TPO, 2020
Through the screen, Leo saw Christos and Zander walking towards the Post office’s entrance.
“Guys, you need to be fast.” Leo said.
“We can’t make it.” SJ said.
“We have less than five minutes.” Leo said.
“It’s impossible to break this wall in five minutes.” Patrice said.
“Our lives depend on it.” Leo said.
“It’s impossible, Leo.” SJ said.
“What do we do?” Leo said.
“Can you do anything out there?” Patrice said.
Leo took a deep breath in and then a deep breath out. Benjamin told him that breathing in and out calms a person. He tried it several times. That’s when he realized he wasn’t the professor. He wasn’t in Lacasa De Papel. He was in the real world and he was helpless. The document that can free him from his past, free him the hate he had for his parents was inside the office and there was nothing he could do. Sometimes there is nothing you can do but let it rain and wait for the sunshine. In his life, there was nothing known as sunshine.
“Guys, we have to try.” Leo said.
He saw SJ and Patrice taking their machines back.
“Screw it. Let’s do this.” SJ said.
He clicked his MacBook. Zander and Christos greeted the guards. The guards stood firmly, like those soldiers showing respect to their superiors in movies. He’s the retired president. No guard will bother inspecting him. Christos entered the office, trailed by Zander.
Back to SJ and Patrice, they continued chipping.
Christos passed through the reception office. He waved his hand to the female receptionist. She looked young and lovely, maybe in her mid-twenties.
SJ and Patrice chipped harder.
Christos and Zander entered the elevator.
SJ wiped his face with her palm. Patrice kept on chipping.
Christos and Zander came out of the elevator on the third floor. Christos’s hands dived into his pocket.
Patrice and SJ kept chipping.
Christos opened the door to the locker room. He smiled.
“Guys, stop chipping. They are already in the room.” Leo said.
SJ slid slowly down the wall. Patrice’s hands were on his head. The expressions on their faces said it all. It was like they were hit by a high megawatt shock. They couldn’t move. They were powerless. The only hope they had for thirty-eight years was about to disappear. Leo wiped the tears from his face. He hadn’t realized that he was crying the whole time.
Christos opened the locker.