—How long have you been working here?
—Three years, sir.
—Do you like your job?
Elena hesitated for a second.
“I like helping my sister,” she replied honestly.
Julian tilted his head slightly.
—Is your sister deaf too?
Elena nodded.
—Yes, he is sixteen years old.
Carmen gently touched her son’s arm.
Then he began to move his hands rapidly.
Elena translated.
—She says I reminded her of herself when she was young, when nobody took the time to learn how to talk to her.
The restaurant was filled with elegant murmurs and soft music.
But a different kind of silence began to form around the Valdés table.
Carmen continued speaking in sign language.
Her hands moved with excitement.
Elena translated slowly.
—She says that never in all these years had anyone in a restaurant taken the time to talk to her like that.
Julian looked at his mother with a serious expression.
Then he looked at Elena again.
And then he said something that made the entire restaurant fall silent.
—Elena, would you like to work for my family?
Elena blinked, confused.
-Mister?
Julian placed both hands on the table.
—My mother needs someone who can communicate with her every day.
Elena felt her heart begin to beat strongly.
—As an assistant?
Julian shook his head slowly.
—As part of our family.
At that moment even the nearby waiters stopped moving.
Mrs. Herrera watched from afar with her eyes wide open.
Julian continued speaking in a calm voice.
—The salary would be ten times higher than here.
Elena felt the air disappear from her lungs.
But Julian was not finished yet.
—And I will also fully cover your sister’s art education.
The words floated in the air as if time had stopped inside the restaurant.
Elena felt tears beginning to fill her eyes.
Because everything I had done for years…
Every sacrifice…
Every humiliation…
It had been because of Sofia.
Carmen gently took Elena’s hand.
