Chapter 13

The sun timidly awoke on the horizon, painting the sky with soft hues of pink and orange. Isabella opened her eyes slowly, but the intrusive morning light brought no rays of hope. The atmosphere in the room was laden with a heavy silence, interrupted only by the gentle whisper of the wind outside and the murmurs of gossiping neighbors that every small town has.
As she sat on the edge of the bed, Isabella felt the weight of disappointment like an anchor in her soul. She sighed deeply, trying to dispel the dark thoughts that haunted her. With a vacant gaze, her eyes reflected a mix of sadness and frustration.
Isabella dragged herself out of bed, her heavy steps echoing on the cold floor. Each movement was a slow choreography of despair. Confronting her reflection in the mirror, Isabella barely recognized the woman staring back at her. Her eyes, once full of determination, now revealed a vulnerability she would prefer to conceal. She ran her fingers through disheveled hair in a futile attempt to bring order to the chaos her life had become.
The phone beside the bed remained silent, devoid of messages or calls that could bring relief. Isabella hesitated before picking it up, knowing there were no positive news in sight. Unread messages and unanswered calls were silent witnesses to a social network that now felt distant and unattainable.
Facing the window, Isabella gazed at the world outside, but all she saw was a blur of indistinct colors. The day promised possibilities, but for her, it was just an added burden to carry. She wondered how everything had come to this point, how the once vibrant dreams had faded to shades of gray.
Without strength to face the world, Isabella retreated into the familiar solitude of her own silence. The curtains closed, isolating her not only from the sunlight but also from external expectations and pressures. The room became a cocoon where she could sink even deeper into the depths of her melancholy.
And so, another day began, with Isabella lost in a sea of uncertainties, sinking further into her own disillusionment, while the world outside continued to spin indifferent to her torment.
In a fleeting moment, Isa remembered her father. Despite being indulgent to her adoptive mother, he never denied support to her. Until the moment Isa decided to escape her pain and seek solutions in paths parallel to those of a dysfunctional family. Her eyes moistened; she imagined for a moment that perhaps her life wasn't so cruel after all. She had her father by her side, and maybe one day he would unmask the wicked woman and decide to build a life with his adopted daughter.
Isabella's memories were interrupted by the strident sound of her cellphone ringing. She reached for the phone, discreetly resting on a small table nearby. Unlocking it, a message blinked on the screen, insisting to be read. Isabella sighed, trying to reconnect with the present as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the display. The real life was another now, and Isa needed to reconnect to it without hesitation before the sharks swallowed her.
Aléssio's message brought a mix of emotions to Isabella's confused heart. She really seemed to like the guy, but she couldn't understand his gestures, whether he reciprocated with the same intensity.
"I need to see you."
That's all the message said. Aléssio, as always, being enigmatic in his invitations. Isa didn't know if he wanted an appointment or just wanted to confide, but she knew that, on her part, the meeting would involve much more than that.
"Of course, mi amore! Can't wait."
"Me too, babe. I miss you, see you soon."
"Until then, Aléssio," Isa replied, smiling at her phone like a love-struck teenager.
Her smile disappears when she feels nauseous and remembers she's not alone. She caresses her belly and talks to the baby that has barely formed.
"I won't be like her; I'll fight for you, even if I'm alone." She whispers to herself.
Anxiety and fear mixed in Isabella's heart. She was determined to play with life and see what the universe would repay her. She would tell Aléssio everything.
As the sun bids farewell on the horizon, Isabella feels the hope and expectation of decisive moments that life has in store for her.
As Isabella waited for her beloved Aléssio, her hands were sweaty, and her legs trembled. Her thoughts were chaotic, and she wasn't exactly sure what to expect, so she created various possibilities in her mind and, with her creativity, assigned an ending to each.
The meeting was scheduled at the corner bakery, where Aléssio and Isa had bumped into each other the other day—the day Isa thought she would tell him everything but couldn't summon the courage, interrupted by her friend Paloma's unsuitable solution.
Isabella's anxiety caused her to leave home earlier than necessary. Upon arriving at the bakery, she was intoxicated by the aroma of freshly ground espresso beans. She sought a discreet table, sat down, and ordered a cup of coffee to savor while waiting for Aléssio. The gentle murmur of people created a symphony, making the atmosphere comfortable and cozy, filled with smiles, conversations, and dialogues.

In the harmony of the environment, Isabella, sitting at her corner table, nervously played with the edge of the cup and got lost in reveries.
