Never an ever after

4| Surreal dreams

"Are you alright now, Blythe?" Patrizio had arrived at her room, with the waffles and Starbucks coffee. Blythe felt sorry for his kindness. It only told that her choice was better, and he was an ideal husband anybody could reach out to. "Sorry Pat, I had a terrible headache. Now, it's fine." Pat laughed. "it's just the tension, sometimes I get those too. You're up for waffles?"

Blythe smiled. "yeah, waffles are always great. Coffee is my favourite. You know the best, Pat. Thank you very much." She said, motioning the tray towards her. "Paula just showed me some maths work. She had done it quite impressively." Blythe took a sip of the coffee. She spotted the Starbucks logo and it only confirmed her life was on a good way. "I'm very pleased for her. I struggled with Maths a lot, back then. I had severe Maths anxiety. But, not the Geometry though. I loved Geometry."

Patrizio laughed again, only this time Blythe felt a bit uncomfortable that he was laughing at her past fear of Maths. She faked a smile because she couldn't identify what emotion she had. She was terrible at reading her own emotions. "why did you have Math anxiety anyway?" Blythe cringed at the question. She felt uneasy at the question. It was as if, rebirthing the past. She was okay and she wanted to change the subject in a way Pat wasn't gonna notice. Not to her past. She had a terrible life. "I don't know, I guess I was afraid of Maths for some kind of a psychological reason. Anyway, I heard her a few moments ago. Anything trouble?"

"No, nothing troublesome. She just wanted you to read a story for her. I told her to go to sleep since you were sick."

"Well, is she sleeping now? I can still read a book for her."

"I don't think so. Well, if you feel good, help yourself."

Blythe arrived at Paula's bedroom, which was comfortable and fluffy, except it was filled with books and NASA. Paula's ambition was to work as an astronomy scientist at NASA. When Blythe closed the lights, the roof lighted with different coloured stars, lighting up like LED bulbs.

"Paula, honey" Blythe called out, not seeing Paula in her bed. Out in a moment, the four-year-old came, from her book cupboard, having no book for Blythe to read. For a four-year-old, Paula's room was extremely neat. There was never a housekeeper, but Paula was neat, just like her father. Unlike both of them, Blythe was not much organized as they both were. But it was Paula who even kept Blythe's room neat.

"yes, Blythe" But Paula had no book with her. "don't you have a book to read?" Blythe asked, curious about the girl who always chose a book for Blythe to read. Paula can read, but not when sleeping.

"Blythe, I'm tired of reading the same fairytales and stuff. I want something more...real. Dad had told me fairytales are not even real." The little girl replied.

"Well, if you were in medieval times, you wouldn't think the same. So, what book shall we read today?" Blythe waited for the little girl's opinion, caressing her long dusty Blonde hair. "Blythe, you wrote a book. Dad told that within a few months the movie is released. Can you read it to me?"

Blythe considered this for a moment. Her book didn't contain any age-restricted scenes, except kissing, which you even see in Disney animations. Paula handed out Patrizio's copy of Blythe's book, which was officially signed by her signature on the first page, in which he presented his engagement ring on the second page as he planned, she didn't see it until she signed the page with her handwriting. It was such a memorable book.

"Okay, then" she took the book out and started reading.

For a moment, she forgot the military troubles of her life and the only wish she had in her mind was to please this little girl whose mild presence she had grown accustomed to.