Isabela Part 2

"We sleep and wake up together, and we kiss all the time. There are moments when we're watching movies together, and I catch myself looking at him out of nowhere, thinking about the value of each moment by his side. Nate never gets tired of being inside me, and even when I’m 'on my days,' he doesn’t give me a break. I like that, his desire that always seems insatiable. The more he takes me, the more he wants me. I worship his hunger, and I feed it, giving him everything he asks from me, even the long-dreamed and forbidden back part.
Nate renamed the music building to Little Sun as a thank you for me buying 30% of the college. He had his period of pain a while ago when he finally confronted his father about being abused. Since then, Nate has completely cut his father out of his life, and I think that brought peace to my boyfriend.
I turn my head over my shoulder, looking at the room, when Belladonna jumps off the king-size bed with a light comforter. The padded cyan headboard is a delight to the eyes. On the wall above it, there's a huge graffiti of a wolf grabbing a sexy version of Little Red Riding Hood from behind. Little Red Riding Hood smiles, enjoying the bite he sinks into her shoulder. The background isn’t a forest, but the facade of Revolta. Nate is an incredible artist, and I love the meaning his graffiti always has.
Above the left bedside table, there’s a framed glass picture housing dozens of faded purple candy wrappers. I still get emotional when I think he saved every wrapper from the candies I ate by his side. It’s a shame I can’t eat sweets like I used to anymore. My glucose was starting to rise too much, so I cut candy out entirely. I suck on an ice cube every time I feel anxious. It works because I crush them between my teeth, and it usually relieves the tension. If I’m out on the street and something suddenly hits me, I chew sugar-free gum, and that helps me fight the compulsion I used to satisfy with sweets.
I’ve realized I need to get rid of the heavy habits I picked up to deal with the pain caused by the years I spent in that horrible house. 'You’re safe now, Isabela,' is what I remind myself.
I glance at the copy of *Dancing on Broken Glass* on the white table in front of me. I asked my friend Cristina for a book to cry to, and she gave me that one. It’s crazy that I’m messed up and want to read books to let out my tears in a decent way.
The sound of iron creaking wakes me, sharpening my senses, and the unmistakable musky scent tells me the owner of my entire world has just arrived. I turn my head over my shoulder, watching the deliberately rusted iron door of the loft roll open, and my boyfriend walks into our ‘little spot.’ That’s what we call our house. And we agreed we’ll only move when we’re ready to have a baby.
I sold the penthouse that Hellen’s witch daughter gave me as a gift. I don’t want anything that reminds me of her. I’ve erased her from my life. My resentment for her is heavy, like a lead ball with metal spikes piercing and crushing my chest. I’ll carry that grudge forever, even if it makes me sick. However, I need to move away from those thoughts and move forward because I’ll only heal from all these wounds when I forget the past and look ahead.
When I turn my body on the chair and see my boyfriend walking into the loft, casually dressed, with his perfect, sexy body inside a gray hoodie and jeans, my entire body lights up and comes alive. My belly warms up in the same proportion as my heart. His face brightens, and his lips spread into the most beautiful smile in the world. I love his slanted, light eyes; they always light up when they land on me.
Belladonna is already off the wooden island counter in the kitchen and runs elegantly toward the entrance, eager to play tricks on her dad before I get to him.
I love him, and I like being wrapped in Nate’s arms most of the time because it brings a sense of calm to my troubled inner self. I love when he comes home from work to have lunch, and I even learned how to cook for the two of us. Before, we only ate ramen or fast food when we lived together in his dorm. And eating healthy is another pillar for improving our mental health, no matter how crazy it may sound. Now that I’ve learned to venture into the kitchen, I make a thousand and one recipes that make him sigh as he eats and tells me about his day at work. He’s already told me he’ll never stop running the Revolta business. I can imagine him as an old man walking around the campus, admiring the kingdom he built.
Instead of fully entering the house, Nate steps aside from the door and looks at the floor. I mimic his gesture and see a clumsy little creature entering, curiously scanning the surroundings. He happily graces the wooden floor of the apartment with his excited strolls, wagging his little tail when his big eyes land on me. The little mutt runs to Belladonna, licking her face as if to say, 'Hey, sis.' I smile, feeling a few shades of the rainbow light up my heart. Belladonna dashes away from the furry guy, then jumps onto the kitchen counter and stares at the little dog, startled, with her fur standing on end. I can almost hear her little heart pounding like crazy.
'You better get used to it, baby...' Nate says, picking up the caramel-colored puppy and bringing him to me. He has a red ribbon tied to his dark leather collar, with a small card attached to it. 'Oscar Jr. is going to live here with you.' I loved the name of the new pup, a nod to the dog he had in the past. I smile, getting up from the armchair and taking the puppy in my arms. I get a long lick on the mouth as a welcome. 'Hey, little guy! Don’t kiss my girl!'
Belladonna turns her back on us, doing what she’s best at: ignoring us when she’s mad. I give a wide smile at the scene, happy with this new addition to our home, another member of the family Nate and I are building.
'Where did you find this little guy?'
'He followed me into Revolta this morning. I couldn’t leave such a cute baby alone, right? I told him there was a perfect mom waiting for him at my house!' I get a wet kiss from my boyfriend, smiling against his cigarette-flavored lips. It’s always amazing to receive any dose of affection or desire from the man I love. But I still need to fight to get him to stop smoking because I want to grow old with him, and this habit could take him away from me. 'Now, my redhead, open that card before I die of anxiety.'"