Fina could still remember what it was like when the days in the shop had flown by. The work was the same and even though she wasn't a particularly talented shop assistant - she compensated with hard work and organisational skills - she had fun. Some days, thanks to Marta, she even had extra fun. And with the prospect of spending some time together in the evening, or even just the little flirtations and banter in between, the hands on her wristwatch turned surprisingly quickly every time.

It felt all the tougher now. The feeling of not having Marta around was even stranger. Of course, Marta had hardly been in the shop in recent weeks out of consideration. And when she had, she had usually gone quickly to the warehouse with Carmen to discuss the most important things that couldn't wait. She had always greeted her in a friendly, almost affectionate manner, but otherwise she gave Fina the distance she had asked for. Nevertheless, Fina had not failed to notice that Marta was suffering. Her eyes were more tired and darker, without the sparkle they usually had. She seemed to have shrunk. And it wasn't just her clothes that seemed to have lost their appetite for colour.

Carmen could probably have told her that every few times she came into the shop, Marta's eyes lit up for a tiny, tiny moment and a smile played around her lips when she saw Fina. Even if it was only out of the corner of her eye. Fina hadn't been able to see it, because whenever Marta entered the shop, she averted her eyes, grabbed the feather duster and started cleaning. Claudia had already made numerous comments about how the shop had never been so dust-free and probably never would be again as it had been during these two weeks. But she simply hadn't been able to stand at the counter in those moments when her gaze had almost automatically wandered back to Marta's figure without her really being able to prevent it. And every time she would have felt the sting that spread from her chest through her whole body and choked her throat until she couldn't get a word out, regardless of whether a customer was standing in front of her. It was not a state she could have endured for long, even if she had been the one to cause it by breaking up. And so she had already started thinking about looking for another job in Toledo or Illescas.

But in the end, at least Marta was still present. Behind her walls in the office, just a few metres away. And as much as it had pained her, the knowledge that this woman who loved her and respected her wishes - and Fina didn't doubt that for a moment - was so close had been also comforting and reassuring.
What use is love in the psyche? Fina had read this question in one of the books Marta had lent her. She quickly found the answer: It gets you through the day.
It silences your anger and frustration to make room for gratitude. Gratitude that this person existed, that he would always exist in some way and that the moments shared were worth sharing. And Fina was also absolutely certain that if she had actually had a serious problem at some point in the future, Marta would have rushed to her rescue.
When she looked around, there were very few couples who still showed such empathy, respect and compassion for each other after a break-up. Most seemed to quickly forget the happy hours together, as if they no longer had any meaning. But didn't every happy hour, every minute have a meaning? Not everything in life ended the way you hoped it would. Not every story has a happy ending. But if you didn't take the risk of crying at the end, could you even laugh from the bottom of your heart at the beginning?Fina even knew couples who were still arguing and hating each other after twenty years apart, when the wounds should have long healed. But those who held on to their anger and frustration could not heal.

Fina would heal, she had known that. She was sure of it then, because she could forgive Marta. And herself. She could release Marta. And herself too. All of this would have taken time. A lot of time. More than Carmen or her father could have imagined. But it would have happened.

That was now in the past. Actually, Fina thought, a new era had dawned. And yes, the air smelled different in the morning, the bread at breakfast had a new flavour and the bed was once again a place to sleep, not to brood.
But Marta was gone for the time being. Marta was absent. And Marta would probably never be back in this place, which was somehow also a little bit theirs, which belonged to them, which was familiar. And in three days' time, she might not be there either. It was surreal.
Not having the opportunity to talk about it with the person who would probably understand the most made it difficult.

Even Carmen and Claudia had allowed themselves to be infected by the depressed mood that the impending farewell brought with it.

But they could have been just as cheerful. It had long been clear that Marta had reached her destination safely. And that the excuses she had come up with for her cousin were sufficient for the moment. By all reports, Don Damian had been raving and had started to put out his feelers to find out where his daughter was, but this distant branch of the family was not yet on his radar. And perhaps never would, because they belonged to an opposition group, which meant that they had been shunned for years. Not that Don Damian had any particular interest in politics, he was only interested in business. But business was to be done with the Franco supporters, not elsewhere.

Fina had also already tried to contact her French friend Esther, but no luck yet. Surely that was only a matter of time.

