Chapter 24

After Nicolas had left, I went to the kitchen to try to eat something, I had juice, a tapioca* with eggs and cheese and some grapes, Aunt Luh and I talked in the meantime. When I finished, I took one of the pills Nicolas had bought and went back upstairs to my room, my belly was sore despite the pain having eased, I thought about calling my parents but I would only worry them when I if I tell them what happened, I also thought I should have I immediately told Nicolas about the blood I saw but it was so fast that I ended up not mentioning anything, when he comes in the afternoon, I'll tell him. I sat on the bed once more thoughtful and questioning myself about that blood, I literally felt butterflies in my stomach and a cold chill taking over me but I preferred not to imagine bad things. I settled into a comfortable position, closed my eyes and prayed to God:

"Thank you for another day of life God, today I don't feel well both physically and emotionally, physically pain and malaise consume me and emotionally it saddens me and causes fear, but I deliver everything in your hands and I trust you, that it is fulfilled your will in my life, give me strength and perseverance, faith and positivity, and may the good days be 10 times the amount of bad days, may your peace reign over my heart and over my life during all my days, amen"

I put on my headphones and grabbed a book, and started reading so as the hours went by faster until lunchtime, however I couldn't concentrate on reading, I put the book back where it was and just listened to the music looking at the sun beams passing through the window, little by little the sleeping sultan caught my eyes in its tender way and I didn't even notice when I blacked out.

I woke up hours later at 1 pm, had a light meal and watched TV with aunt Luh, at 3:45 pm Nicolas arrived, we went to the bedroom and sat on the bed.

Nicolas: how are you feeling now? did you get better?

Isabella: yes, I'm feeling better

Nicolas: Did you eat properly?

Isabella: yes, I had breakfast right after you left, and had some lunch.

Nicolas: Why this sad face? he asked when he saw me thoughtful.

Isabella: it's no big deal my love

Nicolas: don't you want to tell me?

Isabella: when I woke up the sun wasn't even out yet, I was feeling very bad in a horrible pain, when I vomited in the sink there was blood on it, I think I'm really sick

Nicolas: blood? why didn't you tell me right away? this is very serious Isabella, why didn't your friends take you to the hospital?

Isabella: they didn't see know either; the tap was on and the water flushed everything

Nicolas: are you sure it was blood? was it too much or too little?

Isabella: I think so, it was very much alive, but it wasn't a lot

Nicolas: you need to go to the doctor, if it is blood, you need to know what's causing you bleeding. When are your parents coming?

Isabella: maybe tomorrow

Nicolas: maybe? don't you want to go today?

Isabella: I'm scared and I hate needles, my voice was shacking

Nicolas: Do you know what I do when I feel sad and scared?

Isabella: What?

Nicolas: First I pray, and I say everything I'm feeling to God, then I read the bible, I look for words of comfort in it, something that soothes my heart.

Isabella: And do you feel better afterwards?

Nicolas: yes

Isabella: I'm still kind of aimless in this new experience my love. I think I need to know God better.

Nicolas: I see, it's just a matter of time. But if you feel that you need to seek Him more and know Him, just do it, pray more, adore more, that's how you will get to know the Lord more. And no matter what we're going through, whether it's good weather or bad, we have to be incessantly seeking and worshiping the Lord. That's also how he blesses us.

Isabella: Shall we do this now?

Nicolas: Yes, we will. Go get your bible.

Isabella: ok, just a minute, I went to get the bible that was in my room.

I went upstairs, grabbed my bible, went down to the living room again and sat in the same place as before. When I came back, he already had his bible open

Isabella: do you always have the book with you? I said right after I sat down and saw him flipping through his bible.

Nicolas: Yes, I always leave this one in the car. Opens to Psalms, chapter 23, he said sitting in front of me with the bible on his legs crossed.

Isabella: Ok, I replied and started searching for the book and the chapter.

Nicolas: This is one of the chapters in the Psalms that I like the most. Verse 4 is my favorite in this chapter.

" Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me

Isabella: despite not visiting the church My mother always told me, that God loved me, and kept me from trails, and that wherever I went he would go with me and protect me

Nicolas: Yes. God is our shepherd He says he lays down life for his sheep, he is always protecting us my love.

There is no reason to fear, nor why to be that way. Okay sweety, don't be afraid, deliver your fears and pains to God and just trust, he said holding my hand and looking right to my eyes.

Isabella: thank you, you bring me peace, it makes me so good.

Nicolas: I am happy to know that I do you so well, you have the same effect on me, there is nothing or no one else in the world that gives me so much peace and so many good feelings as you, just by looking at you, It makes my day, when I walk hand in hand with you knowing I'm your boyfriend I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have the most outstanding girl, the most beautiful look and smile, I thank God every single day in prayer for giving me you.

