The wind was blowing strong and relentless and that constant tapping on the glass woke me up. The voracity contained in the ferocious turns hitting the window of my room, did not allow me to sleep well; Tired of tossing and turning in bed, of curling up on the bedspread without falling asleep, I got up. I had to rub my eyes and shine my phone's flash to get my bearings a bit.The storm was doing its thing outside. I hugged myself, wrapping my arms around myself. Most likely, the light returned until the storm had subsided. I stumbled out, still sleepy. I went to Isaac's room, there I found him succumbed to rest. From the frame of his bedroom, I watched him with a half smile. He was an incredible child, he did not flinch at the noise of lightning, or thunder. However, the brave little boy who slept peacefully was also delicate and susceptible to cat and dog allergies. In addition to being afraid of the dark, but sleeping deeply, he was not terrified that everything was gloomy around hi

“No! I screamed hysterically. I can't do it, Kelly” I walked in circles. In the end I collapsed, broken, on the sofa. Everything stopped at the wrong time, I felt at a dead end. Life pushed me towards him. She didn't want to see him, find him again, and have to hold his gaze in an unreadable struggle.“It was going to happen at any moment, you have to assume it as an adult” He assured sitting next to me.“You do not get it. I pointed out with a bitter smile” Anger, worry and anxiety all inside of me, a cold war."Believe me so, Marianne" she refuted, caressing my shoulders. When you see him, you don't have to go to the point and tell him about Isaac, everything will be at the right time, when you think it's convenient.“No, I'll talk to Anastasia and ask her to reassign the interview to Valentina” I spoke determined.“No more evasion, Marianne. Face the situation, and don't hide like a coward” she advised with that tone of a mother who wants the best for her son, but no, it was my fri

We were starting to ascend.“Darrelle Al-Murabarak” he blurted out without looking at me.I felt my heart skip a beat. I would have preferred not to ask, she was the one Ismail told me about once, different from him, disunited, or at least there was no close relationship between them.“I…”"You don't have to tell me anything" she hastened to say, putting a hand to her forehead. “I'm aware of the situation, but I didn't think I'd find you like this; I didn't imagine meeting you in an elevator by chance. Ismail never introduced you to dad and me. What are you doing here?”I was silent for a few seconds, while I processed the information; spinning an answer became difficult.“I work at Magnani, I've come to interview your brother, I explained with an abrasion in my voice”“I'm so sorry for what happened to you, it must not have been easy...” I've learned to live with it, don't worry. I interrupted awkwardly.I didn't want her pity, her regret, that she continues to babble about an appreh

There was not so much tension that now cornering what became of us. The invisibility of an imaginary wall did not interfere, nothing to prevent its disturbing closeness. It didn't do me good to have him a few inches away.“Ismail…”"Tell me I'm not delusional or something" He inspected my face, caressing my cheek until it brought the crimson embarrassment over my complexion.I forced myself to stand back and pretend it didn't affect me at all."You shouldn't be surprised that he's here, you knew beforehand that he would come" I replied using an icy tone."I thought another Marianne Lombardi would arrive" he whispered, outlining a smile. He was joking, and he was doing it in an unfunny moment, I'm really glad you're here.I swallowed hard, why was he smiling? was he doing it on purpose? He knew how much he could make me nervous and he wasn't helping me. Suddenly a dangerous heat enveloped me, I tried to appease it by backing away from its scorching physiognomy.“Flower…”"Don't call me

Three suspension points.So, I closed the laptop and went to open the door for Kelly. She came with her boyfriend, so I was embarrassed to walk with those looks. Raising an eyebrow in the direction of my friend, I was reproaching her for warning before bringing her fiancé.Not for anything bad, but to get ready and not show up in my pajamas. From her I received a smile that translated to: I'm sorry, Marianne, I'll let you know next time.I wish it did."Come in, how are you, Sean?" Excuse me, my outfit, I whispered with a half-smile."You're still looking, Bella" he crooned in his quaint European accent, greeting me with a kiss on each cheek.I looked over her beefy shoulder at Kelly, she shrugged. The Italians were so cute, chivalrous, a perfect combination hard to find and in him, hard to elude. Sean was all of that, plus he brought me closer to my roots, which made me see him in a special way, a friend. She couldn't have done better than him. They coupled up, I was an eyewitness to

