Chapter 1
Few years ago, the mask’s use had been prohibited during the Malaga city’s carnivals. But this did not mean that its inhabitants gave up. Secretive, chary, but ambitious, groups of walkers grouped in the halls that welcomed them, rebels against the rules. The chosen songs have only assigned for rebel people. The masks used hid their identities, so Catalina took the opportunity to rebel a little more, just more.
It was a chilly day. February, although with less incidence in the Spain’s south, was a month that did not give up to the naïve people. But Malaga’s people, hard workers, intellectual and defiant, did not surrender to that month. The best musicians showed off their best son. The splendid floats were preparing to show the best of their battles. The thrown flowers danced, delineating a new path in the Alameda Principal. New spirit, new brightness, new reasons to ponder… and fight.
Catalina was encouraged to escape, even momentarily, from that golden glass cage, knowing that her husband, Pedro Barquero, was out of city. She had already done it long ago, when she walked aimlessly to the suburbs, to the scrubs, and she found her warmth, the color of her blood, the passion of her heart. And now, although she knew that she had done wrong by leaving her love behind her, without mediating words that were able to describe that feeling that seized her, she desired to feel free of her again. Be her, just her.
She was safe with the mask, no one would discover her, no one would mention her surname. She would be just one more, of those women who left the carousel and then went walking to the dancing party.
Determined, though anxious, her steps led her to the Press Association Masquerade Dancing Party. When she arrived it, the forbidden decadence was actioned before her. Music, champagne, laughter, people took the opportunity to hide and enjoy the life.
Although she had longed to experience the splendor of the Malaga carnival years ago, she still had time to view, to dance, to enjoy. She took off her fine coat, the last sign of what her last name meant. She placed her feet in a dance position, to finally encourage herself to get out the comfort zone. She had to achieve her freedom, even if it was on a sneaky carnival night.
Free, her body moved free. She was no longer a woman of high society anymore, at least she would hide that night. She would decide tomorrow what to say to her husband, to her family, to society. But today, she could allow herself to be blow away by the desire for hope for a new life, even if it were short-lived.
But suddenly, her entire body rumbled, her entire body revolted. What her life returned to her and showed her, paralyzed all her actions.
Catalina opened her eyes without stopping to of the troupe’s sound, to the hope’s sound, to the sound of that eternal dance that was created between she and her months before. A new world, the one she had refused long ago, was now coming back to her. A kind, warm, bright, shy love, above all shy... and forbidden.
She had wanted to make her first rebellion act, without regrets anymore, hidden behind the mask that protected her. But what she would never expect was that she would meet him again, with that treatment man whose was warm, whose husky voice was cozying, whose shining eyes looked at her, whose touch was warm, loving and devoted, as she had always desired for years, after so many abuses from her husband.
Lucas had directed his steps toward her, behind his mask and no doubt. He had desired through the nights for this dream, for this moment. Catalina, his Catalina, was a few meters from him. The mornings when he had cared for her had seemed far away to him. The afternoons when he watched her had seemed far away to him. The nights when he coveted her had seemed long gone, but now all this no longer mattered.
He had never forgotten her, and the time that had passed had not reduce it. He was still deeply in love with her. He had wondered what had happened to her, why she had abandoned him, because of he had always taken care of her.
“It’s you?”, he asked her.
Catalina didn’t answer. She just shivered.
Now that she had enjoyed echoes of a new life, even if it was momentary, the established normality overshadowed her mind and her heart. Abuses and violences attacked her mind again, her soul and her reason, which refused to listen to what her heart had experienced with Lucas time ago.
Their glances held them like if the separate time between them had never happened. Tears, only guilty tears, impotence tears, sadness tears began to fill Catalina’ face for setting duty before love. But now, her face was clean and strong because her eyes were mirrored in his eyes, as she had desired it so much.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you”, Lucas said, gazing at her happiness and yearningly.
He wanted to carefully remove the Catalina’s mask, but she stopped him.
“Why did you leave me, Catalina? Why?”. He caressed her face gently.
She missed his electricity that she felt on her skin. She loved him, of course, but she couldn’t tell him the truth, she couldn’t.
“I...“, she answered with a palsied voice.
“Did I do something wrong? Did I treat you rudely? Because if it was like that, I promise I’ll fix it. I can improve. I just desire you to feel good, loved, safer, calm in my arms. You will have everything with me, I swear.
“I’m sorry...“, she said crying. She was going to add something else, but her altered breathing didn’t allow her.
She bowed her head, resigned. She wanted to hide her face from her shame, seeing herself discovered by Lucas, that man who had given her honest and warm love, and to whom she had only answered with fear.
“I don’t have to apologize you anything,” Lucas said while he lifted her chin to force her to look at him.
“Lucas, I...”.
“I know how difficult your life is, Catalina. I’m willing to risk everything for you. Did you hear me?” To everything!”
Her eyes widened.
Lucas removed Catalina’s mask slowly and without words. He kissed her with tenderness and devotion. Finally, he allowed himself to be led by the passion whom that had been gnawing him for days, nights, and months of perpetual state of expectation.
He cradled Catalina in his arms. He took her hand and disappeared into the sea of people who continued at their dances and festivities. Because from that day, in February 1936, at Malaga capital, Dr. Lucas García was willing to love Catalina del Rey again, his forbidden patient.
