Chapter 08

Nicolas

As soon as I woke up, I knelt by the bed and my first words were thanking for another morning and asking God to keep me from harm for another day. I got ready to go to college, organized the books that i need in my backpack and unintentionally bumped my arm in a picture frame of me and my father that was on top of the dresser, I admired him attentively for a few seconds thinking about how much I miss him from the bottom of my heart, I continued getting myself ready. Thomaz was still asleep and as most mornings my mother was having coffee alone.

Luana: good morning son, she said from the table with a cup in her hand reading the newspaper.

Nicolas: Good morning mom, I replied joining her at the table.

I had a hearty breakfast while we talked about the day's chores, after which we would only meet in the late afternoon.

Nicolas: today I will have to spend the day in college, my day will be full

Luana: do you want me to ask Thomaz to go there and drop you lunch?

Nicolas: No need mom, I'll get something to eat with Guilherme or I'll order some food, don't worry

Luana: Alright then

Guilherme is also a Christian but does not congregate at the same church where I go, we are best friends and we have known each other since we were children, luckily, we took the entrance exams together, we passed and studied at the same college and in the same class.

After a few classes hours we went to lunch at a restaurant over there near the college, we sat at a table for four, placed the orders and stayed chatting waiting for the dishes to be ready.

Guilherme: what a complicated subject, my God! I'm freaking out now with this job that the teacher asked, doesn't this woman have a heart?

Nicolas: you're still asking? she doesn't for sure brother!

Guilherme: studying that hard is driving me crazy

Nicolas: calm down, calm down, if you still haven't freaked out by now, you're not going to freak out anymore, I'm telling you

Guilherme: I’m not sure about that.

Nicolas: But don't worry, we'll work it out, but changing the subject, enough with the classes already, how is it with Ester?

Guilherme: Thank God she's a precious blessing. She's just the way I like it, the way I asked God for. The Lord knows what he does brother.

Nicolas: awesome man, may it always be this way, and may everything turn out well for you.

Guilherme: Thank you, and yes, god willing

Nicolas: it's so hard waiting on the Lord, you know. it's been a while

Guilherme: Oh yes, but you are not thinking about giving up, are you?

Nicolas: no, I'm following this direction, but let me confess that I am getting discouraged again brother but ...he didn't let me finish

don't be discouraged, when you least expect, the wand appears. God makes everything perfect and at the right time, let your anxiety go away, although God does not work on anxiety, my friend, you know that. Believe me it is coming.

Nicolas: I believe. I really do. And I even think she had already arrived. I said smiling sideways thinking that this person could be Isabella. I met a special girl

Guilherme: Do you know a girl? That's what I'm talking about tapping me on the the shoulder. So, What's up? Do you think she could really be your chosen one?

Nicolas: Yes, but on the other hand, no. I am torn apart, here's the thing that discourages me.

Guilherme: oh, my heavenly father, spell it out What's going on, and why do you also think it might not be the one, what is this?

Nicolas: I felt something different this time, which I haven't felt for any other girl before, she has something special, I can feel it when I look into her eyes. She attracted me a lot.

But she is not very religious, she does not usually visit any church, I don’t even know if she prays, anyways ...

I see, Guilherme said looking at me seriously.

Nicolas: If she was a Christian convert, I would say that she was the person the Lord kept for me, that I found my righteous person.

If only he would give me a sign, something clear, that would show me something about me and her, if she feels the same as I do, it would be enough for me to invest in something between us.

She's all beautiful, sweet, fun, we have the same taste for some things.

Guilherme: So, pray and talk to God about her, maybe it’s her, maybe she just doesn’t know the ways of the Lord, who knows, maybe you’re going to take her in about him, his words made thoughtful.

Nothing happens for no reason, God has great purposes on top of small things too, just be careful not to fall in love with the wrong person, it could be her but it also could not be.

Nicolas: you're right, but I confess man, I'm keen to get to know her better

Guilherme: go ahead, but only I'm saying that because you mentioned you felt something different for her, maybe knowing her better you can see if she is the right person or not

Nicolas: I'm going to ask her out tomorrow

After some talking the food arrived, we had lunch and soon after we went back to college.

Isabella

my afternoons were always the same, when I'm not with the girls I am at home sitting in one of the rooms reading a book, studying or playing some song on the guitar trying to occupy my mind with something useful. I walked through the boring and abandoned house and stopped in front of the balcony, I realized that the day was beautiful and I ended up sitting in a comfortable chair that was nearby and I stood there for a few minutes admiring the sky thoughtfully, at that moment I was feeling loneliness and emptiness , as if I needed to feel completed and fulfilled, because something was missing in my life, I immediately remembered the dream I had with Nicolas, I confess that thinking about him brought me joy and silly smiles, maybe love would ease this strange feeling of longing for something ,moreover, it was always something that I tried to understand but I never succeeded, in spite of having everything, that feeling of emptiness was still like a grip on my heart and soul, . I had everything health, people who love and care for me, living in a mansion, having good financial conditions, true friends, what else could cause me such discomfort? empty spaces? I think to myself

After a few minutes there I decided to go to Lucas' residence to go out and talk a little

(Minutes later at Lucas's house.)

Lucas: Hi he said giving me a hug

Isabella: Hi, how are you doing?

Lucas: I'm doing well, how about you?

Isabella: I'm fine. What's up?

Lucas: as always, nothing, much” he said, smiling.

Do you have anything to tell me?

Isabella: Look at my face I said discouraged.

Lucas: yeah, that's it

Isabella: shall we go to that wonderful hamburger place?

Lucas: isn't There food in your house?

Isabella: Are you going to deny me food now?

Lucas: Okay, let me get my wallet he said with a joyful smile

Isabella: woho! I said excitedly hopping in the air

We walked to the hamburger place near his house, we sat down to place our orders, we were talking and smiling at the nonsense we were saying to each other you know close friends' nonsense, he was very cheerful and funny

[...]

Lorenzo: Hello princess! He said coming down the stairs and kissing me on the forehead.

Isabella: Hi daddy I said while I was going up the stairs.

Lorenzo: where have you been young lady? He said, standing on the stairs looking at me.

Isabella: I was at a friend's house.

Lorenzo: At a friend's house? What friend is that? What's his name? Where is he from? And what were you doing there?

Isabella: Calm down, relax, Dad, he's just a friend, I just went to talk, and you know him, it's Lucas, my childhood friend.

Lorenzo: But I still didn't like that story.

Isabella: love you too, Daddy I said smiling, heading towards my bedroom.

I took a shower, singing to the bathroom box I was already strangely excited, when I finished, I put on a comfortable outfit, grabbed one of the books that Nicolas had indicated to me and started reading