, so the chances that at least one person might know someone like that didn’t feel impossible. Of course it was unlikely, but it didn’t cost anything to try.
But then I remembered that my aunt was in the group.
She rarely even checks it, so I didn’t know if she would see it or not… but of course, she did. And instead of coming to me, she went straight to my mom, saying that I must be upset with them, that she felt hurt, all of that… her usual drama.
So today, I went to the store to talk to her and explain everything, because this whole situation with Leonardo didn’t start now—it goes way back, to a time when your dad and I were just dating and you weren’t even in the picture yet.
Back then, Leonardo had been in a long relationship with a girl named Andrezza. She was very sweet, everyone liked her. One night, your dad and I invited the two of them over for pizza, wine, and a game night, and it was actually really fun. We laughed a lot, everything flowed easily, and by the end of the night Leonardo kept saying how much he had loved it, that next time it would be at his place, that he would invite us, that we would do it again.
But that invitation… never came.
After that, there was another time we invited them to go bowling, and it was nice too, we had a good time, but again… the invitation was never returned. And honestly, that wasn’t even the main issue.
At that time, when your dad moved in with me, we had this kind of agreement that it would be like a one-year trial—to see if he would adapt to living here, how his life would be, whether he liked it or not, so we could make a decision about our relationship and our future. And since I really wanted him to stay, especially because we already had an apartment together—which is something many people take years to achieve—I did everything I could to make things feel good for him here. And making friends was at the very top of that list, because I know how much friendships change the way we experience life, how important it is to have someone, to feel connected, to feel like you belong somewhere.
So it really mattered to me that he felt happy here, not out of place.
And I put a lot of hope in Leonardo.
But in the end… I was disappointed.
It started with that game night, which made me think something could grow from there. Then we found out Leonardo had started playing tennis—and your dad had gotten a scholarship in the U.S. through tennis—so I thought that could be something that would bring them closer. And every time Leonardo saw your dad, he would bring up tennis, because he played almost every single day at a park that was very close to us, and he would say he was going to invite him to play.
But he never did.
Not once.
And to us, that felt like complete disregard.
Your dad even joked once that if he saw him again and he brought up that same tennis invitation that never actually existed, he was going to make a sarcastic comment about it.
We ended up feeling like it was such a lack of consideration. It almost felt like he was doing us a favor just by accepting our invitations, you know?
And the funniest part is that there was a time he went out with my cousins, and my cousins are completely wild—they love to drink, sometimes even mess around with things they shouldn’t, go to raves… a totally different vibe from Leonardo. And yet, he went out with them once and later told his parents he hated it, that it was awful, that he would never do it again… but he still kept hanging out with them and stayed close to them. Meanwhile me—someone who actually has a lot in common with him, who thinks in a similar way—he just kind of pushed me aside.
And the cherry on top was your birthday, when you were one or two. He was invited, confirmed, and then canceled last minute because of some surprise party… and didn’t even send a message to explain, or to say happy birthday to you. At that point, honestly… fuck off. No more politeness left.
So I explained all of this to my aunt, that my disappointment with him didn’t start now, that this was something that had been building for a long time, and this situation was just the final drop. That when I said family can disappoint you, I meant him—because he is family. And I have every right to feel the way I feel.
Surprisingly, she reacted well. She said she agreed, that she doesn’t know what happened to her son, that this new girlfriend seems to have changed him completely, made him colder. But honestly… that’s not my problem. I was just there to clear the air with her and keep things peaceful between us.
Of course, part of that message was also directed at my uncle, for agreeing to help and then going to ask his son, who had nothing to do with it in the first place. But they were already feeling bad enough, and there was no point in pouring more gasoline on the fire. Completely unnecessary. With my aunt, I felt that responsibility—we work together, we’re about to travel together… it mattered to fix things there.
But as for Leonardo?
I’m done.
I don’t want anything to do with him anymore.
He’s dead to me.
Bye bye. Bon voyage.
