Story of Love

Marina met Josh on the internet, on an internet dating site. She was enthusiastic about this seemingly kind man. All the time, he told her how beautiful she was, and he wanted to meet her face to face, and to live with her. But they had a big problem: he lived in Australia and she lived overseas.

The time was passing and she was still in love. Six months later, she decided to go to Australia to meet Josh and live with him. She knew it was crazy, but she couldn't continue far away from the man who she thought she loved. She organized her things and travelled to Australia.

In Australia, Josh waited for her at the airport. When she saw him, she felt on top of the world. A beautiful man with blue eyes and smooth hair falling on his forehead was holding a paper with her name. "Everything is perfect!" - she thought.

But, her dream became a nightmare when she arrived home and saw her bedroom. It was a small room at the rear of the house, with a single bed, a bedside table and a desk. She couldn't believe it! She was too tired to ask, she only could sit down and cry.

The following days she worked like a slave. She just cleaned, washed and cooked for him. The gentile man changed into a terrible dictator. He didn't ask, he just gave orders. He didn't speak, he shouted.

She was sad and unhappy. She didn't have money to go back to her country, and Josh hadn't permitted her to work. He didn't know, but she decided to enroll at a local school for a free painting course. She loved drawing and painting. In the afternoon, while he worked, she was at school.

Her teacher, Erick, was an elegant man. The classic black hair and the glasses gave him an intellectual look. On day, he saw her black, red and white painting and asked her, after the class, why she was sad, and was her painting was a mirror of her soul. She looked around and started to cry. When she calmed herself, she explained what was happening. She opened her heart to him. They became good friends.

Everyday, after the class, they met under a big tree at the school garden and talked about a lot of things. She lived in a bad dream at home, but there, with him, she could smile and enjoy herself. She loved it! He was amusing and intelligent. Also, sometimes she thought him handsome.

One day, she was singing while she cleaned the floor, when Josh asked her why she was so happy and if she didn't have enough house work to do. She was so happy that she only smiled and asked if he wanted anything. He didn't answer, but still suspected something.

The next day, he didn't go to work, followed her to school and saw her talking with a man of her class. He was furious. He run to her, pulled her hair, dragged her out to the street and hit her several times. She couldn't defend herself, because he was too strong.

The people on the street helped her, held him and called the police. Everyone was petrified, the didn't understand why it had happened. At this moment, Erick arrived and saw Marina lying unconscious on the street, covered in blood. A mix of feelings flooded his heart: compassion, sadness, worry and maybe love. He didn't think too much, he lifted her into his arms and drove her to the hospital.

She was unconscious for 3 days, Erick sat on the chair beside her bed. Day after day, his feelings for her grew up. He worried about losing her, he worried for her life. He premised to himself that he would never leave her alone, he would care for her and he understood he loved her.

A few days later, when she was allowed to go home, he waited for her with flowers in his hand. He hugged her and confessed to having loved her in silence. She couldn't say anything, because he kissed her with love. They felt their hearts jumping. They were falling in love. He invited her to live with him, but not as a slave. Now she would be the princess of his life.

The Woman in Purple

Many years ago, in the 1960s, a homeless woman lived on the street in a rich residential suburb of Salvador, northeast of Brazil. She used to wear purple clothes and people called her " the woman in purple".

She slept on the street, asked for food and coins from everyone and she saw and knew everything that happened there.

It was said, she had seen an important politician kissing a woman who wasn't his wife, but she didn't say anything about that. She was still living her poor life.

One day, when the politician went out from his car and was walking home, she blocked his way and asked for money. But this man didn't look at her, he was still walking when he heard her say: " You'd better have coins, because I know your secret and I think you don't want your wife to know it." He stopped, turned and looked into her eyes, stayed a few minutes in silence and started walking again. He didn't say any single word to her.

The next day, she was missing from the streets. The police asked the residents, but no one had seen or heard anything. So, nobody has seen her again, and this mystery hasn't solved.