Inside the car we couldn't hear anything but the sound of her breathing, she looked to the sides in alert even though she was in a closed place like this, and especially to the taxi driver, the more she looked, the closer she got to my body, she was aware that not all men were bad, but she couldn't help feeling afraid, I understand her, really, in my first months here, it was very difficult for me to adapt to living with many people, especially around, when I was alone with my uncle it was one thing, but when there were other people around, I couldn't help but be afraid, because I knew in my mind that someone there could do the same thing that that man or my mother did, especially since they were of a similar age to them. When we arrived and got out of the car her grip on my arm made me pull away from her and wrap her in my arms, I hugged her as tight as I could, but not to hurt her. - Everything will be fine, I'm here, don't worry. - I really wanted to stop saying those words, mainly
It was the last thing I saw, her eyes, her eyes were the last thing I could keep in my memory before that door was closed, and I was alone with two strange women, I know I shouldn't be afraid of them, but I couldn't, my whole life I have learned to feel this way about anyone, especially after an aggression, so many people hurt me while I was growing up that it was too hard to trust to be alone in some closed room, when I was alone in life this fear was relieving itself, but apparently I still had remnants inside me, and so I tried to focus my mind on those eyes. - Miss, my name is Silvia, I know that this moment can be difficult, but don't worry, we won't force you into anything, but know that we need to take some pictures of the bruises to leave on record. - The woman in the white lab coat, blonde, looked like the doctor in the hospital, so I thought it was the same, she calmly explained what should be done, I took a deep breath uncomfortable, I had never shown my body to another per
"Please... stop! Please! Think of something different, Ayanne! Please think of something different, it will be okay. I tried to focus my thoughts on something else, but nothing came to mind even if I tried hard nothing good, just the repeated scenes from my childhood, just every sensation of pain I felt from every cut and burn." - Those scars, you have a long time, right? - The policewoman asked, I agreed with a groan as I shook my head, sobbing as my tears wet my face. - How long? - She asked again. "Why? Because you keep going, it's obvious you have nothing to do with that man, please stop looking, please. I begged, not even able to form a word. - All right, it's over now. - The woman whispered, and I automatically put my hand on the opening and pulled it over my back, I felt footsteps behind me, and in an instinct I moved away. - NO! - I screamed, scared, crying desperately, cringing in the corner of the wall on the floor, those images came back in my mind, that man beating me
It was hard, getting out of Ethan's arms was extremely hard, even if it was just to change the clothes I was wearing, but I knew he couldn't do that, and I didn't want to be alone, like a frightened child, but I knew I could do it without him actually seeing me change, anyway, I didn't want to be alone, I knew if I did, the monsters would come back, when that kiss was over, I didn't know exactly what to say, but they weren't my concern at that moment, and I was thankful that Ethan didn't ask me anything, and just asked me to get up and change. - You're not really going out, are you? - I asked softly as the man turned his back to me. - I swear I'm not going out, I'll be here with my back to you and my eyes closed. - And that's what he did, I saw him raise his hands to his eyes and keep them there, first I took my pants and put them underneath the strange dress they gave me, and then I took the sleeves off the clothes and left them over my body making sure that no piece of my back show
After a while we had arrived in front of his house, as soon as the car stopped, and he opened his door I followed him on the same side, he helped me out and then closed the door after thanking the man and paying for the ride, I raised my head again and saw my house, it looked normal, but the feeling I had that inside I would find a big surprise that a man would be inside, that door would not hold, but nothing, it was no longer safe in there, the house I fought so hard to acquire was where I completely drowned. "Why? Why did these things have to happen to me? Did I deserve all this? Did I do something wrong? But nothing came to mind, no sin, no criminal act, no insult to the elders, even though I suffered so much I never disrespected anyone, I was just born." "But why that? Because I was simply born? Maybe it was, maybe that was the answer." - I'll change your doors, I'll put new ones in place. - I heard Ethan's voice, for a moment I had forgotten that the man was still there, and I
That moment, that moment was a mixture of emotions, I was anxious, worried, confused and happy when I felt her lips on mine, I was happy, it was the first time I had ever kissed someone, and I was even happier that it was that woman, but at the same time I was confused, I didn't know what to do, I felt Ayanne's tears on my face, mixing in that kiss, it was as if it was her salvation and my doom, my heart was so fast when I rushed into that room, my brain only thought of one thing, if she was okay, when I heard her screams my chest tightened, and when I saw her tears my heart bled, she was helpless, she was helpless against her own fears, and I didn't know how I could help her, but inside of me I knew one thing, that I should be there, by her side, even if it was only to hold her, even if it was only to cry beside her, I should be there. The woman smiling beautifully beside me, who is washing the vegetables so calmly, doesn't even look like the same woman who was writhing and writhing
