Rob saw everything as a blur. He could make out shapes—just barely. It looked like a clearing filled with people—or something like it, since his vision didn't give him any certainty. He heard screams and quickly turned his head toward the sound. In that moment, his sight sharpened for just a few seconds, and he saw himself being carried on a log, tied up by the legs and arms. He was screaming for help, but no one seemed to care. They stood still, wide smiles stretched across their faces.
He woke up with a start and saw an old woman enter his field of view. Her skin was wrinkled, her teeth yellow. She muttered a few things, but Rob only managed to understand: "Come with me, quickly!"
Then he woke up again. For real this time. And he let out a relieved breath when he saw he was in his parents' bed. Morning had come, and they still had to finish packing.
The images from the dream clung stubbornly to the boy's thoughts, though he felt calm. Maybe because it was such an important day for him and his parents, he decided not to mention it to Augusto just yet. Maybe he never would—it had just been a dream, after all.
He was happy, even leaving his schoolmates in São Paulo behind. They weren't that close anyway—they only talked at school. So the idea of meeting new kids in a new place was exciting. Not to mention the huge yard at their new house. He was already imagining all sorts of adventures with Bóris, imagining building a treehouse—and how he'd ask his dad for it, too! It would be his fort, a place to go whenever he wanted to think or play alone.
The boy ran down the stairs. His mother scolded him as he zoomed past her like a rocket, arms full of boxes to take outside.
— Rob! You're going to break something or hurt yourself!
— Sorry, Mom! — he said, flashing a silly grin, scratching the back of his neck, and dashing off again. Bóris, of course, was right on his heels.
Most of the move was already out on the front lawn. Augusto sat on the front step, waiting for the moving truck, a shadow of doubt and unease on his face. Rob was a kid, but no fool—he knew his father.
— Hey, Dad. Excited? — he asked, sitting beside him.
Augusto hugged him and planted a loud kiss on his head.
— How could I not be, champ? Just thinking about that house already gets me excited.
— Then why aren't you smiling? Mom and I are. — Rob squinted one eye, made a cheeky face, and stared at his dad.
Augusto laughed out loud.
— I'm just tired, buddy.
— For real, really?
— For real, really. Now go help your mom with what's left. The truck should be here soon to take our stuff... — he paused, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. — And we'll finally be on our way.
Rob did as he was told, not before returning the kiss to his father.
The truck didn't take long to arrive. The moving crew loaded everything in less than half an hour, sealed the truck, and headed off. If all went well, they'd arrive almost at the same time.
The administrator of the Rio Denso hospital had instructed them to leave the keys to their São Paulo house with a realtor, who would arrive as soon as the truck left. Not even a minute later, there was a knock at the door. A woman who looked to be in her fifties, with a large white bun atop her head. Rob hid behind his father when he saw her.
— Mr. and Mrs. Vianna, she greeted them, I've come for the keys, as you were probably told.
The woman smiled at Rob, and Bóris responded with a booming bark. The boy bolted into the car, the dog following close behind. The two stayed locked in the vehicle until the woman left.
Elisa and Augusto waited until she was out of sight, exchanged glances, and went to the car.
— Care to explain what that was, Rob? That's not how you behave, said his mother.
— It's just that... — Rob lowered his eyes, watching his little feet swinging. — Ah, you wouldn't believe me anyway!
— Son, his father said, of course we will. You can trust me.
— I dreamed about her last night.
Augusto looked at Elisa. She discreetly blinked and shook her head. Classic Elisa, silently saying, "Let's not make a big deal of it."
— Alright, champ. Time to buckle up. Let's head to our new house!
With everyone inside the car, Augusto entered the location of the city into the GPS and finally hit the road, leaving São Paulo behind. Trading the big city—with all its dangers, theft, and violence—for a small town with clean air and low crime rates. The memory of the dream still bothered him. He tried to brush it off; there was no sense in worrying Elisa or Rob over it. He looked at his son through the rearview mirror, gave him a wink with his right eye, and said with a big smile:
— Rio Denso, here we come!
Rob let out a loud "Woohoooo!" making Elisa instinctively cover her ears and Augusto squint as if in pain. Seeing their reaction, Rob burst out laughing and said:
— Sorry!
And at last, the three of them laughed together.