A poinsettia
I usually leave the bedroom window open when they arrive the first warm days of late spring. This morning I opened my eyes when the stars still drew his winks in the sky and full moon peeked his round face in the window opening. Beside me, rested Paul let out a soft quiet hum shows a deep sleep. I sensed the beginning of the day by the singing of a blackbird that had chosen the lush acacia at the foot of my window to make its nest. In the last silence of the night, I heard the soft trill which, like the cry of a newborn, sounded a faint whisper to increase gradually in intensity until the song culminates with crisp clarity. For a moment only heard his sweet melody arpeggios that animated the new life was the alarm live announcement of the beginning of the daily chores. Interestingly, increasing the noise with the buzz of cars on the road, the blackbird was silent as if he had done his duty. He would rest a few minutes between braided straw and branches in the manufacture of that concave container where to hide their eggs in Next spring, new life will take care with their songs encourage us to begin our work.
In the sudden silence before daylight, I fell asleep and woke me the noise of the shower spray where Paul was preparing to go to work. I got up to make coffee and while walking down the aisle by tying the belt of my robe, came to my mind scenes from the previous day. Had been Sunday, for the morning we met with friends for a stroll in the park and then sit on a terrace for an aperitif. One day only attended the meeting, Victoria and Ernie, he co-worker of my husband Paul and her, his wife, the friend I met after marriage. I met Paul
Advertising Agency where he held my work in the office a little over two years. He entered as a graphic designer can almost say that willingly bounced the branch established in the North, because I wanted to try his luck in Madrid, he said. But Paul was not a man who was content with little and a few months later, he decided to Blas with the named partner and work to create one's own business which fortunately progressed. When he decided to return to his northern city Blas with his friend, asked me to accompany him and I, after planting my conditions, I accepted and here in this city, relatively small compared to the bustling Madrid abandoned by love, today I was rebuilding a new life.
Paul and I were not legally married, they both had accepted the case. If over time, it seemed appropriate to legitimize our union, we would, but for the moment, we were what has been called a partnership.
I loved Paul deeply and completely convinced of their reciprocity, he loved me too, I had demonstrated his sincerity when, after short-long our relationship, I proposed the motion. "I love, "he said, no joke. I think a lot of things before making them and I know I love you but I also know I ask a sacrifice. You have to come with me, leave the city and your work ... There you can find a task you like ... Do you take risks? "These, more or less, were his words. And I took a chance. In addition to the safety of his partner want to be loved and to share joys, sorrows and everything that life sent us so many times we had communicated to project our union, I wanted to forward to motherhood, but she had not reported it because it was not my intention to push him, wanted everything to emerge more slowly at the moment appropriate and expected. Sometimes I dreaded the thought of whether it was true love for me. He knew the former existence of other women in his life, he never hid me, but also stated that our relationship was the first decision would be binding and final. The above relationships were temporary and ended in nothing, "he said, I was chosen as a companion for life and we both felt happy.
While he worked in advertising, I came up to me to use some of my savings to restore old flats for rent and then I was not wrong. During that year he had achieved began to amortize the costs and profits. Every day I felt happier and more loved by Paul. I was sure of his early proposal to increase the family and, therefore, legally unite in marriage as we decided when this happens. On reaching the room I noticed the poinsettia that graced the table, a gift from last Christmas, when he said: "This is our life. Flourish then rejuvenate and regenerate in spring, like new every year." These words seemed a harbinger of the future that, somehow, was tied to the conservation of plant and even considered this idea without a logical basis, watched the beautiful poinsettia as if it were three bet my happiness. And waited. But
the happiness of others is frowned on envious minds and tongues are loosened with poisoned words disguised as compassionate help to sow doubt in the hearts honest. So it happened that Sunday when we gather with friends considered the most loyal companions for a lifetime of difficult adjustment.
walked through the park on a relaxing walk on a sunny spring Sunday for a road paved with broad steps rising surrounding gardens protected by a wrought-iron gates where they were beautiful chestnut, plane, oak, beech and magnolia. The two men returned to their private conversations preceded us slightly, while Victoria and I, something lagging, we talked of other things conventional. On our side passed a young couple with a baby in a stroller that greeted Victoria and when passing, he lacked time to tell me:
"That girl was dating a while with Paul, were engaged until Lola went through the Store ... You know who I mean ...?
My mouth was a bitter aftertaste. What mattered previous engagements of Paul? Now he was bound to marry me and thought he had given me to understand them more than once. I stopped and soon said
- Really? Well ... Paul is a man with a great personality as well attractive ... I know who has had several girlfriends.
The look of Victoria blue eyes seemed to become viscous, was aired her long blonde hair with her hand and smugly, dropped the words as if making a huge favor:
"The other morning, as they passed the bar of the "blond" were together over coffee.
