Chapter 23

Isabella: yes, I am. I think it was just the heavy training today. I'm going home girls, good night

I grabbed my backpack with my things and left in a hurry; I just wanted to be home as soon as possible; I don't know what I would be without the car my parents gave me, I was a little worried about driving like that, but I would certainly want to get home well, without any troubles. And there I was after a few minutes; I ignored everyone in the way and ran to the bathroom.

Later, I was slightly relieved; I put on a sweatshirt and just wanted to lie down on the bed and be quiet; I was extremely tired. A while later, I've fallen asleep, with the bedroom door open.

-dinner is ready princess, my mom said and sat beside me

Isabella: what time is it? I ended up napping

Marcele: it's almost 8 o'clock, come on, let's have dinner

Isabella: I'm not hungry

Marcele: oh, but I insist, eat a little, you can't go without dinner, come. She walked to the door and waited for me

We sat at the table, served ourselves; dinner seemed to be delicious with alluring dishes, yet it wasn't enough to whet my appetite, and only some bites made my nausea return, and this time it was more robust, accompanied again by a cold sweat, I dropped the silverware on the table, and I stopped thoughtfully hoping for some improvement, but it only got worse

Lorenzo: Are you alright daughter?, you're pale he put his hand on my forehead, you're cold, are you feeling anything? he asked me, but I couldn't answer

Marcele: Say something, Isabella, what's wrong?

Isabella: I'm not feeling well; I think I'm going to vomit. I get up in disorientation, going towards the sink in the kitchen next door, and I threw up everything I had eaten during the day.

Marcele: let's take her to the hospital

Isabella: no need, mom

Marcele: what do you mean no need? Let's go

Isabella: the pain is fading away

Lorenzo: are you sure?

Isabella: yes, I am

My parents looked at each other worriedly, they seemed insecure, but they accepted and took me to the bedroom; my father sat on a chair beside the bed after helping me to half lie down on the bed.

Marcele: I'll get you some tea

Isabella: okay

Lorenzo: how long have you been feeling this malaise?

Isabella: it was just today, probably it's something I ate

Lorenzo: you need to be more careful then

Isabella: alright, dad

After a while, I drank the tea my mother brought, and we kept talking until Nicolas arrived and my parents left us alone.

Nicolas: how are you?

Isabella: I'm not okay, I've vomited, and I'm feeling a lot of pain in my stomach; I couldn't eat anything

Nicolas: seriously, my love? Let me see your tummy, and so I lay down on the bed completely, and Nicolas lifted half of the blouse, leaving my belly bare, felt my abdomen, gave light taps to hear the sound; it was a bit swollen. we would better go to the doctor tomorrow, and if you feel something, we should go tonight, he said

Isabella: all right

Nicolas: your face is pale and pinched; you need something to eat, or you will be in more pain

Isabella: but I can't eat, my love, I'll get sick, and I throw up everything again

Nicolas: don't eat solid things; soup would be good

Isabella: I don't feel like eating anything.

Nicolas: But you're going to eat for your own good. I'm going downstairs now and talk to your mother to make you some soup.

Isabella: baby, wait a minute, I said, but he was already closing the bedroom door, I rolled my eyes, and I found the gesture of care was cute

My mother prepared vegetable soup as Nicolas ordered. They talked about the swelling. I ate the soup, and oddly enough, I felt a bit better. The liquid did not worsen nausea. Now, if I feel anything else, I'll have to do a round of checkup exams.

Marcele: If anything comes up, we'll be in the room, okay?

Isabella: all right

Nicolas: I'll take it from her, ma'am, don't worry

Isabella: thank you for caring about me and taking care of me

Nicolas: no need to thank me, I will always take care of you, protect what is within my reach and what is not; I will ask God to do it for me

Isabella: you are amazing. I kissed him tenderly

Nicolas: you are the most beautiful and amazing girl in this world, and I am the luckiest guy in the world

Isabella: oh, so beautiful, I can't resist; I have to hug you right now. And shower you with kisses!

