WATERMELON CURLY

Photo by me "It’s because now I feel the need for words—and what I’m writing is new to me because until now my true word has never been touched. The word is my fourth dimension." Clarice Lispector, Água Viva There are days when I catch myself thinking that if it weren’t for Robinson Crusoe , I might not be who I am today. Or maybe, without Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, Álvares de Azevedo, Camões, and Clarice Lispector, what would be left of me as a reader and dreamer? Every book I've held has been like a piece of ground I’ve stepped on, a step beyond the familiar, a window to worlds I couldn’t reach because of financial limits. I have this quirky habit of walking around with a book in my hand, reading as I go. "The girl who reads while walking," that’s what everyone calls me. To keep up the habit, I always have a book in my bag, even when I don’t have time to open it. It’s almost like a talisman, a kind of safety net, a promise that, at some point in the day,

  Photo by me "Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons." - Jim Bishop. I need the sun to be happy. I learned this in the hardest way during my years living in Norway. As a Brazilian, growing up in a dry and warm state, sunny days always seemed overwhelming. But life is about balance, not just what we think our minds and bodies can endure. Vitamin D is vital for our mental and physical well-being. I can feel the difference in my health. It’s been a year and a month now, living in the Netherlands, and I’m so grateful for everything this place has given me. Walking after work in the rain, cycling through the long days of summer—whether for a short ride or a long journey. Spending hours at the beach with friends and family, no matter how windy or cold it gets. Discovering the soft pastel colors of spring, new flowers, quaint pathways, and little cute villages. Savoring the magic of Christmas markets and the much-needed sunlight in January. What a privile

  Photo by me  You know, it feels like this crazy weather is messing with more than just the temperature. Yesterday it was unbearably hot, and now, as I look out the window, everything’s covered in this fog that reminds me of the blanket I just pulled out of the closet. The moon’s up there, all shy, almost hiding. Some days, it feels like the sky is playing tricks on us, doesn’t it? But today, I’m not even paying much attention to that. My mind’s somewhere else—at the office, stuck on those silly glances and grins I’ve been sharing with her. We have one of those relationships where, if someone from the outside saw us, they’d probably think we’re acting like kids. You know how you tease someone just to get their attention? Yeah, it’s like that. We laugh at bad jokes, make fake angry faces, but deep down, we’re always flirting—pretending no one notices. Or at least, we pretend no one notices. She asks to see my badge like it’s nothing, but there’s something in her smile that makes my hea

Photo by me Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman The Parisian sun was out in full force, totally breaking all the stereotypes I had in mind. I mean, you’d think the charming, historic streets would offer some cool shade, right? Nope. “I can’t believe I left Goiânia just to roast in Paris,” my daughter complained. She’s been through summers in Norway and the Netherlands, so she was a bit surprised that Paris could crank up the heat too. So, we decided to escape into the Louvre—perfect plan. It was around 11:30, and with technology on our side, we breezed right through the entrance without any lines. Inside, it felt like stepping into a massive maze of art, with every turn taking us through different eras. Honestly, it felt like walking through invisible portals into the past. My daughter? She’s more into the backstories of the pieces than the paintings themselves. When I told her the Louvre used to be a fortress and royal palace before becoming the world’s bigges