12/11/2022 - Nathalia
Reading time: 4 min
Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash
Interview one: Gabriela. São Luís 11/02/1989
Can you please tell us about your relationship with Nathalia?
“I was Nathalia’s best friend. Nobody knew her better than me. Not her mum, not her coach, not any of her boyfriends.”
Did you hear from her after she left?
“Not a word.”
Can you please give us an idea of what happened close to the trip?
“She didn’t want to go. She tried everything to get out of the tournament, but she needed the money, you know, to get that slimy politician off her back.”
Why do you think she didn’t want to go?
“No idea. She hated being in the spotlight, you know? She was a good kite-surfer, but never wanted any publicity. She also hated working, but she took a job in a fast-food after that journalist saw her coming out of the Hilton. But, you know, it’s difficult to remain invisible once you’re associated with the most corrupt political class of the last twenty years.”
Do you think she was worried for her safety? Maybe that’s why she accepted to participate in the tournament?
“All I know is that she wanted to disappear. Rio is so far away; she thought nobody would recognise her down there.”
Interview two: Paolo. Rio de Janeiro, 15/02/1989
Can you please tell us about your relationship with Nathalia?
“I was her official photographer and PR during the tournament.”
We thought she didn’t want any media attention.
“Exactly. What an easy job, right? Wrong. When I failed to send the first pictures, my boss was not happy. He retained my pay. My colleagues were working an hour a day; the rest of the time they were chilling on the beach. Me? I was begging a spoiled child to do what she was supposed to do. Let me do my damn job.”
Don’t you think there was a reason for her to stay out of the spotlight?
“In hindsight? Of course. But during the qualifications, I was just trying to keep my job. She didn’t want to be there, that was clear enough, and was making that my problem.”
If she didn’t want to be there, why do you think she signed up for the tournament?
“Money. Surfing pays pennies in Brazil. This tournament was sponsored by a few European companies; the first prize was enough to turn any of those girls’ life around.”
What do you remember of the night she disappeared?
“She had a change of heart.”
Can you be more specific?
“Well, as I said, I was only trying to do my job. I saw her smashing the competition during the qualification rounds, snapped a few pictures, wrote a brief report and sent it to my editor. She heard me on the phone and bit my head off. I was only doing my job.”
So you keep saying.
“Hey, I had no idea. Anyway, a few hours later, the scandal comes up on the news.”
What scandal?
“The governor who raped and killed all those prostitutes. Allegedly. You must know about the scandal. Anyway, Nathalia vanished for an entire day, missed the quarter-finals, and I went on my knees, begging the organisers to let her surf for a spot in the semi-finals. Degrading stuff, I tell you. When she comes back, she screams for a press conference. A big one. So, I organise it and, guess what? She doesn’t show up. She cost me every last drop of credibility. They won’t let me photograph a birthday party now.”
Does it mean you stand by your early statements?
“Of course not. I didn’t know what happened to the poor girl. I was angry she got me fired, that’s all.”
Interview three: Tiago Oliveira; mayor of São Luís. Walking towards the municipality office, 01/03/1989
Sir? Can we ask some questions regarding Nathalia Da Silva?
“No comment.”
What was the nature of your relationship with her? Was it sexual?
“No comment.”
Was it consensual? You are thirty years older than she was.
“No comment.”
Do you deny paying for the flight of the men suspected of her abduction?
“No comment.”
Don’t you think it’s strange that she would disappear the day her location became public, only a few hours before a big press release, after the scandal of the governor, a good friend of yours, and after the allegations on your person?
“Be very careful of what you imply, Mrs Domingo.”
Are you threatening me?
“I don’t threaten. I’m just saying it wouldn’t be wise starting with the wrong foot.”
About this story
Prompt:
ELEMENT ONE: The Physical Journey
Stories are all about movement, and sometimes a literal journey is a great way to promote that. For today’s challenge, your fic must involve actual travel of some sort. Of course, there’s always room for flexibility on kind and why, but this element should be read literally because…
ELEMENT TWO: The Emotional Journey
…Your main character should ALSO have a change of heart by the time they reach that destination. Of course, the heart of that conflict is entirely yours to craft, and the change may be just as subtle or grand as you feel is appropriate.
OPTIONAL ELEMENT: The Literary Journey
Quickly and safely traveling to a fairly remote destination in a questionably safe, faded red airplane with an obnoxiously noisy engine might leave you completely out of breath, so for your optional challenge, do the whole thing with NO ADVERBS. Who needs them anyway, right?
From the official page of FFM 2022.
Notes on the challenge
Each and every story published here has been written, reviewed, polished and published in less than 90 minutes. Which means you’re going to find spelling mistakes, ugly sentences and weird structures. I still hope you’ll enjoy them!