We stayed there enjoying each other's company for half an hour. Cuddles and snuggles, kisses and passionate looks, and much love in the air; without saying a word, nothing needed to be said, our eyes said through our mouths, our eyes smile through our lips, my soul was at peace when I was by his side.

Nicolas: do you want me to stay here with you?

Isabella: you don't need to do that, my love

Nicolas: are you sure? if you want, I'll stay here; I can even sleep on the floor

Isabella: I'll be fine, don't worry

Nicolas: okay, so I should be leaving, okay?

Isabella: okay

Nicolas: good night princess, it's going to be all alright. I love you he said goodbye with a kiss on the forehead

Isabella: good night, my love, may God guard your steps; I love you too.

That scary horrible feeling disappeared that night; it's as if Nicolas's presence had been a natural remedy, the stomach pain went away, nausea didn't come back, and I managed to sleep normally.

I woke up at 6:15 the following day, feeling refreshed; I walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, looked at myself in the closet mirror; I looked thinner, but my stomach didn't look swollen, which was a good sign. I got ready for school, and of course, I prayed before going down to breakfast.

"Thank you, my God, for allowing me to live one more day, thank you for forgiving my failures and sins, for choosing me to express you and fully receive your love, thank you for the death of your son, thank you for this life! Teach me to please you, teach me, my Lord, to love the people, deny myself, and know that everything I do to please you will be little, but let me give in to your hands, my feeling be true. If I have a heart that does not please you, destroy what I have and rebuild it according to your will; give me a heart like yours, full of love, compassion, gentle and humble.

I beg you, Lord, be the center of my relationship with Nicolas, bless us, my Lord, lead us, that this relationship may always be pleasant in your eyes.

Marcele: good morning dear, how are you feeling today?

Lorenzo: good morning daughter, your face looks good.

Isabella: I'm feeling better

Lorenzo: perfect

Marcele: we're going to have to travel this afternoon, meet some representatives at the branch

Isabella: how many days away?

Lorenzo: We don't know for sure, but it will probably take two days to finish everything there.

Isabella: I understand, it's ok.

Lorenzo: call your friends to sleep here with you

Isabella: without a doubt

We had breakfast, and so far, I had not felt any discomfort, which was wonderful; I was feeling well, and I hope to continue like this until the end of the day. I told the girls that my parents were going to travel for a couple of days and asked them to sleep over until they got back; besides that, we scheduled to go out in the afternoon to eat something and talk

[...]

Marcele: Can you help me pack? she said at the bedroom door as she saw me checking my cell phone

Isabella: sure, I replied, getting up from the bed and heading toward her.

Marcele: How's this dating thing with Nicolas going, daughter? she asks me as we enter her room

My mother was exactly like me, no matter how many days the trip would take, the suitcase would always be full, with much more than I would certainly need on the trip, there was a mound of clothes spreading out on the bed, it didn't even feel like a two days trip.

Isabella: great, he is a beautiful human being, super kind, caring, and loving.

Marcele: that's delightful daughter, thankfully. I can tell that he is all of that

Isabella: he is. I smiled as I helped to fold the clothes

Marcele: I'm glad you're happy. May it keeps being like that, and may he keeps making you happy

Isabella: Amen, thank you, mother

We stayed there for a while longer until we packed, we said goodbye, and then it was just me and Aunt Luh at home. I went up to my room, got dressed, and waited for Rafaela to pick me up so we could go to the mall where we are going to join Paula

Rafaela: hi sister! She said, excited to see me at the door

Isabella: hi, I replied, with a hug

Rafaela: shall we?

Isabella: yes, yes, are we going to stop by Paula's too or not?

Rafaela: she asked us to meet her at the mall now, in our favorite place ever

Isabella: oh yes, alright, so let's go right away; we got in the car and went straight to the place.