Sorry for not coming to your birthday, I ran over a child.

I’m sorry, Sergio, for not being able to come to your birthday. The truth is, I ran over a child on the road, — admitted Jaime as he downed a shot of orujo. — I was working on a new construction site, got into my car, and just as I pulled onto the road, this kid suddenly appeared on the hood.

Can you believe it? Luckily, I was driving at a low speed.
I immediately got out and saw that the boy was still alive.
I asked him how he was, and he said he was fine.
A tiny redhead, couldn’t have been more than six years old.

— Where are your parents? — I asked him.
— Mom’s at home — he replied —. She’s making dinner.
— Well then, let’s go — I said —. We’ll go talk to your mother.

He led me to his building, pointed at the door to their apartment, and hid behind me.
I rang the bell, and a woman opened the door.
She was beautiful — I have rarely seen anything like it — but she seemed somehow dimmed, I don’t know how else to explain it.
Her eyes didn’t shine, you know?

— Excuse me — I said —, but something happened. Please don’t be alarmed: I hit your son with my car.
He’s fine, here he is — I said, pulling the boy out from behind me —. But maybe you’d like to call the police?

— There’s no need for the police — she replied in a low voice —. It’s already the fifth time he’s done something like this.
— How so?

— Marcos, go to your room — she told him firmly.
Then she turned to me —. Please, come into the kitchen. Would you like some tea? Or maybe a coffee?
By the way, her tea was delicious, made with herbs.

— I’m sorry for what happened, — said Irene, as she introduced herself —.
Marcos overheard me telling a friend a few days ago how hard it is to be without a husband.
And of course, he decided to find me one this way.
He’s already jumped in front of five cars.
Two of them nearly had heart attacks.
I tell him that he’s more than enough for me, but he’s as stubborn as his grandfather.
That man too — once he set his mind to something, no one could change it.
Did your car get badly damaged? Would you like me to pay for the repairs? No? Well, as you wish.

And there I was, standing there, looking at her, realizing I had fallen in love.
You won’t believe it, Sergio, but it was the first time I was absolutely sure she was the one.
Exhausted, wearing a house robe, no makeup.
And I felt that if I lost her, I would jump out the window.

— I know this must sound absurd, but… would you let me make it up to you by inviting you and Marcos to the movies? — I asked.
— That’s not necessary — she said —. Please understand that Marcos might start imagining things again.

— Do I seem unpleasant to you? — I asked.
— It’s not that. It’s just… in other circumstances…
It feels like I deliberately used my son to find a husband.
It embarrasses me.

— And then I’d be a scoundrel trying to take advantage of the situation, — I joked —.
So, we’ll both burn in hell.
But since we’re here, why not burn in the same fire?

— I don’t remember exactly what else I said, but the next day I went to pick them up and took them to see “Transformers” at the cinema. Afterwards, we had dinner at a restaurant. Then…

Well, Sergio, I came to tell you that we’re getting married in June.
We need a photographer. Think you’re up for it?
Look how photogenic they are.

Jaime pulled out his phone and showed a picture of a beautiful smiling redhead and the boy sitting next to her.

Now I’m sure that Cupid doesn’t have wings.
What he has is a face full of red freckles and two missing baby teeth.
His name is Marcos.
But the last name… well, soon it will be Jaime’s, no doubt about it.