- Ha! Ha! Ha! I think you're right, you should teach him to pick his own food! - I joined in on his joke as I bent down and opened the cupboard, picked up his pot and put the right amount in the measuring cup. - Come on, boy, let's eat together then. - I placed the pot next to the table between Ayanne's chair and mine, which was at the far end, and as soon as the woman was comfortably seated I went back to the kitchen to get a jug of water from the refrigerator. - Need some help? - I heard her ask. - No, it's okay, you can continue there, I just forgot the water. - I lifted the jug, showing it to her, and then picked up the condiments on the sink and carried them to the table. - There, now we can eat peacefully. - I said as I filled her glass and then mine. - Thank you. - The woman thanked me with a shy smile. - You've been saying that word a lot lately. - I joked with the woman, who quickly turned red. - Eh... Eh, sorry. - She replied, embarrassed. - That word is also coming o
Ethan had left to put the old door on the outside, at that moment I was crouched down in front of my room, the view I had from there was relatively simple, it was just an ordinary room, well lit with ambient light coming in through the large window that served as a very quiet place to read a book or drink a cup of coffee while letting the sun warm your body or just watch the rain fall on a cold day with a mug of hot chocolate, those were good feelings, all very happy feelings if it was anyone else in my place, but not for me, when I stood there alone I felt uncomfortable, I was feeling insecure in my own home, in my own room. My heart was racing faster and faster, every second I was there alone, but that was my home, I had fought so hard to get my own home, I had finally got a place to call my own, the feeling I felt the first time I entered here, I could still feel it, I could feel the happiness that filled my chest to overflowing, those four walls were mine, I spent every penny to b
Flora had said that Ethan would fall in love with me again, but at that moment, I was the one who had fallen in love for the second time. My heart was so warmed by her words that I didn't even notice when the priest was speaking, I could only hear him when he said it. - Please, the rings. - I didn't know who had given them to me, but when I looked across the yard and saw Akira walking in with a bow tie and a little basket in his mouth, my heart melted. He was coming towards us so calmly and elegantly that he didn't even look like a wiggling ball of fur. - You taught him that? - I looked incredulously at the man next to me, who smiled and shook his head. - That was our secret. - When the puppy arrived, Ethan signaled with his finger that he would automatically sit down without letting go of the mini basket. - Good boy! - Ethan stroked his head and I bent down to do the same while he picked up the basket. - Good boy! Akira! As soon as we had the rings in hand, we turned to each othe
In the past, for me life was just life, confusing right, I'll explain it better, for me life was just existing, not really having a meaning, something to believe in, people to care for and smile with, to cry with or just love, for me life was just a life, it had no shape and was colorless, I used paint to give color to a beautiful picture, but nothing painted my own life. Now it's different, my life has a meaning, and I discovered that as well as loving Ethan I could love a profession, which was to be a teacher, but to be specific a drawing teacher, and my first student was finally Megan, who was always happy in my classes, she was going to start studying next year, and she was so excited.Flora too, now she had more time to herself and could take care of herself a lot more, she had time to herself, and you know that day Draven didn't lie, it was true that Liliana wanted to buy my painting, days later she called me, she said it took her a while to find my number, but she got it from K
I remember as if it were yesterday, when we returned home that frightening night, I had a surprise that hurt my heart to know that I had lost, Ethan's house was impeccably clean, and the table was set like a romantic dinner, but when I learned that the pasta he had made was bad because it hadn't been taken out of the water he felt disappointed, and my heart broke seeing him in that state, I remember holding his face and looking deeply into his eyes, if that dinner was important to Ethan then we would make it happen.- Let's have dinner, what you've done, and I'll thank you with all my heart for it, what matters is that we're together Ethan Black. - I kissed his lips in the process, and when I pulled away I looked into his eyes again, looking for some sign of comfort.- But this dinner was for me to give him something important. - His eyebrows were still down and his gaze was on the floor.- So give it to me now, I can't wait, and I don't want to wait, but for this surprise. - I let go
