Chapter 12

Isabella waited patiently in the bakery's cashier line, immersed in the gentle melody of entry and exit chimes, as if everything would magically resolve itself. With her bag slung over her shoulder, Isabella looked ahead, envisioning the promise of a more tranquil day. She believed, with cautious optimism, that the bakery's cashier line marked the beginning of a calmer journey.
However, her cellphone vibrated in her pocket, interrupting the fictional tale of normalcy she was trying to create. Answering the call, Paloma's voice echoed from the other end, bringing a perspective to the unwanted pregnancy that loomed like a shadow over Isabella.
— Friend, I'm coming to your house. I'll tell you everything.
Isabella's expression oscillated between surprise and relief, as if the news carried the key to a distressing dilemma. Paloma's words were a balm for the anxiety Isabella carried, and the bakery, once just a point in her daily routine, became the stage for an emotional turnaround.
Upon hanging up the phone, Isabella saw the world around her with a new perspective. The aroma of bread was now wrapped in an aura of renewed hope. There, she realized that, despite the imminent challenges, there was a path illuminated by solutions and true friendships, indicating that, indeed, everything could be okay from now on.
Paloma arrived on time, euphoric and vibrant.
"I'm sure I found the best solution for you."
— Tell me, what did you find? — Isa was curious and eager to know how Paloma would solve her problems. — Is one of your sugar daddies going to take responsibility for my baby? Or do you want to get to know me to get married?
Isa's eyes sparkled with affirmations; it seemed like she genuinely believed this was a good solution.
— What madness is this, friend? Get ready; I'll take you somewhere. — Paloma scoffed at her friend.
— Not without telling me where we're going first. — Isa crossed her arms and stood in front of Paloma.
— You wanted a solution, didn't you? Let's go, and I'll show you. — Paloma pushed Isabella into the room, as she used to do on the streets to hide Isa in some hole and protect her.
Isabella had a déjà vu and felt once again a sense of belonging and acceptance. She dressed quickly because she couldn't wait any longer to find out what Paloma was up to. She trusted that her friend had a solution and it wouldn't be a terrible decision, given that they had been friends since childhood.
On the way to the location, Isa rubbed her hands and tore at her nail tips. Her nervousness was evident. Paloma turned up the car's music and hummed along. Until she looked at Isa's hands and noticed they were all marked from scratching so much.
— Calm down, Isa. We're almost there. Everything will be fine, okay? Just breathe deeply and think positive. Keep your mind open, all right?
Paloma parked the car in front of what looked like a house, but there were several people at the door holding signs. "Life yes, abortion no" "Abortion is murder, fight for life."
A peculiar girl quickly grabbed Isabella's arm and looked into her desperate eyes.
— Don't kill a baby; it already has a little heart beating, did you know?
Isabella was startled, both by the signs and by the people shouting. She stared at Paloma and didn't know how to react.
— What is this? What place is this?
— Come on, friend, don't pay attention to these crazies. — Paloma pulled Isa's arm and waved to the women.
— No! — Isa stopped abruptly.
Paloma, more assertive, tried to make Isabella realize how right she was and how this would only do good for her and the world.
— Explain to me what's going on and what place you brought me to.
— All right, I'll explain, but let's get out of this chaos and talk calmly.
Paloma took Isa to the car, locked all the windows and doors, and faced her friend, while the women outside made enthusiastic signs about crime and murder. The scene resembled zombie movies.
— You want a solution, right? — Paloma started with a question, expecting Isa's answer, but she didn't get one; she only saw a tear in Isabella's eyes. — Oh! You're not going to say you want to have this child, are you? — Inside the car, the atmosphere was imbued with tension and uncertainty. An awkward silence hung between them.
The dilemma weighing on both of their shoulders was palpable, echoing in the hesitant sighs that punctuated the conversation.
Isa, I know it's a difficult decision, and I respect whatever choice you make," Paloma carefully chose each word not to impose unnecessary pressure. "But considering all the options, maybe it's time to think about what's best for your future. Do you think a client will take responsibility for a child of a prostitute? Or want to marry you?"
Isabella, with an unreadable expression and tears continuously dripping, looked at Paloma, perhaps seeking an answer that neither of them knew for sure existed.
— I need some time to think. Take me home, — Isa was straightforward in her response.
— But…
— Just take me home, — Isa interrupted Paloma, leaving no room for further questions.
As they returned home in that silent dusk, Isabella and Paloma carried the weight of an unfinished conversation, the contours of a pending decision looming over them like shadows stretching across the pavement.
The interior of the car witnessed a silence filled with unspoken reflections as the urban scenery gradually faded in the rearview mirror.
No definitive solution had emerged from those exchanged words.
Paloma entered the house with Isabella to comfort her in this difficult moment, but Isa wanted to be alone for a while.
— You can go; I need some time alone, — Isa requested without looking at Paloma.
Isabella and Paloma, surrounded by apparent tension, faced the harsh reality that some decisions cannot be rushed. Sometimes, the journey to resolving complex issues is longer than one could imagine.
As the night deepened, Isabella delved deeper into her thoughts, and the more she thought, the more painful Paloma's suggested solution seemed.
The road of life, with its unexpected twists, continued to unfold before her, and for now, uncertainty had become a traveling companion. The future awaited, shrouded in mysteries that only time would reveal.