"You can do it, Isabella. You can do it," she whispered to herself, feeling the tension of anxiety press on her chest.
The heart of the lonely and frightened girl beat strongly and rapidly. Her trembling, cold-sweat-covered hands demonstrated her nervousness. Isa looked around, observing the joyful crowd. Seeing Aléssio entering through the door, her nervousness increased, her body hesitated, and she momentarily felt conflicted about her decision.
The moments when Aléssio entered and approached Isabella's table seemed like an eternity. Her thoughts wished not to be there, but the child she carried in her belly made her think rationally and do whatever was necessary to give a dignified life to the child who had not asked to come into the world.
— Bella. Can I call you that? — Aléssio gently lowered and kissed Isa's cheek.
— Um! — Isa hesitated, remembering that only her father called her that. Still, she needed to ensure Aléssio's trust, and a "no" at this moment might affect the guy's ego — Of course, no problem. — She replied, greeting him with a kiss.
After exchanging greetings, they sat at the table. Isabella tried to keep the conversation light, but her gaze occasionally drifted to her abdomen, where new life was forming.
— Bella, you seem nervous. Is everything okay? — Aléssio, accustomed to his work, had heightened senses and noticed Isabella's nervousness.
— Can you call me Isa? Please? — she murmured.
— Ah, sure. Mi amore! Isa... — Aléssio caressed Isabella's hands, feeling them sweaty. — I missed you so much. I don't know what you did to me, but you fill me in a way no one ever has.
— Actually... — Isa took a deep breath — there's something I need to tell you. — She looked him in the eyes, seeking courage.
— What happened, Isa? You can talk. — Aléssio asked concerned.
— I... — with a tear forming in the corner of her eye — I'm pregnant. — This time, Isa couldn't hold back the tears. She let them flood her face and looked down, afraid to see Aléssio's reaction.
Aléssio released Isabella's hands when she needed comfort the most.
She didn't have the courage to look at him, kept her head low, and felt Aléssio stand up and pace back and forth. Her hopes were crumbling; she was certain he would reject and disdain her. She felt the painful reality on her skin.
At that moment, all the voices and whispers in the cafe had disappeared. Isabella's head buzzed loudly with her father's shouts and rejection over the phone, with words calling her a prostitute and with severe criticisms; Paloma's voice echoed like a ghost in her mind.
Aléssio remained silent, and discomfort hung over the table like a shadow. Isabella hoped he would say something, anything that would show they were in this journey together or that he wanted neither her nor the baby. But Aléssio's silence was slowly killing Isabella.
— It's okay, Aléssio. You have nothing to do with this. I'm leaving. — Isa quickly stood up from the chair and bid farewell to Aléssio.
She walked away, leaving behind the cafe that once seemed so welcoming. Isabella, with courage and sadness, distanced herself, carrying the pain of uncertainty. The future lay ahead of her, but the only certainty was that she needed to find the strength to move forward, regardless of the support she expected but didn't find at that moment.
— Come back, Isa. Wait. — Aléssio suddenly exclaimed, following her to the bakery's door and lightly touching her arm.
Isabella turned around, surprised, feeling the gentle touch on her arm. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down, creating a space just for them. Isabella felt a shiver run through her body. Their eyes connected, and Aléssio and Isabella felt as if they were isolated from the world around them.
Isabella's eyes reflected a mix of vulnerability and hope, while Aléssio's showed silent understanding. There was no need for words at that moment; their souls seemed to communicate through the deep gaze. The ambient music playing softly in the bakery created a gentle backdrop for the moment.
Finally, Aléssio broke the spell by offering a faint smile, a gesture of understanding and acceptance. Isabella responded with a shy smile, and the magical moment slowly dissolved but left behind a sense of connection that transcended words.
— Come on, let's go back and talk. — Aléssio held Isabella's hand and led her back to the table they were at.
They continued talking, now aware that, sometimes, in deep gazes, we find a language more powerful than any conversation.
— Aléssio, I... — Isa tried to express.
— Shh! — Aléssio made a hushing sound with his lips, asking Isa for silence and placing his finger in front of her mouth. — Let's take our time with the coffee, then we'll talk, okay?
There was a tense silence, but their eyes remained connected, as if a silent communication was happening between their souls. As they finished their coffee in silence, Aléssio stood up and gently helped Isabella to her feet. He held the chair for her, and with subtle gestures, showed that he would be by her side, no matter what the future held.