Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
IN WHICH alejandro takes care of his pregnant girlfriend
Aurora sat on the plush sofa in their shared Manchester apartment, her hand resting protectively over her growing belly. She was eight months pregnant with their baby boy, and while the thought of their son brought endless joy, the physical toll on her body had begun to wear her down. Today, the discomfort was particularly bad. Her lower back throbbed with a relentless ache, and no matter how she adjusted her position, the pain refused to ease.
Alejandro had been watching her from the kitchen, concern etched across his youthful face. He was only 20 and aurora just turned 19, but he had stepped into his role as a soon-to-be father with so much love and care that it left Aurora in awe. His golden-blond hair was a little messy from training earlier, but his attention was entirely on her as he noticed the slight wince on her face when she shifted.
"Amor, you're uncomfortable again, aren't you?" he asked, walking over to her and kneeling in front of the couch. His voice was soft, filled with concern.
Aurora sighed and nodded, brushing her dark hair out of her face. "It's my back, it hurts so much today" she admitted, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
Alejandro's brows furrowed as he reached out to gently touch her belly, his thumb stroking the curve with reverence. "You should've told me earlier. Let me help you, mi vida"
"I didn't want to bother you" she said softly, her eyes darting away from his. "You've already been doing so much for me, and I hate complaining all the time"
Alejandro's face softened, and he shook his head. "Don't ever think that, Aurora. You're carrying our son. I'll do whatever you need, always. Siempre, okay?"
Aurora blinked back tears, touched by his words. She nodded and let out a shaky breath. "Can you, can you massage my lower back? I think it might help"
"Of course" he said without hesitation, already moving to grab a pillow from the couch. "Lean forward a little, mi amor, and let me know if it's too much pressure
Aurora shifted forward as Alejandro positioned himself behind her on the couch. His strong hands, calloused from years of playing football, began to knead gently into the small of her back. At first, she tensed, the ache flaring up under his touch, but soon, the warmth of his hands and the steady pressure began to ease the tension.
"Better?" he asked softly, his voice close to her ear as he worked.
"A little" she murmured, her eyes fluttering closed. "Thank you"
For a while, the room was quiet except for the sound of his hands rubbing against her skin and her occasional sighs of relief. Alejandro's movements were slow and deliberate, his focus entirely on her. But as the tension in her back eased, another weight lingered in her heart.
"Ale" she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hm?" he responded, not stopping his massage.
"I don't feel good about myself" she admitted, her voice breaking slightly.
Alejandro froze for a moment, his hands pausing on her back. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone gentle but worried.
Aurora let out a shaky breath, keeping her gaze fixed on her hands. "I feel so big, so ugly. My body doesn't feel like my own anymore. I look in the mirror, and I don't even recognize myself"
Her words hit Alejandro like a punch to the gut. He couldn't believe she felt this way about herself, especially when he saw her as the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Aurora" he said, his voice firm yet tender. He moved to sit beside her on the couch, cupping her face gently in his hands so she would look at him. "Mi vida, you are not ugly. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Do you know how amazing you are? You're carrying our son, nuestro bebé. You're creating life, Aurora. How could that ever be anything but beautiful?"
She blinked, her eyes welling up with tears. "But I've gained so much weight, and I feel so tired all the time, and—"
Alejandro silenced her with a soft kiss to her forehead, his thumbs brushing away the tears that had started to fall. "Listen to me" he said, his voice steady and full of conviction. "You're perfect, mi amor. I don't care if you've gained weight or if you feel like you're ugly. All I see is the woman I love, the woman who's going to be the best mother to our son. And I'll keep telling you that every single day until you believe it"
Aurora let out a soft sob, burying her face in his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry" she whispered. "I feel so overwhelmed sometimes"
"that's okey, mi cielo" he murmured, stroking her hair gently. "And I hate that I can't take the pain away for you. If I could, I would. I'd carry it all if it meant you didn't have to"
His words only made her cry harder, but this time, it was from the overwhelming love she felt for him. "You're going to be such an amazing dad" she said through her tears.
Alejandro smiled, resting his chin on the top of her head. "And you're going to be the most incredible mum. Our boy is so lucky to have you, Aurora. I'm lucky to have you"
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other as the sun set outside. Alejandro's hands never left her, always stroking her back or holding her close, as if to remind her she was never alone in this.
Eventually, he pulled back slightly, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "You know, when our son is old enough, I'm going to tell him how strong his mum was. How she carried him so bravely and didn't let anything stop her"
Aurora laughed softly, wiping at her eyes. "And what are you going to tell him about his dad?"
Alejandro grinned. "That his dad was smart enough to fall in love with the most beautiful woman in the world"
Aurora rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the smile spreading across her face. "You're too much sometimes, you know that?"
"Maybe" he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "But it's true, mi reina"
That night, Alejandro stayed by Aurora's side, refusing to let her feel alone for even a second. As she drifted off to sleep with his arms wrapped around her, he made a silent promise to himself: no matter what, he would always be there for her and their son. Because they were his everything, and he would never let them forget it.
