And in the city that never sleeps, another day dawned. November 5th, 2025. Seven-thirty in the morning. Karla wakes up first. In the room, each one slept in her own bed. She immediately goes to the balcony and appreciates the view, but with a somewhat heavy look. However, with the sunrise, she shows a gradually more pleasant look.
"No luxuries, right, friend?", said Veronica, who woke up about five minutes later. "I've been here for months, so I've gotten used to this routine."
"Oh, my dear... It's not like that's the biggest problem. Rose has done her best. It's not easy to sleep after so much..."
"I know, I know... That was unpleasant, as it always has been. But we need to understand firmly what we are doing here in this world. But enough laziness! I'll take you to work soon."
"Oh, Veronica... You're absolutely right. There was no other way. Now we have to keep forward."
They get changed and prepare breakfast with what Veronica had bought the day before. Some bread rolls with butter and a glass of hot chocolate.
"I wouldn't give up a meal like this for any of those luxuries," Karla stated. Veronica agreed.
"Remember what I told you yesterday? You would easily get used to this new reality. And, apparently, less than a day later, you already look like a commoner."
"Oh, Veronica, don't make those puns!" The two laugh a little more. Rose then arrives in the room.
"Good morning, girls! Did you hear what happened this morning? It's already caused quite a stir. It seems we have two heroes among us. A hope seems to have emerged."
"Seriously, Rose?" Veronica reacted.
"Dear building manager, I see you can take back what you said: in fact, this was the best time for us to move here."
"That's right, my dear Karla. Although there was no filming, about a hundred people saw what happened, how those two figures suddenly disappeared after saving their lives."
"Now things are going to get tough, my friend! You're going to start right in the eye of the storm," said Veronica to Karla.
"My God, that's right! Did you know, Karla, that Veronica is a journalist? I can imagine what her articles will be like from now on. And, it seems, you'll have to start following her."
Karla swallowed hard, a little apprehensive.
"You'll have to overcome your shyness, dear. And the fact that we're in the same apartment will make it inexcusable for you to fail in that endeavor."
"Veronica, Veronica… You'll have to teach me how to write good articles. I think where we lived, there didn't seem to be so much freedom in that regard, so it's another thing I need to understand better."
"Don't think I'm going to let you down. You'll be my intern."
The three laughed again.
"Good morning, darlings!" said a man who arrived suddenly. "Hey, Veronica! I want to read your articles about this chaos at dawn."
"Good morning, Falco! Don't even mention it, the work is going to be interesting. I don't think I introduced you to my friend, Karla. She arrived yesterday after a few years without seeing you, and she'll be my journalism intern."
"Nice to meet you, Karla. I'm the fake owner of this building," and the two shook hands.
"Oh, Falco, don't give me that! In the end, what matters is the paperwork."
"You have more charisma as the owner of this building than I do, Rose. Do you want me to give you the paperwork?"
"Absolutely not!" exclaimed Rose, with an exaggerated and funny reaction, which made Falco laugh along with the two tenants. Falco then pulls out a pack of Marlboro to smoke.
"By the way, are you still on that nicotine thing? I thought the doctor warned you to take a break. If you don't stop, I'll be forced to take over the building's paperwork. I don't have the head for that."
"Oh, Rose… I used to smoke a pack a day; nowadays, just two cigarettes are enough."
"If it were up to me, I wouldn't smoke any. What a horrible smell."
After that, Rose said goodbye to do some shopping, and Falco went to talk to some suppliers to renovate certain parts of the property. After breakfast, the two went down in the elevator to go to work in the taxi that Veronica had called. However, when the taxi driver arrived about six minutes later, he didn't seem strange to Karla.
"Romero?"
"Good morning, mysterious woman!"
"Oh, friend, I forgot to tell you: Romero wasn't there in the city center by chance. I was the one who gave him instructions to approach you and ask you to get a taxi."
"Oh, friend, what if I took another car? Anyway, did you tell me that a very beautiful woman was walking down the street with a suitcase, curious about the movement?"
"Calm your ego, darling!"
"Sorry, sorry…", and the three of them laughed heartily.
"Anyway, I trusted you would get in that car."
The two colleagues got into the car for another day of work. Veronica and Romero had built a good friendship after her first ride with him, which made it easier for Karla to get to the apartment.
Finally, they arrived at work. Sleepless Truth Diaries. An interesting name for a daily newspaper. It didn't yet have the consolidation of a The New York Times, but it already had some recognition from the general public. It usually went into nuances not very noticeable in political events. Conclusions drawn based on certain evidence forgotten over time. A few ended up being just rumors or conspiracy theories; most, however, materialized accurately. Nevertheless, it seemed a somewhat niche branch of news to be the main focus of a rather recent newspaper (about five years in existence), so that, even if better-known newspapers reached the same conclusions, they always had more renown and reach.
It was a small building of about three stories, a few blocks from Columbia University.
Veronica had a good relationship with those who worked there. She arrived and greeted everyone, introducing her friend. At the end of the corridor, a man with an exotic personality approaches.
"Veronica! It consoles my heart to see thee on the horizon of my vision. Thy talent is indispensable."
The two women chuckled discreetly at the use of so formal pronouns.
"This will be your boss from now on, dear; provided you pass the interview."
