by Ky Crossfire
— We are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Nicolas and Diana, two people who are in love for each other and want to make official for God and the Most Holy Church ...
In love? I didn't feel an ounce of emotion. Nothing... And the ceremony dragged on forever.
Was there anything more cliché than a wedding? The ceremony itself is a death for any man and, for women, the chance to wear stupidly expensive dresses that make her look like fairytale princesses.
— If there is anyone who is against this marriage, speak now or shut up forever.
Diana and I looked at the crowd of guests, and no one spoke. There was only monumental silence in the cathedral. The veil that covered her face prevented me from seeing if she was crying. I could tell her nervousness she was through her shaking hands.
— By the power vested in me, — the bishop raises his hands towards our heads — I declare to you, husband and wife. You can kiss the bride.
I take a deep breath and look again at the crowd of greedy faces. I turn to Diana again. I moisten my lips and let go of her hands. I hold the front of the lacy veil and slowly lift the thin, delicate fabric. My heart races in my chest for the first time throughout the tiring and boring ceremony.
I slowly lift the veil and free her face. I see the most beautiful woman in the world there. In front of me, her dark skin, her black hair tied in a bun and the most beautiful and bold mouth in the world waiting to be kissed. In the blink of an eye, my fantasy falls apart, it is not my Isabel who is there, but Diana. With an uncontrolled whirlwind, images come to mind in full force, Isa dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, the photoshoot, the passionate way I had her on the grass, the sweet taste of her kiss, our furious fights, the fiery reconciliations.
— Honey, people are looking at us. — She smiles nervously.
— Let them watch then... — I say, holding her wrist firmly while I take off the ring. — ‘Cause I want many witnesses.
I raise my voice.
— I want you to realize how much of a disqualified whore you are. Liar! — I roar. — This woman, ladies and gentlemen, took advantage of a fragile moment, shortly after the accident I suffered a short time ago.
— Nicolas, for God's sake, stop it.
— I've not finished yet! — I growl. — This bitch over here — I pull her down the altar, stopping in the middle of the cathedral — Set up a bunch of lies. Because she couldn't handle being dumped! Do you know what hurt her ego the most? That I dumped her for a maid! As if it wasn’t enough, she tried to blackmail me!
— Nicolas, this is not the place. — She’s crying.
— Well, I think it's the perfect place. If any of my videos with the woman I really love goes to public, you will probably deduce the obvious; Diana is nothing less than a loose and spiteful whore.
She tries to get rid of me and ends up falling into her own veil, her face stained by her makeup, which has been wiped out by crying.
— It was never you, Diana, never. You lying whore! — I furious growl. — It never was and never will be.
The hundreds of guests look at me with wide eyes, the only sound heard apart from Diana's uncontrolled crying on the floor are the clicks followed by flashes, where the scandal of the year is recorded second by second.
— Now, if you'll excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I'll go after my wife!
Diana
Humiliated, I tried to insist. I couldn't give up after having gone this far. I was so close.
— Nicolas, what about our daughter? — I clung to his legs, trying to prevent him from leaving me in front of everyone.
— Daughter?! — He laughed out loud. — I don't know who the unfortunate is and who was so stupid that got you pregnant. Because, I am sure, I am not the father of this child. I am disgusted with you. True disgust.
He spat out the hateful words and pulled away from me, walking out the door through the church.
With my whole body shaking, overcome by an uncontrollable cry, I slowly stood up, the reporters formed a circle around me, holding out cell phones and tape recorders.
— Diana, the brunette who was in the crash with Nicolas is the pivot of the separation? — A young man with glasses was the first to ask.
— What are you going to do now? How long were they together?
— A statement here, what will happen to the company?
I started pushing them in an attempt to get out of those vultures, my misfortune was a full plate for the media. At any other time, in a critical situation, I would give a neutral answer and evade questions. However, I couldn't think of anything, I would destroy Nicolas because of this embarrassment. I would take everything from him!
With my vision blurred by tears and my face burning with shame, I left there in tears.
I hurried down the cathedral stairs and the huge frame of the wedding dress made me trip and fall in front of everyone. The driver waiting next to the Mercedes came to me trying to help me up.
— This way, Miss Diana. — He lifted me by the arm.
— Release me, you useless stupid ogre! — I shout. – You’re fired ‘cause you’re worthless.
I discount my anger at him and push him away, get in the car and slam the door.