-Who do you mean ...
"Well woman ... Who is going to be ... Paul and Lola. She was crazy about him ... and he said that for her ... before I met you, of course ... and left together for many years when she still had no tent.
could not accept that conversation gave me a Paul unjustified mistrust and lightens the step to get closer to men.
- "We sat for a beer? - Said in an attempt to change the awkward situation.
A snack spread their tables near a small lake and this situation gave me the opportunity, without waiting for the acceptance I sat at a table.
No further talk more about that case and on Sunday ended in a quiet evening at our house, Paul and me alone. But the wound of distrust had already begun to make the heart bleed. --------------------------
Paul met when she moved into the neighborhood from his native Andalusia. Soon word spread that he was in Malaga and a beautiful woman. No one knew whether single or widowed, but there was with the packaging Moorish, as if it were the true model of the most famous woman painter of the Andalusian, Julio Romero de Torres. He lived in a small apartment in one of the main streets of the city. Did not work at all, as if he had need, and gradually came to the inhabitants of the city, with a partnership at City Hall to organize celebrations and conferences, in what they called "The Wardrobe" of the parish where helping the needy or in any another site in which cooperation was necessary. Paul was presented a friend of another friend, they believed, had been what has been called "chemistry" that is, attraction to both parties. Lola was a grown woman with life experience, a few years older than Paul. Beautiful, huge, dark eyes, thin but shapely, tall with long legs, because of an ease to go waving your body so melodious. Paul, the conqueror of the environment, took her street. Gradually, the relationship grew stronger and although Lola tried by all means keep it there if not for themselves by marriage bonds of love, Paul knew very well their own desires and not let anyone easily duped. She was associated with more sexual union Lola loving but also left room to your desires and because he could not lure him with sentimental ties to the desired extent, he succeeded where a majority of men have a weakness: business.
Paul got a small investment of capital, equal parts, to create a clothing store and toys. The opening, the required attention to the progress of trade, kept them together for a long time but when the business began to operate smoothly, Paul also started to get bored and because of some professional differences occurred in his "real job" as he called on business as a graphic designer at the company that had a subsidiary in Madrid, got to the capital. That separation was the last straw in the relationship of Paul and Lola, especially when, upon arrival in Madrid, was found in the offices Ana angelic figure who fell in love.
was the first time he felt his heart beating like never before had a woman and to start treating, reaffirmed their safety, she was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life. However, reluctant as he was the indissoluble union, after meeting Anna's feelings and maintain a relationship know each other, proposed to be his partner when the problems at work, he was forced to go back to your city to try there, accompanied by Blas, set up a small advertising company.
He succeeded without much hindrance and in the year and a half he was satisfied of their union as partner, could not complain, both the advertising business as their loving partnership, worked perfectly. Paul considered himself a happy man.
could not ever know if it was accidentally or sought the opportunity for her, but one morning, when I went to parking for your car, he found himself face to face with Lola. The greetings were more than courteous, caring and decided to take a coffee in the cafeteria of the neighborhood. That's where Victoria, passing in front of the glass facing the street, he saw and his mind, stories began to ramble in the absence of important things to think about. Although in all honesty, we must say that was not misguided. Paul and Lola started talking about the store, still half theirs, and she offered to buy its part, wanted the entire business. After thinking a few days later Paul was presented a well-known in the trade, just before close. Lola
floor used at home, could be accessed by a staircase located on the premises and, once downloaded the shutters, when the time of closing, both went to the apartment to examine the documents needed in the transfer of part of Paul in the business.
This was done, but the sherry which accompanied the conversation, the closeness of Lola and loving memory of their secrets, they did their work of undermining. The strength of Paul broke down and wanted to know if that last relationship was still alive in memory and in your body. --------------------------
The days started to weigh on my routine life and remembering the words of Victoria accompanied by delay in coming home from Paul asserting an important job in the office for several days, the mistrust grew and I decided to find out the truth even if it was the most painful of my life.
At the time, he estimated, Paul left his office, I went to where the store was located Lola and more hidden as possible, I waited. Shortly before closing time, I saw him coming. He entered the shop, Lola kissed on the cheek and soon after, drew close. I needed no more. With my heart like an accordion I returned to my house damaged. Should make a determination. Besides not admitting an affair, should have known if Paul still loved that woman. Never admit their stay by my side for compassion preferred a painful truth before a white lie and although the disappointment was more intense because of the possibility of my pregnancy, would not consent to this cause so beautiful, influenced our decisions. If he wanted to return to his former love, was free to do so, but never know his paternity, if that can be achieved pregnancy, the child was to be exclusively mine
. Luckily, I had not sold my flat in Madrid and the income of the two restored houses already leased, provided me financial security. I was not helpless. As time passed these speculations.
