‘Are you sure? Personally, the only thing I’m sure of is that time brings more questions than answers. Sometimes it takes years to formulate a basic, fundamental question. This boy lost his mother. I lost mine at the age of eight, it was different for me than for Ricardo, but people are always trying to get close to la mamma, no matter how old they are. That doesn’t change, he’ll still be looking for her when he gets back. It’s essential to understand that. You’ll need to see, above all, what isn’t on show. I’m going to lend you a book, it’ll come in useful at this point, trust me. I prefer having my back to the street, as you’ve probably noticed. I’d rather look at any one of these works of art than the street, but then, unless it can show us reality in a different light, what’s art for? You know where I live, bring it back after that Jonás of yours returns.’

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My mum sent me this email: ‘My darling daughter, you don’t know how much I love you, how much I think about you. Yesterday I went to the clinic for a check-up, I was chatting to the doctor and I thanked him for looking after you. But silently, dear, I also said thank you because you’re ok, and not only that but I can see you more clearly now. It’s Friday night, I’m feeling calm and happy, and I wanted to tell you that I love you like I never believed possible, that what a son or daughter awakens in you is very powerful, and all the more so when they mean everything to you, the way you both do to me. Oh, and the doctor says you should go in and see them because he’s got a new repertoire of jokes. He also said Jonás must be a very lucky man. Why don’t you two come over when he’s back? We’d like to know how he got on in Spain.’

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