02/04 Chapter 527: A Little Thrill Of Possibility
Today I found myself thinking about writing the following complaint online about the construction company, more as a warning than anything else:
“Never—under any circumstances—buy from Lavvi. Seriously, if regret could kill, I wouldn’t be here writing this. I purchased a property worth R$1,600,000 through a consortium. It is fully paid, completely settled, because the bank released the funds even before the registration process was finalized. And even so… they simply refuse to hand over the keys.
The most absurd part? Their own contract clearly states that the property should be delivered after payment. And the payment has already been made—it just didn’t follow their ‘ideal’ order, because it was anticipated. We sent a formal notice. The result? No response. And it gets worse: they’ve had the contract since March 18th, and Lavvi itself said it would be signed and returned within 5 business days. Today is April 1st. And so far? Zero contact. Zero explanation. Once they have your money, they simply disappear.
Now I’ve had to spend a significant amount of money to file a lawsuit with an urgent injunction, all because they refused to resolve things amicably. We had to attach every conversation to the case, gather evidence, organize everything… a level of stress you can’t even imagine. And it becomes even clearer: those who pay through a consortium are treated differently from those who pay upfront. In the end, I’m left waiting for a judge to move the case forward just to gain access to something that is already mine by right. It’s completely absurd.
Let this be a warning: do not do business with this company.”
But just before sending it, I felt something in my heart telling me it would be better to ask my dad first, because I was afraid it might somehow harm him. He told me to wait until the next day, since FabrÃcio—one of the lawyers from his company—had a meeting scheduled with the judge at 2 p.m.
I felt a rush of excitement, genuinely happy, but at the same time I couldn’t help feeling curious… how is it that a judge, supposedly overwhelmed with cases and too busy to review urgent injunctions, somehow still has time to meet with lawyers?
Anyway, I don’t know how this works, but somehow it did and FabrÃcio actually met with the judge. He later told Darlene (the one who shares all the behind-the-scenes details with me, because if it were up to my father, I wouldn’t know any of this) that the judge was very kind and attentive to him. Which makes me wonder… what if my father had already submitted that document back then…
And then, guess what? That very same night, the judge finally issued a ruling, but requested a long list of documents from my father, giving him 15 days to submit everything so the injunction could move forward. Thank God, I already had every single document they asked for, and that same night he was able to gather and submit it all.
Now there’s a holiday coming up, so maybe—hopefully—by Monday we’ll finally have some kind of update on this case that feels like it’s been standing still forever. I can’t wait to finally get my apartment. I feel like I’ve already been patient for far too long.
The downside is that the judge didn’t grant my father’s request to postpone the court fees until the end of the case. It was a strategic move, since he believed the chances of winning were high and, in the end, the other party would be responsible for paying but it didn’t work. To move forward, he now has to pay 24,000. I thought it would be 16,000, but I’m not even sure why it’s 24—like I said, my father doesn’t explain things very well and rarely answers what we actually ask.
Now all we can do is hope we win, because otherwise that’s 24,000 gone… along with the frustration of everything we’ve already been through.
06-08/04 Chapter 528: Everyone's Dreaming Of A Better Life
The apartment saga drags on. My dad submitted the documents but the judge hasn’t said a word. He’s already asked FabrÃcio to go to the courthouse 3x to speak to him, and still no decision. All we’re asking for, what is rightfully ours, is the key to an apartment that’s already been paid for. Somehow, even that feels out of reach.
I was hoping to at least get started on the renovations—replace the flooring, have the custom cabinetry measured, since those take months to be ready… I already thought moving at the beginning of the year would be late, but now it looks like everything will only come together toward the end of the year—practically 2027.
There’s something you should understand about Brazil: the rule of law feels like a suggestion, not a certainty. Criminals are treated like heroes, and heroes like criminals. And on top of that, it can take years—years—for something as simple as a legal case to reach a conclusion.
Take the doctor I’m suing. We found another case against him that was filed back in 2022. It’s now 2026, and there’s still no ruling. It’s a hard country to live in. I can already picture myself going to Disney and crying on the flight back home.
When you grow up in the mud, you don’t know there’s anything beyond it—you’ve only ever known the mud. But once you’ve seen what lies outside of it, once you’ve lived somewhere cleaner, coming back feels like being dragged through it all over again. I hope that metaphor makes sense.
