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 for college, organized the books that I needed in my backpack, and

unintentionally bumped my arm in a picture frame of my father and me on

top of the dresser and me. 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 a newspaper.

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

I had a hearty breakfast while we talked about the daily 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 your 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 class hours, we went to lunch at a restaurant 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 for. Doesn't this woman have a heart?

Nicolas: you're still asking? For sure, She doesn't, 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 for God. 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

Guilherme: don't be discouraged when you least expect it, the woman sent by God arrives.

God makes everything perfect and at the right time, let your anxiety go away.

God does not work on anxiety, my friend; you know that. Believe me, she is coming.

Nicolas: I believe. I 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 shoulder. So, What's up? Do you think she could 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 is this? What's going on,

and why do you also think it might not be the one?

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 ...

Guilherme: I see, said looking at me seriously.

Nicolas: If she were 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 gave 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, perhaps she

doesn't know the ways of the Lord, who knows, perhaps 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, 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 brought It up when

you said 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 tedious and abandoned house and stopped in front of the

balcony. I realized that the day was beautiful. I ended up sitting in a

comfortable chair that was nearby. I stood there for a few minutes

thoughtfully, admiring the sky; 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. Despite 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 sound financial conditions, faithful 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 the spirit.

Isabella: shall we go to that delicious hamburger place?

Lucas: isn't There food in your house?

Isabella: Are you going to deny me food now?

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

Isabella: woohoo! I said excitedly, hopping in the air

We walked to the hamburger place near his house and sat down to place our

orders, we were talking and smiling at the nonsense we were saying to each

other, you know, close friends' stupidity, 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: still, I wouldn't say I liked 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

Nicolas had indicated to me and started reading.