June 18th, 1981 (Thursday)

Goiania city, State of Goias (middle west of Brazil)

─ Are you going out, Regina?

─ Yes, mom. I'm taking Andrea to her roller skating lessons. Has dad left for the hospital yet?

─ He left early. He said he had an important meeting. Is there a problem?

─ No, mom. I'll talk to him tonight. Bye.

─ Andrea, put your seatbelt on.

─ Mom, my name is Clair.

─ Ok, Andrea "Clair", put your seatbelt on.

─ Mom, today I'm going to practice a new move. It's very cool.

─ I'll be on the benches cheering for you.

Regina parked the car in front of the club. She admired her daughter's determination who, with only four years old, was already so dedicated to sports. She loved roller skating.

They went straight to the girl's changing room. In there, there were other moms and their little skaters. There was a fizz in the air, a fuss, everybody talking at the same time.

After dropping Andrea with the coach, Regina and the other moms went to the benches, the official place for all of the mom groupies. There, gossip had no boundaries, with their kids being the main subject.

Regina was watching Andrea perform the moves. She was really focused and perfectionist. She had what it takes to be a champion. The coach was teaching the new move. Andrea didn't seem to have any problems performing it, but, at one point she tried too hard and fell, spraining her ankle. Her painful scream echoed through the gymnasium.

─ Andrea! ─ Regina screamed and ran towards her daughter.

The coach was concerned, and Andrea kept screaming of pain. Regina grabbed her daughter and ran towards the parking lot.

In the car, Regina drove to the hospital where her dad worked. Walter Smith was a lawyer and one of the partners of a private hospital in the city. Twenty minutes later, Regina entered the ER carrying Andrea. Everybody recognized them and rushed to help the girl.

Louise, a hospital doctor's assistant and Regina's friend, said that there was a doctor available for consultation and sent them to Dr. Robert Toledo's office.

Regina entered the doctor's office with Andrea still crying.

─ Good morning! What's the matter? You can put her here on the stretcher.

─ Good morning Doctor. She sprained her ankle while roller skating.

While trying to calm the girl to examine her, Robert looked into Regina's blue eyes. They both felt numb for a second, with a weird and unexplainable sensation. Robert was the first to come to his senses.

─ It seems to be just a simple sprain. I'll ask for an emergency X-Ray to be sure. Hang in there and we'll relieve this pain soon, little girl.

Regine felt her face blush and couldn't pronounce a word. She couldn't face the doctor again. What an embarrassing and awkward situation. She left the doctor's office carrying Andrea, following the doctor to the X-Ray room. Andrea was still crying with pain and screamed when the x-ray technologist tried to adjust her foot for the exam.

─ Let me help you with that Louis, said Robert to the technician while talking to Andrea on the attempt to distract her.

─ So, Andrea, are you good at roller skating?

─ My name is Clair, the child answered.

Robert was confused and even checked the name written on the file on his hand. Regina blushed and explained.

─ Her name is Andrea. She made up this artistic name and sometimes creates these awkward situations.

Regina left the exam room and asked to let her father know that she was in the hospital. The exam went on very fast and Andrea left in a wheelchair. Robert led her to the cast room. Regina followed them. The situation kept getting more and more awkward.

─ It was just a simple sprain, but we're going to need to put a cast on it. She's going to be at least three weeks with her foot immobilized, the doctor explained.

─ I can't skate, can I?

─ You'll have to get some rest from roller skating for a few weeks if you want to get back to this sport, Andrea.

─ I've already told you my name is Clair! the girl answered, a little upset with the news.

─ Andrea, stop with this nonsense. You are being rude, Regina reprimanded her.

In this moment, the room's door opened, and Regina's dad came in, getting the attention of the three, who turned towards him. Walter Smith stopped and looked at them perplexed. He got pale with that scene that brought him memories of somewhere else.

─ Dad, are you feeling good? Andrea is ok, you don't have to worry. 

 Regina got close to him and touched his arm.  Walter came to his senses and gave half a smile.

─ Scaring your grandpa, you little monkey. What was the adventure this time?

─ Just a sprain on her right ankle. She will be on full rest. I didn't know she was your granddaughter. Didn't pay attention to her last name, Robert informed.

─ Well, now you've met almost my entire family. This is my daughter Regina Smith and my granddaughter Andrea Smith, who likes to be called Clair.

─ Dad! ─ Regina reprimanded him.

─ Dr. Robert Toledo is a recent addition to our specialists' team of the hospital, Walter informed Regina. He has an amazing resume. My granddaughter couldn't be in better hands.

─ Thank you for your compliments, Dr. Smith.

─ Well, young lady, you must promise not to put this foot on the ground for the next few weeks. You can pretend to be a pirate, Robert joked in an affectionate way with Andrea. Then, turned to Regina and gave her a prescription for a painkiller, just in case it was necessary.

─ Thank you, Dr. Toledo. Does she have to return here?

─ Yes, I'd like to see her on Thursday, next week, Robert answered, and put his hand out for a goodbye.

When their hands touched, both felt a spark. Regina pulled her hand like she had just gotten shocked and blushed. Although happening fast, it did not go unnoticed by her father.

Walter left the room with his granddaughter in his arms, followed by his daughter, leaving Robert still shaken by the strong sensation that Regina's touch caused him. He shook his head to push away that feeling and went back to his office, where there were patients waiting for him.