09/04 Chapter 529: We're Almot There
Our trip had finally arrived. The flight was at 3:30 in the morning and I’ve always loved flying at night.
A little side note: I used to be terrified of airplanes. Truly terrified. But now, every time I travel with you, that fear just… disappears. Completely. It’s almost unbelievable. You’ve become my anchor in the air. There was a time when I would literally shake at every bit of turbulence.
Before boarding, we checked our bags, and the airport was nearly empty—one of those quiet, in-between hours that make everything feel suspended in time. We were carrying four suitcases, each weighing 32 kilos, for Luciana, for you, and for me. She had paid for a business class segment on the second leg of the trip, which already allowed for two checked bags, and to help offset the cost of her ticket, she also sells Brazilian products in the U.S.
But I trust her completely—without hesitation—so I didn’t worry for a second about the bags or what was inside them. I traveled feeling light, calm… and genuinely excited for what was ahead of us.
On the Copa Airlines flight, there were no seatback screens in economy—which felt like a bit of a blow for all of us, honestly. But it was so late by then that it almost didn’t matter. I gave you a melatonin, took one myself, and before long we were both asleep.
And we slept well. The kind of deep, uninterrupted sleep that makes time disappear. I only woke up to the pilot announcing we’d be landing in thirty minutes. I love when that happens—when a whole flight passes without you even noticing, as if you slipped right through it.
10/04 Chapter 530: Feels Like Home
I’ve always been pretty calm going through immigration, mostly because I’ve always done everything by the book. But this time felt different. I was a little on edge. With my visa process underway, I couldn’t help worrying that if they pulled up my information, they might think I was trying to enter the country and just stay until everything was sorted out.
The airport itself caught me off guard. I barely recognized it—they’d built a brand-new terminal. And, oddly enough, in this one you collect your luggage before going through immigration. Every other time I’d been to the U.S., it was the opposite: immigration first, bags later. This way was a bit more inconvenient, especially because we had four large suitcases to drag along while speaking to the officer.
There were six of us, and we thought we’d go through together—but they didn’t allow it. Apparently, the agents don’t like large groups, and you’re only allowed to go together if you all live at the same address. So it ended up being me, your dad, and you at one counter, and Igor, Rosely, and Grandma at another.
They were extremely nervous. They don’t speak a word of English, and the plan had been for your dad and me to handle everything. But there’s no negotiating in that moment. We tried to explain, but it didn’t make a difference. Ironically, they were cleared much faster than we were. They simply told the officer they didn’t speak English, he asked—in Spanish—how many days they’d be staying, they answered “ten,” and that was it. Approved in seconds.
With us, it was more thorough. Photos, questions about the purpose of our trip, how long we’d stay, where we’d be, whether we were carrying money… the usual checklist. But in the end, everything worked out, and we were let in.
Back on American soil. Finally, it felt like home again. That familiar, comforting air—the one I feel every time I step into the country that holds a piece of my heart.
It took us about forty-five minutes to get to the house, which honestly surprised me—I had imagined it would be much closer. The neighborhood was charming, and the house itself was really nice, though not quite as special as the one we rented in Kissimmee when you were just six months old.
Once we got everything settled, they all wanted to go to Denny’s. I checked with your dad first, asking if it would be okay just for that first day, since we didn’t have any groceries yet. I had promised him we’d stock up on proper food and healthier options, but it was our first night… He hesitated. I even told him that if it bothered him, the three of us could go somewhere else. In the end, he gave in.
So off we went. Everyone loved it—except your dad. He really doesn’t like Denny’s, but the rest of us do… what can you do? We ordered salmon for you. You took your time, a bit reluctant at first, but eventually you ate a little.
To wrap up the night, we stopped by Walmart to grab the basics for breakfast. Just the essentials—we were far too tired for a proper grocery run. Of course, we still ended up picking up a few extra things here and there.
