Chapter 8 - The Encounter
A week later, Valeria was walking through the quiet streets of Coyoacán, the sun warming her shoulders. She carried a small bag of groceries and a fresh bouquet of hydrangeas for her grandmother’s altar.
As she rounded the corner near the central plaza, she saw a familiar figure sitting on a stone bench.
It was Camila.
She looked exhausted, her hair messy, her clothes simple and faded. The polished, glamorous influencer who had stolen Valeria’s life had vanished, replaced by a nervous, broken girl staring at her phone.
When Camila saw Valeria, she froze. For a second, Valeria thought she would run. But instead, Camila stood up, her eyes filling with tears.
"Valeria," she whispered, taking a step forward. "Please... I’m sorry. I was stupid. Rodrigo told me you didn't care about him anymore. He told me you were going to leave him anyway."
Valeria stopped, looking at her former friend. She felt no anger, no hatred, and no desire for revenge. All she felt was a profound, quiet pity.
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"He lied to you, Camila," Valeria said softly. "Just like he lied to me. The only difference is, I stopped listening."
She turned and walked away, her steps light and even, leaving Camila standing alone under the shadow of the old church.
