It's difficult to find the way everything fits into place once it's broken, even if a surgeon gives you a pretty significant first push. Alexia's recovery is progressing with hope. Her knee is responding well to rehabilitation, but she doesn't feel...
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"Something calm, do you promise? I'm exhausted."
Irene opened the door to her apartment, twisting the keys with force.
"I promise. Something calm." The lights were off. Irene entered with a couple of shopping bags. Some snacks and junk food to indulge in while watching classic movies that were special to us, like 'The Devil Wears Prada' or 'The Princess Diaries'. "Can you turn on the light, please?"
I nodded, although she couldn't see me as she maneuvered through the familiar furniture to reach the kitchen. I searched for the light switch near the door, gently feeling the wall until I found it and turned it on.
"Surprise!"
Three figures emerged from behind the couch, startling me. Miguel, Celia, and Raquel approached me with joy and excitement.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart."
Raquel held my face and planted a loud kiss on my cheek. Then I was embraced by Miguel and Celia. I couldn't help but notice their attire—seductive, shimmering, and dark. I looked at them skeptically.
"Why are you dressed like that?"
Irene returned to the living room after putting away the snacks, carrying a cardboard box that she placed on the coffee table.
"We're going out to party. And you're coming too," she warned, wagging her finger. "So you better eat something."
She pointed at the pizza box, revealing a whole pizza saved just for me inside. I grabbed a slice without hesitation.
"And what about you guys?"
"We've already eaten," Celia replied.
I looked at each of them for a few seconds, weighing the consequences of outright refusal. I nodded calmly, finishing my first slice and moving on to the second.
I wasn't known for being the life of the party. Night outings usually felt like a chore to me. Choosing an outfit, suffering through high heels, having drinks spilled on me, dealing with tangled hair, and returning home reeking of cologne, sweat, and tobacco.
Truly, I seemed to have no other option if I didn't want to create problems with these people. I resigned myself and faced it the best way I could. Perhaps it could be a good night.
"Wait." I looked at my attire—just a simple shirt and dress pants. It hadn't been my most elegant day at work, to be honest. "You all are dressed like that, and I'm... stuck with this?"
Miguel grabbed a bag from behind the couch.
"Don't worry," he said, handing me the bag. "We've got it covered."
Inside the bag, I found a little white dress that hugged my body perfectly and a matching pair of shoes in my size. I thanked them profusely for the gift, and it was clear that I had no other option.