Tomorrow is when our days really begin. But even now, I already feel different here—lighter, happier, almost glowing. And at the same time, completely exhausted from the trip. Even with the little luxury of flying business class on the shorter leg for the first time. So much legroom, a comfortable seat… but no TV. Not even in business class. Still, I can’t complain—the food was great.
11/04 Chapter 531: Let It Out What Is Inside
He was in a bad mood—or maybe just distant, not really present, not acting like he was on vacation with us. And that gets to me more than I wish it did.
Before we left the house, I grabbed two pool towels. It felt like enough—one for you, and one for your dad and me to share if we ended up going in the water, which we did.
Your dad was the first one to get out, and he took a towel. Then I got you out. I started taking off your swimsuit to dry you—because staying in wet clothes is what really makes you cold—but the moment I did, he snapped at me, saying I had left you naked in front of everyone. And yes, there were a lot of people.
But to me, you’re just a child. You always will be. There might always be someone unpleasant somewhere, but as long as I’m right there with you, by your side, where no one can harm you, I don’t see anything wrong with a little girl—three years old—being briefly uncovered just to get changed. And that’s coming from me, someone who was abused twice as a child. The difference is… I was alone. Completely alone. No one there to protect me.
Even in places like swim classes, kids change out in the open all the time, in front of other parents—men included. Same thing with shower time. So… I don’t know. Maybe it’s not worth arguing over.
I made a little tent with the towel and wrapped you up before getting you dressed. But by then, I was freezing too—it was already late afternoon. And your dad, who had been dry for a while, didn’t even think to offer me the towel. He didn’t notice I was shivering. Completely oblivious.
It’s strange how much these small things affect me. Small things—but they don’t feel small at all.
And that’s when we started arguing. You were hungry—you kept talking about food, and for you to complain about being hungry means you really are. I wanted to stop by the grocery store right next to the house. Luciana had mentioned it was something like a Trader Joe’s—a bit pricier, but with healthier options—so it felt like a good excuse to take a little walk, explore somewhere new, and grab something for us to eat. The night before, at Walmart, we had only managed to buy breakfast things.
But your dad wanted to go straight home first. He wanted you to take a shower to “wash off the pool—pee, chlorine, all of it,” and he didn’t like the idea of you walking into an air-conditioned store either.
It’s always like this. When it comes to you, he treats you as if you were something fragile—like one wrong move could break you. As if you had some serious condition that required constant, meticulous care.
I pushed back, saying that by the time we got home, gave you a bath, washed your hair, I showered too, then went out to the store and came all the way back again to cook—it would take forever. And you were hungry now.
And if we got home and you ended up eating more croissants—something he had already complained about that morning—he’d be annoyed again. But honestly, what was the alternative? You were hungry.
And then he fell back on that old line—that everything always has to be my way.
But lately, that argument just doesn’t hold up anymore. Because when he says that, I end up doing things his way just to prove it’s not all about me. And in the end, things never go my way anyway—so it’s simply not true.
Still, we went home. And when we got there, you wanted three croissants. I let you have them. I wasn’t going to let you stay hungry—whether he liked it or not. If he didn’t want to stop by the store, fine.
Later, we argued again. I told him his mood had been awful—that we had all been so excited about this trip, and now that we’re finally here, he was acting like this. I said we can’t live in a constant state of alert around you all the time. Yes, you scared us more than once, those days in the ICU—but since August, when you started the vaccine treatment, everything has changed. You haven’t had any serious respiratory issues, and even when you do get sick, it doesn’t escalate anymore. This is our reality now. We have to start living in it, instead of constantly fearing you’ll end up back in the hospital. Everything you’ve gone through—the weekly shots, the cost, the effort—it hasn’t been for nothing. And every day proves that.
I also brought up the towel, how he didn’t even notice me freezing. I told him we needed to try to be lighter, to actually enjoy this—after all, that’s why we’re here. I let it all out, everything I’d been holding in.
And it seemed to land, at least a little. He said he had thought about it, apologized, and promised he would try to be less anxious about you—less paranoid—and try to be more present, more at ease. But then he added that it was hard, because I had promised a trip for just the three of us, and now there were other people around.
