Dawn in Vancouver

Chapter 8: "Letters"

1/3 OF THE MARATHON

"Love your curves and all your edges All your perfect imperfections. Give your all to me. I'll give my all to you".
"All of Me" John Legend piano cover by Lauren Jauregui

THREE DAYS LATER...

The melody of John Legend's "All of Me" from a piano filled the entire house. A house that was empty except for two people. Specifically two women. One of them was playing the piano completely oblivious to another woman who remained in the same house. Camila had said goodbye to Ryan and Jason who had gone skiing at Whistler Resort an hour ago. Ryan, as always is a kind and sweet man. And on the other side was Jason.

Jason was becoming a more cruel and abusive man with each passing day. A man who in front of Ryan and Lauren behaved like a loving husband and a tender man, but alone he insulted, humiliated, and beat her mercilessly. He was now avoiding her face because they were with two other people. But his hurtful words made Camila's heart gradually grow weary. She felt so defeated, so insecure, she felt just a shadow of the successful woman that everyone thought she was.

No one knew that cowardly Camila Cabello. That woman who hid in the solitude of a bathroom to cry, and who showered with tears every time her husband touched her. No one had ever seen her face of revulsion when Jason made love to her in a violent way she had never shared. Camila thought that perhaps no one had seen a real part of her. Allyson was a good friend of hers and she knew part of her story but Camila had always felt that she didn't know her completely. She was her only friend and she felt comfortable with her but in no way had she ever made her feel as at home as she had with Lauren.

Camila still remembered those two hours she had spent in Lauren's company. Her intelligent and intense conversation. Her passionate way of talking about life, music, and art. She had felt as if they were old friends, two old souls who for some reason are like-minded and have known each other since the beginning. She had felt such a beautiful connection. But in the end, she had screwed it all up. Lauren had only given her honest opinion of what she saw in her relationship with Jason. And worst of all, Camila knew she was right. Jason wasn't the best husband but Camila knew she had also made mistakes that made him feel bad and upset with her. She often felt that she deserved the blows he gave her for not loving him and staying married to him. The love was gone. But, the cowardly Camilla had always been afraid to go out into the real world and out of her platonically created bubble. She didn't want to go out and meet something worse and end up hurting more. She had chosen Jason and now she had to face her decision. She had chosen to live that life and stay in it after watching it consume her little by little. Maybe there were better things, better men, and better life like the one Lauren Jauregui had. Ryan was a wonderful man who adored her and Lauren loved him. They were a beautiful couple. She was a woman who had everything she could wish for. Lauren Jauregui was completely happy.

Camila took a deep breath as she sat on the porch of the house and looked out at the surrounding forest. A beautiful landscape for such a sad life. Camila had ruined any chance of a friendly relationship with Lauren.

She was embarrassed to look at her face and simply limited herself to being courteous with her. She didn't want Lauren to keep feeding her grief over Camila Cabello's miserable, pathetic life. She didn't want her to continue to look at her with those beautiful eyes she held with mute shame for her cowardice. What an example of a renowned writer she was. "Writer of the Year, Camila Cabello."

Lauren sighed as she continued to play the melody on her piano, taking in the music as her gaze drifted to the white layer of forest greeting her behind the window. Her gaze drifted to the lone figure sitting on one of the porch steps of the house. Camila Cabello and the snow-covered forest was a beautiful image. Lauren could accept it; Camila was a beautiful woman and she had always considered herself capable of appreciating feminine beauty.

She didn't consider herself gay, but in high school, she had been attracted to both men and women. She had never said it, nor would she ever say it, even Ryan didn't know, and he was her husband. But she had, and she could say without a doubt that Camila Cabello was one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. She had an unconventional beauty. Not only was her physique alluring, but also her mind.

Three days ago they had talked for two hours and Lauren could already rank Camila among the most beautiful and intelligent women she had ever met in her life. Her face was gorgeous, her profile was breathtaking. Her perfectly lined nose and infectious, pleasant smile, and finally a gorgeous body. Lauren liked to watch her as she sat in the living room in front of the fireplace with her laptop between her legs and lost herself as her fingers typed endlessly. Lauren would stop and watch her without her noticing because she knew those hands were creating new stories, and she had to admit the woman knew how to write.

Her books impressively transports you. You could feel the character and be filled with their story. She provoked feelings inside you and made you want to cry, laugh, and love each character. Camila was born to be a writer.

Every person has a special talent, some exploit it and others simply ignore it. Every human being has potential and something that makes them unique and incomparable. Sometimes they don't focus on the good, but in the end, it is still a talent. And that lonely, sad woman's talent was writing. Lauren sighed as she stopped playing the piano and walked over to the window from where she could see where Camilla was sitting. A few hours ago she had seen Ryan and the idiot out skiing. Lauren had declined the invitation as she didn't want to spend time around Jason.

Ryan seemed blind when it came to his friend. But every time they were close, Lauren felt Jason's blue gaze scan her and practically undress her in front of Ryan and even in front of his wife. Jason had done the "sensitive husband" scene with Ryan, and he in his innocence had believed her that Camila was mistreating and humiliating him. Lauren, on the other hand, wasn't fooled by him. There was something about him she didn't quite like. Her gaze wandered over Camila's beautiful figure.

"She's so beautiful," Lauren said to herself with a soft sigh. How could that bastard treat her like trash? how could she let herself be treated in such a demeaning way, where was her pride, her dignity, her self-respect? Lately, she thought a lot about Camila, even if they only spoke to each other out of politeness. She wanted to help her, but she didn't know how to do it without offending her again like the last time. They were going to live together for three months in the same house and they had to settle their differences. She wanted to know more about her, her art, and her writing inspirations. They shared something very beautiful, and that was that they both knew how to express their feelings in words. She wanted to know more about Camila Cabello, that woman who inspired her. After talking to her she had started writing a song. Her creative stagnation was over.

Lauren sighed as she left the studio and headed to the kitchen to make herself a cup of hot chocolate and return to the studio. Maybe they could learn to live together. After all, Camila was her guest and deserved her hospitality.

She continued walking totally distracted when she felt the loud impact and heard the scream of horror. A minute later Lauren was on the floor with a body on top of hers. Lauren put her hands on the person's waist and suddenly chocolate eyes met hers. She had collided with a person and there was only one other person in that house besides her. And it finally sunk in, Camila Cabello was on top of her.