Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The next few days flew by like the wind, and soon enough, it was time for Gianna's tea party.
"Which one should I wear?" I hold up two dresses.
"You would look gorgeous in both, love, I don't see why you're making your life difficult by choosing one." I look at the dresses in my hands, and realize the clear choice.
"You're right" I throw one of the options on the bed, and move to undress myself.
"I am?"
"Yes. Now, could you step out of the room, please?" He nods, and steps out. I slide on the dress, and try to zip it up, but it won't budge.
"Leandro, can you help me?" He comes back into the room, and behind me.
"Can you zip it up, please?" He nods thought the mirror, and his fingers touch my waist and the low of my back. He zips it up slowly, while taking in my appearance from the mirror.
"Your bruises faded"
"Yeah"
"Do you still have the pictures?"
"I do, for court evidence" As much as we were having fun here, in Italy, the lawsuit was still hectic, and I still needed proof of the abuse. It was chaotic receiving calls from my dad or to cuss me out, or to beg me to stop Leandro from continuing the lawsuit. It's been tiring, but Leandro is the only thing keeping me going.
There are night where I cry my heart out, because of the emotional toll this lawsuit has been taking on me, and Leandro was there comforting me. He actually cared.
I slide on my dress and look at myself in the mirror. The dress is beautiful, but I don't feel confident. I twist my body around to try to find a pretty angle, but sigh exasperatedly when I can't find one.
"What's wrong, Amorina?" he comes up to me and puts his hands on my hip dips, or "handles" as he likes to call them.
"Do you think the dress sits well on me? I think it's a little weird"
"No, it's not weird. It's gorgeous. Like you." His sentences are
"The dress is beautiful, but-" Leandro silences me with his finger.
"You are the reason why the dress is beautiful. Stop doubting yourself-"
"It's all I've been programmed to do!" I exclaim, and detach myself from Leandro. Although it was done in a fit of uncertainty, I already miss his warmth.
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but as your husband, it is my job to reassure you. I just want you to understand that."
"I do, it's just- ugh" I slouch my shoulders, and bury myself in his arms.
"I'm sorry for reacting like that, I've just been feeling overwhelmed by the whole situation, and I took it out on you. I've been forced to believe most of my life that I was ugly, so when you are telling me that i'm beautiful, I don't know how to react" He sighs, picks me up, and sits down on the bed with me in his lap.