Paul arrived around midnight.
- What are you still up? "he said surprised.
-Waiting.
He looked more surprised and yet her dark eyes I read a flurry of fear or pain, do not grasp very well knew, was a light too quickly controlled immediately.
- Where have you been? - I asked, trying to give my voice a curious neutrality which lacked. Working
-...-
hesitated a moment as he took off the clothes and said, "you know sometimes the job requires me to stay. I've never been
diplomatic person, and sincerity, perhaps exaggerated until they can be rude, has been a feature of my personality. Therefore, without to hold back, I snapped at close range the truth.
"Do not lie. I've seen in shop Lola ...
He was pale and his eyes came up again painful blast. He looked at me twice without knowing what to say. He put his hands in his pockets, then loosened his tie, smoothed his hair without the need to immediately rub their cheeks with one hand. I noticed the speed of thought to create a response, then approached me with outstretched hands in a hint of a hug.
- not you dare touch me - I said, full of pain. Until I got an unusual scent, barely perceptible, alien to me. I thought as if a spirit intruder, evil, entered unexpectedly in my home to erect a concrete wall between Paul and me. Tears came to my eyes but not allowed to overflow. Never cry in front of him for infidelity. He stood and haggard than one meter from me with arms outstretched as if he had lost what they had between them.
"It's not what you think. The store belongs to the two and wants him to sell me.
stepped back and got back to him. That could be true but why would gather at this hour? Why so long? I wanted to believe him, wanted nothing, however, my dignity curling like a wave in the storm of my heart. I could not fool me but I wanted it. Wanted to allow the deception, he wanted to ignore his lies, wanted to forget and forgive but the disappointment was deep and did not pass for clemency. Suddenly I heard some words that collapsed my strength fictitious.
-Ana ... te quiero mucho ... and you know ...
inside me, my mind and my heart beginning a battle of unprecedented violence. The mind fighting for truth, honor, dignity. The heart for the love, forgiveness, forgetfulness and ignorance wise, that makes us look like fools and cowards when actually trying to achieve a serenity and an approach embraced by considered that belief many times as oblivion but is only indulgence and avoidance of the destruction of something of value achieved by dint of generosity. Tears rolled uncontrollably down my cheeks and between sobs said,
"Think well what you do with your life, Paul. I do not admit infidelity, you know very well, but also do not ask you're by my side if you do not want. You can and must choose your path. We have done well not to get married, so we can avoid many problems, only to pack and buy a plane ticket, our lives will change 180 degrees and each begin a new path.
I do not know if those words made a dent in your heart or just were the trigger of his feelings but hugged me and even tried to kiss my mouth, I could not accept it. Intruder spirit still remained with us even understood as weak. I felt his heart pounding against my chest, the touch of her skin touched me, his breath on my face belonged to me, was my man and revolt prevailed over all other feelings. That man was me, the father of that child probably in my gut, not let him escape. I hugged him and I heard a word that although he knew counterfeits, I agreed to hide on that side of the heart which holds the wisdom and forgiveness, not ignorance.
"Nothing has happened hopeless ...
I felt superior to him, knew the truth, but chose the best for both, for the three ... The best thing for a budding family, weak and helpless as a newborn baby is becoming strengthen and grow strong indestructible tree capable of dealing with the storms that life was a test. I was the pillar of that union, was that newly born family to complete, it was my obligation, a duty imposed if it wanted to reach port. Life was like a long sea voyage in which you 're forced to face more storms and hurricanes that soles and calm. Should be strong, accept the pain and soften the sweetness of absolution and try to keep the ship afloat. I was the captain of the ship, it was necessary to stay the course and not get carried away by fears about the ferocious gales, then, as seasoned sailor, I estrujarÃa the heart in silence, and when questioned naive "but how could you?" , reply: "... combining the love and heartache, wisdom and strength of mind." Then silence, calm, as if my work was reduced to zero. I would be the only possessor of truth, of that waiver and providing stability happiness to all those around me and trusted me.
Yes, it was up to hug and, inadvertently, my eyes fell on the poinsettia that remained on the table. Flowering red leaves were turning green, is regenerated to re-bloom in winter. And I remembered the words of Paul when he gave me last Christmas, "... so will our life ...".
Paul's head was hidden between the hair of Anne supported her face in the hollow of the shoulder of the woman he loved. Only he knew that tears escape your eyes. When he recovered from the excitement of his emotion, seized the face Anne in her hands and lost in her eyes asked
- We were married by the church or a civil ceremony, how do you prefer? MAGDA
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