So a new life would begin in just a few days. Side by side with Marta. That was good, Fina wanted that, she just wished the circumstances were different. No, she actually wished that Jaime and Damian and all the others who were standing in their way would just disappear. But even that probably wouldn't have solved all their problems, because Marta and she would still be trapped in a system they didn't want to be in. They were doing jobs that didn't fulfil them with passion and were up against glass ceilings. Women like them, who didn't want to spend their lives in a factory, a shop or as a wife and mother under the yoke of the church, had to leave or endure it. It was about more than just their relationship, Fina knew that. It was about living the life they wanted to live.

„Fina?"

Carmen tapped Fina on the shoulder, who was lost in her thoughts.

„There's a call for you."

„Como?"

„A phone call, Fina." Carmen pointed to the phone with a smile.

'Querida, how are you?'

Marta's voice was like balm to her ears. One day, Fina realised, she would ask Marta to read the books she wanted to lend her or show her. Just as others could sink into the eyes of others, she could sink into Marta's warm, slightly dark voice. She had noticed this when they had spent their first night in Illescas. They had talked and talked, laughing in between, all while Marta was in her arms. Perhaps she should have been more disappointed that it had remained just cuddling that evening. But she wasn't. Marta was right, it had been a perfect night, because not only had she learnt so many new things about Marta, Marta had also been warm and soft and, above all, full of trust in her embrace. It had seemed more intimate to her that night than anything else she had ever experienced. And Marta's voice had become even deeper and darker as they grew tired.

Tears almost came to her eyes as she thought about it. But she shook herself briefly; after all, she was standing in the middle of the shop and Carmen's eyes weren't the only ones on her. Even if at least Carmen was doing her best to hide it. In a way, the same was true for Claudia, although she had even less talent for hiding her curiosity, or perhaps even her excitement.

'I know you can't talk much, Fina.`

Fina nodded, but then she realised that Marta couldn't see it. At that moment, Doña Florencia inspected the hand creams on the shelf next to her.
'Sí, sí, Doña Augusta, I got that!' Fina barked almost a little too loudly into the receiver.

'I miss you. I miss you very much. I miss you every day, every hour. But especially in the evening. Sometimes I check my watch because I have the feeling it's stopped. Time just doesn't pass without you.' Marta sounded almost agonised.

'Sí, Doña Augusta, of course I know the product!'

'I just want to finally hold you in my arms, Fina.'

'That sounds like a very good idea, Doña Augusta, really!'

'And maybe a bit more than just holding you in my arms.'

'Maaa...Doña Augusta,...that,...that...mhm...we can certainly order that for you! That's no problem at all. Really. None at all!'

'That's good to know,' she heard Marta laugh softly.

'Because you know, the last time we spent the night together has been faaaar too long. And I miss feeling your body. Your soft skin'
Marta's voice had now taken on the purr of a dangerous cat. Fina began to sweat.

'Noooo,no,no,no...it's all right, you don't have to say anything else, Doña Augusta. Really. That's not necessary at all. We'll do everything the way you want it!'

'But I would like to tell you more, Fina.'

'NO! NO!'

Marta was laughing out loud now. It was good to hear her laugh and Fina realised that she hadn't heard it for a while. It was the most beautiful laugh in the world, that much was clear. Even if Marta was laughing at her.

'Bueno, querida, I'm going to hang up now. Don't say anything. I know that you love me. And I love you. There are only three days left, don't forget that. They won't fly by, at least not for me. But they will pass. And then I'll hold you tight and never let you go again, do you hear me? Never again.'

'I was very pleased to get your call, Doña Augusta, very pleased. Please honour us again soon.'

'I will.' That purr again.

Then Fina heard the dial tone. But it still took a second for Fina to put the phone down. Her face was red. And Carmen made no effort to hide her grin.

'It really is about time Augusta finally got herself a hearing aid,' said Doña Florencia with a stern face.

North of Madrid, Marta also put the phone down. She was still grinning and laughing. At the same time, she had no idea what had got into her. She blamed Fina. Fina, with her supposedly innocent brown doe eyes, who had often driven her crazy and always seemed to bring out sides of her that she didn't recognise. What would happen to her when they were finally together properly? Without pressure and without any constraints? We'll find out, Marta thought. Soon. And smiled.