Pablo woke up, surprised to find Jimena gone from the bed. He let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair, frustration knotting in his stomach. Guilt gnawed at his peace. He longed to mend what was broken between them, but how could he face her after what he’d done?Jimena entered the room carrying their baby and gently placed him on the bed. The child crawled towards Pablo while she avoided his gaze, silently heading towards the bathroom. It was Saturday, and it seemed Jimena had plans, freeing him from the need to find some excuse to escape and avoid her.Jimena emerged wrapped in a towel, her skin damp and her hair pulled back. She couldn’t help but glance at her husband as he played with their baby; he looked utterly endearing, like a little boy himself.“Who’s this gorgeous blonde, Adrián?” he cooed to the baby, mimicking Donald Duck’s voice. Jimena tried to suppress a smile, feigning indifference. “What’s such a pretty lady doing in here? Who let her in?” he continued in
On a bright, beautiful morning filled with laughter and warmth, Jimena, Pablo, and the baby played on the bed. Even though the sunny day invited them to go out and appreciate its beauty, they decided to stay home and enjoy each other’s company.“Say ‘Da-da,’” Pablo repeated, staring intently at Adrián.“It doesn’t matter how hard you try, it won’t change the fact that he said ‘Mama’ before ‘Dada,’” Jimena said, amused. Pablo frowned at her in mock disagreement.“You manipulated him,” he accused her with a dramatic expression.“Yeah, right,” she scoffed sarcastically and stifled a giggle. “Face it, he loves me more than you,” she said with a chuckle before kissing his lips quickly.“‘He loves me more than you,’” he mocked, making a face.The baby nestled against his mother’s chest and began grabbing at her breasts.“Hey!” Pablo gently removed the baby’s hand with a grin. “Those belong to Daddy; your turn was long ago, young man. I lent them to you for a while, but now I’m taking back w
By the time the sun rose, Jimena was still clutching Pablo’s phone. Her face was blank, lost in her deepest, most painful thoughts. She hadn't slept or cried; she simply remained there, the phone in her hands.The alarm rang, and after turning over in bed a few times, Pablo sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked at Jimena curiously as she stared sadly at the device. She unlocked the screen, and the message appeared before her. Silently, she passed the phone to Pablo. He took it, confused, and went cold as he read its contents. He looked at her in horror, unable to find the right words to face her.“Jimena… I…” Hearing his trembling voice was the trigger. The trapped tears burst forth like torrents, and her chest began to shake. Then he understood that a great sob was trying to erupt violently. “Let me explain, it was a mistake… a slip…” Jimena couldn’t bear the pressure in her chest. She threw herself at him, hysterical, hitting him with fury and pain.He held her arms and looked at her
Fear choked Jimena as she stood before that room, the sounds of shouting seeping through the door. From her father, the cries were harsh, full of anger and demand; from her mother, pleas, and whimpers of pain. She even heard the sickening thud of blows.A tremor ran through her, tears welling up and blurring her vision. She was so terrified. Only five years old, she couldn’t grasp the turmoil that often erupted in her home. One mystery, in particular, haunted her: why her mother always cried when her father shut them both inside their bedroom.Suddenly, a pair of comforting arms wrapped around her shoulders, offering a sanctuary amidst the confusing, agonizing chaos. It was her older sister! She was always there, a steady wall of protection, even though she was just a child herself. More often than not, when their parents were neglectful or fighting, Claudia took charge, caring for Jimena and their little sister, Cecilia.Jimena’s eyelids fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the light
Jimena lay asleep in her room. Though it was midday, she hadn't yet risen. At night, she would wake up searching for Pablo, only to cry when she didn't find him by her side. She missed him so much!And she wasn't the only one. Adrián would wake up early, crawl to their room, and call for him in his sweet voice:"Da-da!"The boy would point to Pablo's empty side of the bed, a gesture that would shake Jimena to her core, and she couldn't hold back the tears. She had never been so depressed. She felt like her world was ending, and all she could do was watch it crumble, in a lethargy that was slowly destroying her.Pablo's lawyer had already spoken with hers, and the divorce was moving forward. The judge had given them a month to try to fix their relationship, but they hadn't even seen each other since he left. Nor had Pablo come to visit the boy, as he'd promised.That day, someone knocked on the bedroom door."Who is it?" Jimena asked. Her voice was hoarse and weak."Can we come in?" sh
Jimena wept in her room, inconsolable. Since the divorce was mutual and there were no disputes, her marriage would end in two months."Jimena, stop crying over that jerk," Claudia said softly, rubbing her back.Every time the lawyer contacted her, she relapsed. This time, the pain of knowing that soon she and Pablo would no longer be legally married was too heartbreaking, so she had been crying inconsolably for hours."I wish I could, Clau, but I can't help it," she replied between sobs. "I love Pablo, I miss him so much."Claudia swallowed the words that were itching to come out since she didn't want to upset her sister more. It bothered her that she was so weak with a man who didn't value her, but given her own troubled past, who was she to judge her?After a few hours, Jimena calmed down. She and Cecilia watched Claudia curiously since their older sister had been acting very strange lately."By the way, Clau..." Cecilia approached her, noticing her dejected look, "did something hap
When Pablo arrived at the party, the cheerful, childish music set the tone for the colorful scene. The laughter of the invited children, along with the voices of the clowns and the entertainment crew, brought the celebration to life.There were only a few guests, just a handful of close friends with their young children and family. Pablo immediately became the center of attention, and Adrián greeted him with pure joy. Seeing his happy little face and feeling his enthusiastic embrace was the recharge he needed to keep going, yet also a stark reminder of what he had lost.Jimena, for her part, kept her distance, her eyes glistening, revealing the turmoil of seeing her son so happy and lively after his father's arrival. She felt a mix of relief and sadness, as Pablo's presence stirred up the emotions she struggled to suppress. However, she was comforted that he had the decency to share these kinds of events with his son. It reassured her that, although their marriage had ended, the bond
On a cold night that evoked sadness and nostalgia, Jimena stared at the empty side of her husband's bed, tears wetting her face. Memories of their relationship visited her, reminding her of what she no longer had, but this time she welcomed them with warmth and a smile. In her mind, she heard her own voice and saw the image of herself with Pablo, before they were married:"I like your room." Jimena looked around, excited. Apparently, Pablo was tidy; he also had good taste, as the room was well decorated. There were several posters of martial arts masters and Chinese and Japanese symbols plastered on the wall."I like you." Pablo approached her seductively.Jimena threw herself onto the bed and closed her eyes, savoring the delicious scent of the sheets."I missed you so much these past few days, you bad boyfriend." The blonde pouted."I missed you too." He leaned over her. "But my father gave me no respite and filled me with work since we arrived. Even my uncle, who supposedly had ret