A Fronteira

A cidade de Valmonde estava dividida ao meio desde há vinte anos. A Zona Norte era próspera e limpa. A Zona Sul era pobre e esquecida. Entre as duas havia uma fronteira de betão e arame farpado, com guardas armados em torres de vigia. Carla vivia no Sul. A mãe estava no Norte, doente, a morrer.

The city of Valmonde had been divided in half for twenty years. The North Zone was prosperous and clean. The South Zone was poor and forgotten. Between them was a border of concrete and barbed wire, with armed guards in watchtowers. Carla lived in the South. Her mother was in the North, ill, dying.

No posto de controlo, o oficial examinou os papéis de Carla. "Pedido negado. Os residentes do Sul precisam de um visto especial para cruzar." Carla explicou a situação da mãe. O oficial não levantou os olhos dos papéis. "As regras são as regras."

At the checkpoint, the official examined Carla's papers. "Request denied. South Zone residents need a special visa to cross." Carla explained her mother's situation. The official did not look up from the papers. "Rules are rules."