Reporters surround the car, and bright flashes illuminate the most shameful moment of my life. They don't stop. I turn the key in the ignition and accelerate. My palm grated by the fall stings when I put the first gear in gear and get faster. They walk away from the car, and I bolt for Nicolas's house.
— It will be beautiful to see, Nicolas Reis - I scream alone. - Let's see how you will look when the videos are exposed.
As I increase the speed, I shift to the highest gear. I dry my face and grip the steering wheel more tightly in my hands.
— It won't be like that, Nicolas.
No. I won’t.
I pass at full speed at the traffic light still with green light. In the distance, I notice another car coming at full speed, I try to accelerate and get off the right collision course, but the volume of the dress hinders my movements.
The airbag inflates at the time of the impact of the two cars and mine spins around the track until it collides with the light pole. A piercing pain runs through my chest and I feel warm liquid seeping down the neckline of the wedding dress. I can't move my head. I hear only a fight a few meters away from me.
— C’mon, Jaqueline — a man with an accent curses hurriedly.
The taste of blood floods my mouth. A young girl appears near the wreckage of my car, dread on her face.
— She’s a bride... — She says still in shock and distressed.
— Help me — I mumble. It’s too hard to breath.
Beside her, a man appears in a leather vest, his arms covered with tattoos, he looks at me, but says nothing. He leaves the girl's side and I hear two shots in a row.
She turns in the direction of the sound and covers her mouth.
— You are completely crazy. An animal with no feeling for human beings.
— Yeah, sweetie. I am that and more, now get on the fucking motorcycle. — I hear the man ordering not far from there.
Then they are gone. I close my eyes for a few seconds, trying not to think about the pain I'm feeling. As soon as help arrives, I will be taken to the best hospital, I just need to hold on a little longer. The excruciating pain that I felt before was already diminishing. Maybe that was a good sign. Not feeling pain was good, and soon I wouldn’t feel anything else.
Nicolas Reis
Corumbá – Today
When I set foot in the farm, I smelled the familiar smell of the sweets made by Isabel. The sweet and warm aroma of freshly baked cakes infested the place. I took a deep breath, letting that moment bring back fond memories of her. I walked through the house, still silent, I could see only movement coming from the kitchen.
Isabel was barefoot, the shorts with the frayed hem were mostly covered by a loose T-shirt. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. My heart almost burst in my
chest when I saw her standing there, she was not singing as she used to do, not even dancing. I could feel your sadness and it was killing me. All the things I said, the way I treated her...
She cut small strips of mango when I approached. The floor creaked under my feet, and I stopped. She interrupted the cutting movement and kept her head down.
Even without turning around, she already knew I was there.
I was waiting for her to turn around, but she didn't.
— Go away. — Her voice didn’t falter and it hurt too much, exactly as I deserved.
— No.
She took a deep breath and picked up a dish towel to wipe her honeyed mango hand.
— Isabel, now I... — I tried to argue, but she cut me off.
— I don’t want to know. I don't need to know.
Isa Oliveira Brandão
— I have the right to speak. And you will hear what I have to say — Nicolas snarls, but I am not able to look at him.
Not right now that my face shows the sleepless nights and the marks of constant crying. The television hasn't been on for days, because I can't take the news about the wedding of the year anymore.
— If you don't leave, I'll. — I turn to the side and take a step closer to the back door.
His hand closes around my wrist and the strength with which he holds me makes me look at him. My legs go limp when I come across the most handsome man who ever walked the earth dressed as a king.
— You're not going anywhere.
— Why don't you go back to your bride? Or maybe stop by the agency to see if the new set of models for you to fuck?
— I was an idiot. — Nicolas releases my wrist and holds my head with both hands, leaving his forehead on mine. — I let myself be carried away by the many lies Diana’s told me.
Tears start to flow down my face, but I try to remain firm and unyielding to the scent that exudes from his body.
— Your parents wouldn't let me in to talk to you. I had just one chance, but Jorge was there.
I push his hands away as much as my entire body cries out for his touch again.
— It is too late for us, Nicolas, I will not be able to look at you without remembering that when I was in the hospital, you were once again the incorrigible scoundrel. Nicolas, you treated me like a self-interested slut!
— No, no, no. — He shakes his head. —- We will not end like this. I fucking love you. There were no other women, damn it! I. LOVE. YOU. ISABEL.
He kneels before my feet and his hands go down my waist until they reach my stomach. My body shivers with his touch.