I reminded him that the plan had always included bringing my mom so that he and I could go to the parks together. And besides, the others weren’t interfering at all—they had their own plans, spending the day out while we did ours. That’s how most days would be. The only time we’d all be together would be Monday, at Magic Kingdom, and at home in the evenings.
Not to mention, if it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t be staying in this big, comfortable house or driving a decent car—they’ve helped with the expenses too. There’s a good side to all of this, if you choose to see it.
Lately, I’ve been trying to live one day at a time, focusing on what’s good. But your dad keeps looking for what’s wrong. And I don’t know why.
But as the day went on, things softened a little. Not perfect—but lighter than before.
Let’s hope it stays that way.
12/04 Chapter 532: Upside Down
Today we went to this science-museum-type place in Orlando — that upside-down house with all those quirky attractions inside. We’d been there once before with my parents, but this time it was just the three of us. Before that, of course, we dropped them off (again) to go shopping — this time at the outlet — while we went off to have our own kind of fun.
Thankfully, your dad has actually been following through on what he promised, and his mood has been so much better lately. It changes everything. Things feel lighter, easier… and it makes it so much more enjoyable to be there and really take it all in.
Of course, there are still little things that get under my skin. Like when you asked where we were going and I said, “the crazy house.” Crazy because, well… it’s literally upside down. But your dad immediately jumped in to correct me, saying I shouldn’t use that word because you might dream about it, have nightmares. Seriously? Now he’s policing the words I use?
Anyway… sometimes it’s better to be happy than to be right all the time. So I just let it go.
We ended up staying there for quite a while. The entrance alone is this colorful tunnel filled with lights that makes you feel like the whole world is spinning — you loved it so much we went through it again and again.
You also got really into drawing a zebra on one of those interactive pads, and you couldn’t get enough of the attraction where you press your little hand into the mold. I remember that one so clearly, because the first time we came, your dad and I actually argued about it. I wanted to make all three of our handprints together, but he didn’t want you to touch it — worried it might be dirty, that you could get contaminated.,
And yet, ironically, this second visit turned out to be the one you enjoyed the most. You played, explored, touched everything… even though he still wasn’t a fan.
We also spent a good amount of time making giant bubbles, which you absolutely loved. It was a fun day — one of those rare, easy days where everyone got what they wanted. I made an effort to keep him happy, you were happy, and somehow it all just worked.
On our way out, we called the others to check on their shopping, but they asked us to pick them up and drop them off at other stores instead — apparently the outlet was too expensive. We were starving by then, so we stopped at a restaurant first. It was really good, even if a bit pricey, and then we went to get them.
The only thing about the restaurant… they automatically add an 18% service charge to your bill and still leave space for you to tip on top of that. Honestly, tipping culture in the U.S. can feel so excessive, almost absurd.
Tipping culture in the U.S. can feel confusing and honestly frustrating. There, tipping isn’t just a “bonus”, it’s often expected. In restaurants, for example, the standard tip is usually 15% to 20% of the bill, sometimes even more. And it doesn’t stop there: you’ll often see tipping expected for things like coffee, delivery, taxis, haircuts, and even self-service kiosks.
The key issue is that many service workers are paid a lower base wage, and tips are meant to make up the difference.
A lot of people—including Americans—find tipping culture exhausting. It’s everywhere, it’s unclear, and it keeps expanding.
- You’re constantly doing mental math
- You’re unsure how much is “correct”
- You might feel judged if you tip less
- You’re asked to tip even when service is minimal
It turns a simple transaction into something socially awkward and sometimes stressful.
For outsiders, the system can feel especially wrong—and that reaction makes sense.
From a tourist perspective:
- You already paid for the service in the price
- Then you’re asked to pay extra to cover the worker’s wage
- It feels like the employer is shifting responsibility onto you
In many countries, businesses are expected to pay employees a full, livable wage. So when visitors come to the U.S., it can feel like:
“Why am I responsible for paying your staff? Isn’t that the owner’s job?”
Anyways, we didn't let the tip ruin our day. It was a good day.
13/04 Chapter 533: The Magic Within You
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