Le Cirque, elegance and neatness, but did not neglect sobriety. Aspects that made the place pleasant. I didn't like it so much before, but there was a different air in the environment, or was it me who had gone from being uncomfortable in the splendorous and pompous places, to feeling that the new Marianne was beginning to fit in, like a rough diamond being polished to form part of the remains of the stones of a choker.We occupy the table. If my presence there was nil, it would have been a beautiful date for that pair of lovebirds eating each other with their eyes. The maître d' arrived with the menus, like my friend, I opted for the exquisite dish that Sean had selected, while he assured only me, since his fiancée had already tried it on another occasion, that I would become addicted to Risotto Au Cèpes D'oregon, which consisted of carnarolli Risotto, Porcini Oregon Mushrooms and Parmesan emulsion.We talked for a long time, but without disturbing the peace of the rest of the people

I woke up in an unknown room, in someone else's bed, between sheets impregnated with a masculine perfume, which invaded my nasal tunnel, I recognized it, but I did not want to believe that I was in the grip of a reality far from a dream that I stupidly clung to.That perfume… No! It couldn't be him.I felt the need to pinch my flesh, nothing happened, I didn't wake up, I definitely wasn't having a nightmare.A range of fearful possibilities presented itself abruptly. I couldn't remember anything from last night, which made my stomach twist with fear, because I didn't know where I was, or who had brought me to this sumptuous bedroom. A lot of paranoid thoughts cloud my mind, I kicked them out of my head when I discovered under the silk that covered my face, that I was still wearing my dress.At least the unknown subject hadn't raped me. That did not take away weight from the situation, less with the monstrous headache; I moaned in pain, the violence of the palpitations carried an aggre

“Don't look for me, don't call me… Goodbye, Ismail. I whispered, it was never so difficult to put that point and end”Enough of commas, enough of ellipses or going back to the same page turned to ashes as we thought, inside so alive that it stirred the soul. Outside, away from the unaffordable haze and luxuries everywhere, I welcomed the cool New York City air.Freedom.Nothing more than the pressure installed in my chest did not undo it, not even the light from outside. The dagger stuck in the depths, sank another centimeter, due to the encounter. Seeing him again bled me, cut me into little pieces. It was no use pretending to be strong, believing myself to be an oak tree if with a snap of his fingers I collapsed, he took my life in a heartbeat.Aware of the irregular situation, I took my phone finding on the screen on, a lot of missed calls and numerous messages from Kelly and Aaron.Aaron: Where are you, Marianne? I'm worried. I'll stay with Isaac.Fuck.Kelly: Can you tell where t

"Are you kidding me?" she screeched in disbelief.“I'm being honest, it was Ismail. Don't look at me like that” I added because of his look fluttering with mischief. That nothing happened between us. His excuse, his silly and ridiculous excuse was that a man was looking at me with double intentions, and he decided to take me away from danger...“Clear!” she exclaimed sarcastically He denied with an amused smile before replying. Men, that's how they all are, liars. The only one who was looking at you with desire was him, he is the only danger for you and ironically, he took you to the red zone.I frowned."To your bed..." he stressed exaggeratedly articulated, I rolled my eyes.“I already told you that nothing happened there at all” He didn't convince me this time, I didn't fall into his trap, I'm not stupid anymore,” I growled in exasperation.“Silly? Of course, you're still a fool, otherwise you won't leave poor Aaron… You know, wanting” said mischievously, but with a certain reproac

"Okay, where do you want me to hang it?" I asked, marveling at his painting."I don't know…" His lips twitched."Wherever you want, sweetie.It was decided to put it in our living room. The landscape made a wonderful contrast with the white wall. I hugged him on the shoulders, while we remained immersed in the painting."I'm proud of you, Isaac."Thank you, mom" he said, then looked at his watch. I'm late for school!“Yes, I know, I know... Grab your backpack and we'll go” He snorted looking for her, I stayed in my place watching him run up. Like any Monday, nothing strange was the rush my little boy was in. Aware of his slavery to punctuality, I took the car keys and my phone. I didn't want him to get hysterical, any more than I already do.I drove through the city, enduring the terrible morning traffic. I put on a song to calm Isaac down, he kept repeating that he was going to miss an important exam.“Mother! I'm not supposed to have a nine, if I'm late, then the teacher will deduct