It was William, co-founder of the newspaper with his brother, Ricardo, who hadn't yet arrived.
"Interesting… Was this the friend who gave you the day off yesterday? Let's talk and see if you have the talent to be a journalist. If not… I won't want to see your face for many days!"
"Okay…", said Karla, with a somewhat hesitant expression. The two then went to William's office. She sat down, and he began to speak, looking out the window.
"Make yourself comfortable, dear. Perhaps the term 'talent' that I used isn't the most appropriate. In truth, being a good journalist isn't necessarily a gift, but, above all, the determination that this work demands. A lazy journalist may even have some renown, but that doesn't make their work well done."
"I suppose that applies to any profession, William. Performing a function with excellence should be what a professional aspires to. Not simply the speed in delivering things, because often haste destroys the care."
"I don't disagree with you. This applies to everything in life. However, we're at a newspaper. We're talking specifically about being a journalist, a job that demands immeasurable responsibility, although many today have succumbed to mediocrity. You see: we're just a mid-sized newspaper in a three-story building, far from the center of New York, where The New York Times is located. One day we may be rewarded as that newspaper was, for a remarkable work spanning more than a century. However, that shouldn't be a journalist's goal. Even if fame doesn't bring prestige, they must keep going. That's why my brother and I created this newspaper. But, in the end, what is that goal? Your answer could lead to me kicking you out of this venture."
A conversation that delved into rather profound aspects for a job interview. However, after about five seconds, Karla didn't seem to hesitate.
"Presenting the truth."
"And what is the truth, Karla? Many people have their own truths out there. Many beliefs can be seen in different peoples and different individuals."
"The truth is what cannot be contested. Perhaps our perception of reality is different, but it remains one. If it weren't so, the idea of lying would be absurd and inconceivable. Without a single reference point, there is no way to judge the absurdities of certain actions taken. A journalist, within their line of work, narrates facts that need to be public. Even if there are diverse beliefs, the denial of these facts cannot be allowed. Therefore, the journalist needs to be a nuisance, in a certain sense."
Just those answers left William speechless.
"He must be the voice of the people, not necessarily because he is an opinion-giver whose opinions are agreed upon by the majority, but rather because he gives reach to what cannot be said by the masses: the truths that emerge in the world."
William, with an almost passionate look, didn't think twice.
"You're hired!" And he gave Karla a euphoric hug. "Even Veronica ended up making a mistake in that last aspect. She didn't consider that journalists, even if they give their opinions and say what the people want to say, should never stray from the truth. Please settle in, our new talent."
Veronica had overheard the conversation from outside and was surprised.
"Could it be that I'm the one who needs to learn from you, after all?" After that, she resigned herself with a smile on her face. She knew Karla, and she knew that she had extraordinary talent and adaptability, in general. There was not even a hint of envy in Veronica's heart, but exactly the opposite: an immeasurable joy at being friends with such a person for years.
Veronica approached Karla as she was leaving the interview.
"Hired, right?"
"That's right!" And the two hugged, jumping.
"Hey, hey, hey!" A man approached, looking rather grumpy. "Has work turned into a rave now?"
"Oh, Ricardo, don't spoil the mood," Veronica reacted.
"That's right, brother. Don't be so pessimistic, oh, blood of my blood. A talent has appeared among us. I present to you Karla."
"My apologies, Karla. A pleasure to meet you," and Ricardo shook her hand. "I think I slept badly because of this news about the hooded figures. There's still very little information about them; I had to hunt them down diligently."
"You went to sleep at six in the morning, little brother?"
"Six-thirty, to be more precise."
"Well, girls. I think this news story represents the greatest potential to be considered in the world of journalism. There are many possibilities. Of course, we should avoid illogical conjectures as much as possible, especially when dealing with a fact like this, which could change the entire world as we know it. But we can't avoid crossing that line by a hair's breadth. Veronica, settle in your intern. I don't know if she'll need to be taught much, but at least she can get used to the daily routine here."
"I agree. I know her better than anyone, and I know I won't need to teach her that much."
"Karla, I hope you're ready. Maybe not so much now at the beginning, but a journalist's life is too rough. There will be many sleepless nights," Ricardo added, using himself as an example.
"I understand. Having a friend in the same house, I think it won't be a burden I have to carry alone."
The two brothers went to talk about the information, which would soon be passed on to Verônica, who was the manager of the newsroom. Yes, it was in a period of less than a year that she managed to rise to that position.
"Karla, after work, shall we stop by McDonald's?"
"Oh, yes! That fast-food place you mentioned earlier, right? I'm curious."
"I'm warning you: act naturally, as if you already know McDonald's. It would be very strange if such a famous chain were unknown to you like that. Besides, have a good time. There's also Burger King, but I don't like it that much."
"No way! You'll have to take me there too. Maybe I'll like it."
"To each their own. But I was going to take you anyway, don't worry about it. You have to enjoy this city!"
And so began Karla's first day of work as a journalist. Something that started extraordinarily quickly, without bureaucracy, since the founder himself recognized this talent (although he himself was somewhat eccentric, while his brother was more down-to-earth; a few days would have had to pass if Ricardo had been the interviewer, but it pleased William to be there).
They, however, would be much more than journalists, and the not-so-distant future would show this.