Consume my broken heart

Chapter 7

I enjoyed the walk in my blue top, feeling more confident even it did not reveal any cleavage. My arms were bare. Baby steps in the right direction and hopefully someday I can feel sexy and beautiful again. If I look in the mirror, the only thing I see is a broken reflection of the person I was. The biggest step will be to love me again. To be happy and content with the person I am now. And deep down in a forgotten corner, I dream about a man that turns my world upside down. A man that adores me, protects me, heals me from my demons.

Making myself ready for work, I kept thinking about the possibility of being loved again, to give love to someone. The hardest part will be my thrust issues. I don't know if I can overcome this alone. I don't know if I'm capable of loving a man..."Hun, are you still in the bathroom? You are running late for work!" Mom yells suddenly.

Startled, I return to reality. "I'm coming," I yell back before pulling my hair in a high ponytail. Today was so hot and I don't want my hair to stick to my forehead. Today I have got the late shift again which I hate. My mind travels back to last night. Hopefully, he won't show his face again or I'll go mental with him near me.

"So, how was your date, yesterday?" I ask Nathalie with expectation.

"As usual, nothing special. You know my man isn't romantic." Nathalie whines.

"Maybe, but you love him enough to marry him," I stated playfully.

"That's true." She winks at me. "But that doesn't mean a girl can dream or hope for some change." She beams before leaving me behind the counter. That's true, though. Maybe she would better talk about that with him. Who knows, he'll make some effort for her and it would be the perfect scenario for them.

"Sofia, can you help me with the dishwasher?" Belinda asked.

"I'm coming," I answer her before rushing to the back, taking a towel in my hand. My aunt is the best. At her age, she still works like a twenty-year-old. She's so strong and resilient. She's everything I look up to.

"How's my girl doing?" Belinda asked while we dry all the cutlery and plates.

"Good, you?" I ask her with an honest smile. Belinda is very nosy but in a good way. That's the terrible side of my mother's family, but they mean it well.

"I'm great." She winks at me.

"You are different today," I say with crooked eyebrows, too curious to not ask her more.

"Am I?" She answers with a massive grin, happiness radiates from her face. Belinda is my mom's older sister. My mother wasn't planned so aunt is twelve years older than her. That makes her sixty already and still, she looks much younger. She always says that working keeps you young and vital and I have to believe her now. Belinda looks like grandpa, and mom is more grandma. Sadly, they passed away a few years ago. First, grandma got a seizure and grandpa died of cancer a year after grandma.

They passed away just before the assault. If I think about that now, I'm glad they didn't have to endure that as well. That party was the first time I went back to some kind of relaxing activities. I wasn't the party type at all, but once a month I enjoyed partying with my friends. I was a normal teenage girl that fell in love with the wrong boy.

Nathalie enters the back, placing cutlery and two plates in the dishwasher. "Belinda, do you need my help, or can I leave?" Nathalie asked.

"You've worked your shift. Grace and I will take care of the rest." Belinda says with a sweet smile. Belinda is the mother of this bakery, the soul, the light of this place. Everyone knows her in the neighborhood because she's such a big heart for everyone. If she isn't working here, she helps feed older people in the hospital. Isn't she an angel? I think so. And I'm only grateful to call her my aunt.