The more time passed, the more anxious I felt, Akira was lying with his head on my legs while I stroked his head, I was sitting on the floor, looking where the headlights of the cars could illuminate, that's where Draven's car was parked, no sign of them and the people who were here I was told were paramedics for a possible serious injury, which terrified me, if they were there it was a sign that Ethan could get badly hurt, I didn't understand much about hospitals, health people or the police, only that Ethan talked about home, but he forgot to say about this part of people who ride in cars to help the injured. - Ma'am, please treat your injuries. - A woman in a similar police outfit with red symbols said the same thing for the fifth time, I shook my head again for the fifth time refusing, I wasn't hurt, I didn't feel anything, they needed to save things for Ethan if he needed them, which I hoped wouldn't happen.- Sir, we found them, over. - A muffled voice was heard, I looked aroun
I was ready to accept my death, or at least be in a coma, or all broken up, but nothing, absolutely none of that happened, I had my eyes closed when I felt my body hit something, and a familiar smell and the sound of loud breathing took over my senses, When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the surrounding darkness, then the white silhouette of Draven in the window I had just jumped out of, and finally Ethan's face, his eyes were pure terror and relief, he was holding me tightly, he looked afraid that he was going to lose me at any moment, and to be honest, I didn't think I would ever see him again.- Ethan? - My voice came out as a choked grunt, I still couldn't believe I was with him.- Thank God I was able to get there in time. - The tension in his voice was so worrying to hear, as if he was totally out of breath, like drowning. Without much to think about, I hugged his neck tightly, feeling our hearts racing in one rhythm.- It was Draven! He said that one of the people
I felt someone's arms around my waist, and it felt like gravity was wrong, my belly was pressed under a thin place like the banister of a staircase, it was strange, I never felt like this, my body moved as if it was upside down. Strangely I smelled an unpleasant smell like a very musty place, a suffocating smell, I felt my consciousness return little by little, I opened my eyes seeing something white still a little blurry, but a familiar smell invaded my memory it was the smell of Draven, his strong perfume was memorable, because it was very strong.- W-what? - I still hadn't understood where or what I was doing, it was dark, but there seemed to be light somewhere in the direction I was looking.- O-where am I? - I tried to move, but I felt the grip on my waist, but strong.- Calm down, honey, it's okay, but if you keep moving like that you'll fall. - Was Draven crazy? - What are you talking about? - I tried to hold on to his shirt.- My love, have you forgotten our appointment? - He
I tried not to feel anxious as I watched the noodles cook, it was already getting dark, and nothing of her arriving, I felt lost without knowing what I should do, on the one hand I wanted to run from here now and look for her and on the other I believed that she was just celebrating with her friends and if I suddenly appeared in front of her I would look like a bossy boyfriend, but I was afraid that something bad was happening, I felt it in my chest, it was like I was underwater holding my breath to my limit, I didn't trust that man around Ayanne, not because I trusted her, I knew our relationship was precious to both of us, but Draven is a two-faced man.It's easy to be fooled by him, I've seen many women in that car, a pretty face, but everyone in this city knows he's a womanizer, they just don't care much, after all he's rich, money buys people, afraid he decides to go back to his cell phone.*If you need me, I'm here, if you're celebrating with your friends I can pick you up, but
I had been with this idea for a few days, I had put this desire in my heart, and I couldn't wait a second longer, and it would be on a perfect day, because I knew that Aya would win that contest of the paintings she was participating in, she had been talking about it for so long and when I saw her painting yesterday I was sure, it was incredible it seemed so real that I could feel the softness of the feathers in my hand, there was no way she wouldn't win.When I woke up I ran my hand over the bed looking for the woman next to me, but nothing, I opened my eyes, but nothing, she was not in the room, I scratched my eyes, and then I got up, without much to do, I made the bed and walked to the bathroom it seems that today she had decided to get up, but early, maybe she was very anxious, it would be understandable if she was, after using the bathroom I walked to the stairs, finally smelling the smell of pancakes that came from downstairs.And there she was, focused on not burning her breakf
It was like a dream being realized, Liliana was looking at me intently as if unlocking a memory, but I hoped not, because it would only show me that the woman before me was an equal, maybe I wouldn't win this competition, maybe I wouldn't be able to fulfill what I promised to Benny and Susan, but at least half of that dream and promise was being fulfilled before me at that very moment, when I finished my presentation, there was a minute of complete silence as if everyone was absorbing everything they had just heard.- It is really a difficult decision to make, all the paintings are unique and with distinct feelings, I would like to take them all. - Mr. Leonard was really dazzled by it all, he looked like a child looking at a candy stall, but he had his favorites, every child does, that's a fact.- Good father, let's not put this off any longer, just tell us which one you identified with the most. - Liliana hugged her father's arm as she looked at him in the corner.- Right, my daughte