The Vault of Revelation

Secrets and Redemption in Plaza Secrets

The event that marked Plaza Secrets, a small town of just over 5,000 souls, began in 1928. That year, Dona Inês, a woman with a firm hand and mystery in her eyes, was elected mayor and gave an order: build a monumental vault right in the center of Red Falcon Square. There, each resident could deposit, over the course of their life, only one paper — a note, a letter, a secret, a farewell. The Vault of Revelation, as it was called, would only have its contents revealed after Dona Inês’s death.

— The story I can remember starts from 1980, daughter. Dona Inês passed in 2019.

— Okay, go on, dad. This is getting interesting!

Helena rubs her hands in anticipation.

— So, the Moratti family was marked by something. When Alex, the son, graduated, he got a job in the big city, about 680 km from Plaza Secrets. His leaving, over time, made his mother, Januza, fall ill… and his father, the rough Luís Moratti, pressured Alex hard to come back to Plaza Secrets. But Alex, already settled, engaged to Isabele, didn’t want to return. Still, every July and December, at Christmas, he came back to visit his parents.

Rumors said that his relationship with his father was never the same. Old Moratti was seen, on a gray August night, slipping a note into the vault late at night.

— Wow, dad! That’s rough, go on…

— Then there’s the Minard family… It was Letícia, a single mother, who also clashed with her father, Jair. They never got along again, always trading harsh words. And Jair was seen, at dawn, putting his note in the vault too.

— Poor Letícia… That’s sad.

— Yeah, I agree, daughter.

— Keep going? What else do you remember?

— Gusmão and Rosa. They separated, and word has it he regretted it deeply. Seems like he was the one who messed up, and he was also seen, on a rainy winter night, dropping his note in the vault.

— Dad, aren’t those Marcela’s parents? I remember you telling us in a family gathering that Marcela went through a dark phase, got into drugs, and people say it was seeing her parents split up.

— That’s right, daughter, it’s not healthy at all. Kids suffer a lot from these things. You know that too well yourself.

— Yeah, don’t remind me. Keep going… I’m dying to get to the vault’s opening. That happened in 2019, right?

— Yes, daughter, 2019. Next family: the Madeiras. That one was wild. Their eldest daughter abandoned the parents’ religion, wanted a different life, and ended up being kicked out.

— No way, dad!

— Yes, daughter. Shocking, but true… Flavinha left home and Plaza Secrets. The parents tried for years, but never found her. Rumor says she went abroad, maybe to Spain. Her parents were seen, depressed, bringing their notes to the vault on an autumn night.

— That’s crazy! People get into conflict over so many things, don’t they? Why not just talk it out?

— For sure, daughter. But remember: we’re human. We’re more complicated than you might think. Write down these families, so later you can help me with the revelations.

— Okay, wait, I’m getting pen and paper.

— I’ll get some coffee. Want some?

— I do, but not boiling hot, please! You know good coffee is only up to 82 degrees…

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— Don’t worry, daughter, nobody here commits crimes against coffee!

— Dad, here’s your coffee.

— Can’t find a pen!

— Type it on your phone, daughter.

— Oh, true, can’t believe I didn’t think of that, haha!

— So, write down… Moratti, Minard, Madeira. Gusmão and Rosa separated.

— I’ll just write Gusmão, since he was the one who left a note.

— Fair enough…

— Tell me about the Rivera family, I think that’s all I remember for now. If any other comes to mind, I’ll tell you.

— Sure. The Rivera case was two brothers, Cal and Dimas. Cal apparently owed Dimas money, and Dimas never forgave him. They stopped talking, and that made their mother, Dona Zezé, sick. This lasted for years, until Dimas was seen slipping a note into the vault, late at night.

— People go at night to hide it, right, dad? But there’s always someone who sees.

— Exactly, daughter. The more you try to hide, the more eyes get drawn to you.

— Dad, did you ever put a note in there?

— If I had, I don’t know if I’d tell you… haha. But no, daughter, I have nothing to hide. What I need to tell you, I’ll tell you.

— That’s better. Now let’s get to the revelations?

— Let’s go: I’ll tell you what I remember about those families, and if I recall any stray notes, I’ll let you know too…

— Okay, go! I’m all nerves here. Tell me about that vault. What was it like?

— It was made of thick aluminum covered with green anti-rust paint. Had to be cut open with a torch. It was shaped like a short shoe box, with a small opening, like a real vault, but on the side and lower down so people could slide the papers in.

— That’s awesome!

— So, on August 30, 2019, Dona Inês passed away. A silly thing, daughter: she fell at home and hit her head.

— Oh, dad, that’s sad… Did she live alone?

— No, with her eldest daughter, husband, and their two kids.

— Well, to die, you just have to be alive.

— Exactly, daughter! On October 21, 2019, Mayor Orlando Matoso called everyone to Red Falcon Square, ordered the vault opened, set up a stage — it was an incredible event.

— That’s so cool!

— Yeah. So, a lady — I think her name was Arlete, a city councilwoman — would pick a note, call someone from the family. If the person wanted to read it right there, they would; if not, they’d just take it home. The first note I remember was from Gusmão:

“Rosa,
I never forgave myself, I’ve always loved you and I still do, even now, with the vault open. I did what I did to you in a moment of weakness, and I regret it bitterly. I hope you’re happy, and maybe, just maybe, one day you’ll forgive me.
I love you.
Gusmão”

— Wow, dad, poor guy!

— He read it out loud, but Rosa wasn’t there anymore, already remarried, and her husband probably wasn’t thrilled about that, right?

— Yeah, I get it.

— The second one was really moving. It was Flavinha Madeira’s. Her parents had already died, but she came from abroad to attend the vault’s opening. The note said:

“Flávia,
We never stopped loving you. The pain and regret brought us hell on earth.
If you ever read this note, know that we tried to find you, we couldn’t, and we never got to apologize, daughter.
We love you, and will love you forever.
Lúcio and Martha Madeira”

— Dad, that got me. So sad!

— Yeah, I cried that day.

— Knew it, you’re a softie.

— There was a lost note that stuck with me:

“Mina,
That day, I spoke harsh words. I thought it was just pride, that time would fix it, but I never apologized.
If you ever get this note, know that I’ve kept that regret for years, but I always wished you happiness.
You don’t have to forgive me, but I had to tell you:
I was truly sorry.
J.”

— Damn, dad, the weight of harsh words… Grandma used to say that all the time, remember?

— Yes, daughter, my mother always said: “Be careful with the wrong words, they weigh more than you think, son.”

— Now I remember Dimas’s note:

“Cal,
I love you, brother, and maybe it’s too late.
But I want you to know: money isn’t everything, not worth the value of a brother.
Hope you’re well…
Hugs from the heart,
Dimas”

— Sometimes I just don’t know what to think… Not forgiving your own brother over money, that’s crazy.

— I know what you mean, daughter.

— Dad… this really touched me. Can I have a hug?

And right there, in that embrace, the weight of everyone else’s stories seemed a bit lighter — because sometimes, after opening a vault of memories, all we need is to feel we’re not alone.