Isabella: I love you! I hugged him tight and filled him with kisses

After several kisses, hugs, and sniggles, we went back to reading. When we were finished, we decided to choose a movie to watch, at that moment we heard knocks on the door

- come in

- I prepared a snack, I hope you like it

- oh, you didn't have to do that Mrs. Luiza

- thank you, aunt Luh,

As soon as she left, we put the movie on and watched it eating the sandwiches.

[...]

- Hi, I said happy to see them while I went downstairs with Nicolas

Hi sister both of them at the same voice hi Nicolas

Nicolas: Hi girls he replied and Paula just waved one hand

Paula: we decided to come earlier, we hope we are not getting in the way

Isabella: of course not.

Nicolas: I was on my way out, it's already dark and I have some college stuff to do so, she's all yours now.

Isabella: Oh, alright... I loved our afternoon I said kissing him

Nicolas: me too, it's always good to be with you my love

Isabella: thanks for everything

Nicolas: No need to thank me, I'm your boyfriend, I'll always be by your side, you can count on me for everything, okay?

Isabella: you too, I love you

Nicolas: check on her if she's eating properly, if you feel anything, call me. Good night princess, with a kiss on the forehead he left

Paula: oh my gosh, you are so very cute together

Rafaela: you get all silly, your eyes shine looking at him, you had to see yourself how you look

Isabella: I call them (side effects of love)

Paula: apparently, you're feeling better?

Isabella: I'm feeling much better thanks to God, I didn't feel sick, I just have a sore stomach

Rafaela: that's perfect darling.

Paula: Seriously though, I think you have to go to the doctor.

Rafaela: so, do I, because you have never felt anything like this before

Isabella: when my parents arrive from the trip, we will do some exams

Paula: you'd better do so.

Rafaela: but it shouldn't be a big deal

Isabella: yes, I said a little discouraged, because I end up remembering the blood, I thought about commenting on it, but then they would only egg me to go to the hospital and I prefer to go with my parents when they arrive, anyway...

Paula: so, everything is ok

Isabella: yes

Paula: you got little sad all of a sudden

Isabella: nah, it's your impression

Paula: Did you forget that I know you?

Rafaela: it's better to spell it out.

Isabella: these malaises I've been feeling lately are making me sad, what if I'm really sick?

Rafaela: oh darling, don't think like that.

Paula: yeah, don't let it crawl under your skin, it shouldn't be a big deal. When your parents arrive, you will go to the doctor for the medical exams and it will a tiny tiny and eventually we will laugh at this whole situation.

Rafaela: That's right, no negative thoughts, it's just nausea and a little pain, who has never felt nausea and a stomachache?

Paula: I've felt it myself several times after eating nonsense

Rafaela: so, don't be afraid friend

Isabella: you know, you're right, I think I'm making a storm in a teacup.

Paula: come her you little silly fearful cow she said hugging me by the neck

Isabella: What did I miss at school today?

Paula: Just a subject of Sociology and Chemistry exams.

Other than that, nothing extraordinary happened_ rolled his eyes.

Isabella: Normal. Then you can give me later, Other than that, any news?

Paula: Not as far as I remember.

but soon she snapped!

Alexandre invited me to go to church on Sunday, she said all excited.

Isabella: And you accepted right?

Paula: I did. Maybe something happens right, she shrugged.

Isabella: That's its girl, go ahead, I smiled Let's go to church on Sunday too Rafa?

Rafaela: oh, I don't know I hate to playing gooseberry. for two couples yet, I'll think about it

Isabella: what nonsense, we're going to church, we're not going to date, there won't be any gooseberries

Rafaela: in this case you can count me in

Aunt Luh had already left, but she left dinner ready, the girls and I went to dinner, I didn't have much appetite but I tried to eat as much as possible, we talked about random subjects at the table and when we were done, I went to the living room to call my parents.

Call on:

Lorenzo: hi daughter, how are you? we didn't call before because we were super busy and now that we arrived at the hotel to rest, how are you feeling?

Isabella: it's okay, I'm fine, I'm just a little sore in the stomach.

Lorenzo: your tummy is sore is that it?

Isabella: yes, I vomited today too and felt some pain. I think we'll have to go to the doctor when you arrive

Lorenzo: ok, let's go to the doctor when we get here, everything will be fine, stay well until your mom and I get here, okay?

Isabella: I'll be fine

Lorenzo: Are the girls sleeping over there?

Isabella: yes, there's nothing to worry about, when you arrive, we'll solve this, it shouldn't be a big deal, ok? do not worry.

Lorenzo: let's try to finish the business here and go back home soon, sorry for all this daughter, for getting away from time to time when these boring trips come up.

Isabella: it's ok dad, I understand. Where is Mom?

Lorenzo: she is taking a bath

Isabella: blew her a kiss from me.

Lorenzo: I will sweety, be fine daughter, take care of yourself, we will be back soon

Isabella: amen, be well too, take care, I'm going to hang up now, ok?

Lorenzo: ok, have a good night, daddy loves you, a kiss

Isabella: I love you too dad, good night, kisses

call off

tapioca : a Brazilian food made of Tapioca flour which is a food produced by hand from cassava starch.