In the spotlight

60

Sofia Christensen

The wide grin on my face was absolutely impossible to remove as I swerved through the very familiar streets of Madrid.

I couldn't quite believe it that these streets are going to be my new home from now. Leaving Paris alltogether after spending many long years there was really taxing both mentally and physically, but the thought of living in Madrid with my boyfriend sounded so much better.

Both Jamie and Giovanni have been super helpful about everything lately. My manager handled everything from selling the house to renegotiating my position at Dior, keeping my current position despite the sudden change of my residence.

And Giovanni made sure multiple times that I had the green light, and ensured that Matteo really wants this change too and it's not just in my head. I didn't know if he suspected anything at all, but during our usual phone calls I didn't feel like he was more inquiring than always.

I stretched my neck to the sides a little as I stopped at a red light. At this point I have been driving for almost 13 hours straight, after stubbornly refusing Jamie's proposal of selling my current car and buying the exact same one in Spain. But I've just bought this car two years ago, and replacing it with another one, even if with an exact same BMW wouldn't feel the same anymore.

After 13 hours of almost non-stop driving I still thought that I made the correct decision. I took a quick look at the seat next to me, making sure that Freyja was still comfortable. I consulted the vet before the long trip, and made sure to give her the meds prescribed by her an hour before we took off at 5 in the morning. 

She was absolutely fried. She spent most of the car trip in her carrier sleeping in the exact same position. I tried to take her out for a quick walk during our stop on the gas station near the southern border in France, but as soon as I lowered her down next to the car she fell back into her sleeping position once again. 

I snorted a laugh as I turned my head back to the road as soon as the lamps turned to green. I revved the engine and took a sharp left turn, leaving the bustling boulevard behind me. At this point I didn't even need the GPS to find Matteo's apartment complex.

Excitement bubbled in my stomach as I pressed the key against the doorbell right next to the garage, and the door slowly slid open before me. I let the vehicle roll down on the incline as I found the usual spot right next to the elevators.

It took me two turns to empty the trunk of my car, and drag every single suitcase and bags up to his apartment, along with Freyja and all of her belongings. Matteo absolutely adored Freyja ever since he sent her to me as a gift, and I wondered if he would notice the fact that this time this is not just a simple surprise visit.

Because I needed him to notice it first. No matter the amount of reassurance I got from both managers lately, I couldn't help but still feel some doubt deep inside me about his reaction. What if he'll think this is so soon? I can't just go back to Paris anymore.

I took a deep breath, and exhaled it shakily as I placed her litter box in the bathroom, and her bowls in the kitchen, filling them both with food and some water. I thought about carrying her to the bowls, but as I looked down at the greyish furball curled up on the couch, I didn't have the heart to wake her up again. 

And when there was nothing else left to do and procrasinate with, I forced myself to leave the house and head towards the training complex. I grabbed my phone along with my documents and sunglasses and without further ado, I headed downstairs while calling an uber.

As I stepped out of the apartment complex, the schorching heat of the streets and the sun high up above us in the late afternoon hit me like a truck. Well this is one thing I will have to get used to in Madrid, after spending most of my life high up in the north.