Runaway Bride

One month later

I smile as I see my reflection again in front of the full-length mirror. The dress Darío asked Donatella for is beautiful. He’s like a madman. Crazy in love. It fascinates me and lets me know that everything will be fine. We will be fine, more than fine. In him, I have found a partner, a friend, and a true husband.

“Wow...” Dawson stands in the doorway and watches me with sad eyes. “You are without a doubt the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.”

I don’t know what to say to him. I can almost feel his pain. He fell in love with my sister. And she... she’s not ready to be with him.

“Come in and let me give you a hug.” Even though he’s older than me, when I see him looking at me so sad, lost, and ruined, it makes me feel like I’m twenty years older.

“I’m fine,” he tells me without coming closer.

“You’re going to be. You’ll see.” I’m not going to play along with his game of making me think he is. He’s almost as stubborn as his brother. He doesn’t like to show how much situations affect him.

“I am,” he repeats this time. At least his voice sounds more confident. “How about my nephew?”

“Or niece,” I add, and a smile tugs at my lips. The pregnancy goes from strength to strength. I feel good, happy, and enormously grateful to life for putting Darío in my path. “It will be a long time before we know what it is.” I put my hands on my flat belly.

I know I’ll be round in a few months, but that instead of scaring me or making me anxious, it just cheers me up and puts me in a good mood. A baby grows inside me. It is my own family. Darío’s baby is growing inside me, and I know he will be by my side forever.

“You really are in love.” He approaches and slowly enters my room.

I set up, together with Donatella, a kind of make-up studio where I can do my hair and dress without any problems. No one interrupts me. More than anything, I feel at ease.

“I am,” I affirm without hesitation. It’s something you can tell. You can see it a mile away, miles away. It shows above my skin.

He smiles for the first time in weeks. Even so, the gesture still doesn’t impact his gaze.

Oh, Teresa! What have you done with this man?

“It’s good that my brother found a good woman who really loves him.” I sense he wants to tell me something else, but he stops.

toward him. I hold his hands between

if it has a life of its own.

mother and Donatella, I must do it right this

to

with his gray-blue eyes, as clear as two drops of water. However, now because of the pain and anxiety that consumes him, they reflect more the stormy

he whispers. I don’t know if his personal pain from the separation from my sister is what keeps his voice from sounding as happy as it should. “You make

love him, and I feel like he loves me. Even though our relationship didn’t start out conventional, I know he loves me.

brother has always been the best.” He releases

dark gray three-piece suit. His shirt is white, and

me a letter, and I grab it immediately. I know it’s not for me long before he tells me,

don’t you do it yourself?” I suffer for

you and Darío get

“Dawson...”

away toward the door and watches me glumly. “I thought I could change her mind, but for some reason, she doesn’t

just confused and hurt. Someone close to

know that? She was happy by my side! Then, all of a sudden, she decided she couldn’t go on. But I was

I can’t help but let out a tear. “I know. She

won’t be enough.” He clenches his fist and impacts it against the door frame,

as I

muffled scream and run in terror to find Darío. I

him kneeling on the floor. He has his suit on, and his hair combed back. He has let it grow a little

the tulle

my hand on his cheek.

the bow tie in his left pocket.

He doesn’t speak to me. His eyes are closed,

usually despairs when he can’t do something he did before he was blind, but seeing him fixed makes it hard for me

I told you there was no need for us to get married again. I know you love me, and it doesn’t matter that our marriage was for convenience. I forgave