FIFTY-TWO

Kamilla Lopez

My days in that prison turned into weeks, caged at the mercy of her obsessive whims. Since the day Nick dared to hurt Dona Carolina, I haven't dared ask dangerous questions about her whereabouts, or even try to escape. I realized that here I will not have allies, that I will never have anyone on this property to help me and help my only family. After that supposedly agonizing day, Nick and I didn't say much to each other. We shared the same bed, but we didn't dare touch each other, he tried several times, he tried to seduce me with the tricks that his body and look possess, but remembering what he did to me and Dona Carolina made me reason right.

Erick was the only one who distracted me in this house, he was always waiting for him in front of the entrance hall. The time we weren't together, I was locked in the room, lying on the bed, accompanied by the symptoms of pregnancy. Nausea was part of my routine, I often woke up during the night and ran to the bathroom, often in an attempt to help me, Nick held my hair and took me to bed in his arms. Apart from the nausea, the drop in pressure along with the cravings were frequent in my life. My belly was already showing signs of the existence of my baby.

Many times I noticed Erick's eyes on my belly, his little eyes sparkled contemplating what I still didn't know, I still haven't told him about the pregnancy, not because I didn't want to tell him, I wanted to, but I was thinking about the possibility of a miscarriage, after all, the affliction I went through at the beginning of the pregnancy I thought I would lose, since hours after Nick's theater I saw a blood stain on my panties.

I was trapped, incarcerated in the new life I didn't choose. There were no longer any spontaneous acts from me, I lived automatically, day after day, night after night. I've always been a hardworking woman who ran after goals, who never gave up on something that prevented her from achieving what she wanted, who always had a smile of freedom on her lips, which now diminished due to Nick Ross's obsession.

Sitting on the dining table, I watch Erick eat his meal while talking to his father, Nick interacts with his son. I observe the happy scene for the boy, after all, he is spontaneously getting what he wanted so much. The eyes that were directed at Erick before, connected with mine, his beautiful and dark smile diminishes, his eyes study the expressions on my face, without diverting it, he warns me and Erick:

— We'll leave tomorrow morning.

I am confused by his words, since the beginning that he brought me back to his property we have not left it, or rather, I have not left it.

— Where are we going, Daddy?

— Let's go to an office, your mother has an appointment tomorrow.

— Query? — question confused.

— Is Mom sick?

— No big boy, for now, I just let you know that we're going out in the morning.

With the brief warning over, Nick went back to eating. Erick and I were confused, I didn't know what he had in mind for tomorrow. After dinner, I took Erick to his room, after brushing my teeth I cuddled him in bed. When I saw him sleeping, I left his room and closed the door, in short steps I went to the suite that I share with Nick. I walk through the door, I see him come out of the bathroom dressed in his white sweatpants, I looked at his hair, it was damp revealing that he had just taken a shower. In his hands there was a white towel, with his eyes directed at me, he raises it to his hair, drying it.

— You have an appointment tomorrow.

— I know, you called at dinner, may I know what appointment?

— You're going to start your prenatal care, I waited a few weeks to make sure I didn't lose the baby.

— Did you want me to lose?

— No Kamilla, I didn't want, and I don't want you to lose our son.

I feel angry at their words, their attitudes, everything. But my emotions seem confused, my eyes overflow with sad and angry tears. In short steps Nick approaches me, with one hand he brings it to my face and dries it, his serious and dark eyes are replaced by the tenderness that he does not inhabit.

— Are you crying, little doll?

— They're pregnancy hormones.

— Oh, of course! Forgot that detail.

I move away from his hand taking a step back, my act causes him annoyance, I can tell by his lips being in a single line and his jaw is locked.

— You know I hate it when you pull away from my touch.

— I'm sorry, my disgust at your touch is involuntary.

— Watch your words, baby.

— Is that all you do?— Threaten me?

— I don't take it as a threat, but I warn you.

—Of course, because you keep doing them that you're believing are warnings, but they're not.

— Stay still.

— No! That's all you do, you threaten me, bully me into doing what you want!

— Go take a shower, it'll do you good.

— Stop telling me what to do!— Isn't it enough to keep me trapped in this house? In this hell day after day knowing you're keeping the people I love so much trapped like animals.

— Stop worrying about them, it's not your business anymore.

— Let me know what situations they're in, please, Nick.

— Just now you were insulting me, are you already begging my angel?

— You are a bastard!

I walk away from him with tears in my eyes, I walk into the bathroom and lock myself there. I look at my face in front of the mirror, my eyes are red from crying, I sigh a few times and get rid of the dress. I turn on the electric shower, change the temperature and let the warm water fall on my skin, it softens the skin of my face, sliding all over my body. Gradually the anger and anguish I was feeling diminished, I spent a long time in the bathroom.

With my body wrapped in a robe, I return to the bedroom, I go to the closet, from there I take out a flannel nightgown and put them on, after combing my hair and drying it, I lay down on the bed, snuggling between the sheets. I was alone in the room in the shadows of every part of the room. The light of the full moon penetrates through the corners of the curtain in front of the window. Gradually, I let myself be led to tiredness and ended up falling asleep.

The next morning, I wake up to soft hands cupping my cheeks and smoothing my hair. I open my eyes, still sleepy, and I have a vision of a handsome prince, kneeling on the bed, with his feet shod in shoes.

— Good morning, mom.

— Good morning, my love.

— I had to wake you up, Dad asked.

I turn to the side and realize that Nick hadn't slept with me, I turned my attention to the boy.

— Where is he?

— He's in the office.

— Do you know where he slept?

— Daddy didn't sleep here with you?— he asked, confused.

— Oh, don't mind my words Erick, sleep effects.

— Okay, let's wait for you at the table, so we can have coffee together.

With his withdrawal I got out of bed, taking a last look I didn't see that he didn't sleep beside me, I felt a restlessness inside me, but then I shrugged and went to the bathroom. After the shower I put on a light white mesh dress, on my feet a black crawl. Hair brushed and perfumed, I left the room. As soon as I arrive in the dining room I am greeted by the unmistakable sight of Bianca, my eyes heavy and without thinking twice I go towards her. Even amazed to see me, she shakes her head with wide eyes, so I don't do that.

I control myself and take a deep breath, I divert my eyes from Bianca to Nick, he is sitting in his chair, looking at me curiously.

— Good morning, princess, did you wake up well today?

— Good morning Nick, and yes, I woke up fine. And you?

— I woke up Samaritan today.

— I see, should I be concerned?

— I'm the one to ask you, will I regret the decision I made?

— No.

— Perfect, now sit down and eat, we'll go to the office soon.