— I love you. I love these three wolves. — He kisses my belly. — I love you. — He kisses it again. – I love you. I LOVE YOU.
My heart becomes small, and I barely breathe trying to swallow the tears that start to blur my eyes.
— I can't — I say, my voice’s broken.
He gets up and his hands wrap around my body, pulling me against his.
— I just want a woman — He says as he kisses my mouth.
Nicolas takes control of my body and hooks his fingers in my hair. He breathes on the back of my neck, and his beard rubs against my skin.
— She's a brunette... — He inhales again. — And she smells like chocolate.
My body melts at the sound of his manly voice.
— And the mouth of the woman I love — He brings his lips close to mine and his mouth envelops mine in a devastating and passionate kiss — Is sweet — he concludes when he kisses me again.
— I love you — I say with a silly smile on my face.
— Of course you love me. — He laughs too. — Now say it: I love you, Big Bad Wolf, take me to the bush.
I slap his chest.
— Your ass, Nicolas, don’t fuck the romantic moment, please.
— Sorry, babe... — He scoffs. — It's stronger than me.
Nicolas Reis
A few months later
— I hate you, you son of a bitch! You’re bastard dog ... — she screams — Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I’m really nervous, but I hold her hand firmly to support her as she curses God and the whole world, bringing the hospital down.
— Less swearing, babe, remember that Nick is here recording everything.
Nick keeps the camera facing us.
— Stick this camera in your ass, Nicolas. I'm going to scream for the whole world to hear. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
She squeezes my hand tighter, and I brush her sweaty hair out of the den she wears.
— I wish you were in my plac... — Isa does not finish the sentence when another contraction comes, this time, stronger.
— Yes, Isabel - the doctor encourages. — I can see the little head. Push one more time.
— Like you’re going to poop, babe. Like you’re going to poop.
— Ahhhhhhhhhh, I will never fuck again in my life. Ahhhhhhhhhh!
Nick holds on laughing and keeps recording.
A soft cry floods the room when the doctor places the little one on Isabel's chest. I put my hand on her. So small and chubby and she screams hard.
— I'm going to die... I can't take it anymore — She shouts when the nurse takes our daughter.
— No, you won't. Breathe like we learned in class. — I breathe in and out.
— Let's do it like this, I stick a bowling ball in your ass and I ask you to breathe and do it like you’re poo aaaaahhhhhh...
— Look at the dirty mouth, babe, this room is full of kids.
I admire in awe the little baby that the doctor shows me, he doesn't cry as much as the other.
— A big boy — I say to Nick. - See, son, you will have to teach him how to play with slingshot too.
I kiss Isabel's sweaty cheek and keep it in her hand. I think Isa’s praying so I move closer to hear what she’s saying.
— Never have sex without a condom again... Never have sex without a condom again…
— Almost there, little hinny. Just one more.
— It's your fault. AAAAAAAH... — Isa screams almost without strength.
The third cry is heard, and my heart barely fits in the chest because all the happiness I fell.
Isa Oliveira Brandão
Seven months ago, happened the car accident that took the life of socialite Diana Mendes. A tragic accident on her wedding day. The twenty-seven-year-old businesswoman's car crashed into another car. The moto driver who had stopped to help was shot and died right there. Diana couldn't resist her injuries and died before she even got to the hospital — says the reporter on the news, interspersing wedding scenes followed by images from traffic cameras.
I turned off the television with the remote control as soon as my family entered the bedroom door. My mom and dad gave me Valen and Cris. And they started to position themselves next to me for the first picture of the complete family.
— Hold this stick right — Rico teases Nicolas as he aims the cell phone attached to the selfie stick.
— I will put the stick in your ass — he swears, balancing the stick.
— Look at those faggots talk in front of my grandchildren — my father scolds, and my mother laughs at the scene.
— Ah... If I won one real for every time I Rico swears — Bia amendment — it would be RICH!
— Well, but either way, you like the big horse here — my brother teases.
— Big horse? — My grandmother laughs. — I've heard that before.
— Pose for the fucking photo. Rico, close that mouth full of crap. Nick, stay close to our side and be careful with Kenya's little head.
— Valentina and Cristian are already asleep. — Nicolas looks at the little ones in my arms completely melted. He sighs totally in love.
— Will this photo even be taken? — My father growls without patience.
— Course it will, but Nick liked to hold the stick and wants to prolong the moment — Rico laughs out loud.
— Hey, stop talking bullshit, faggot. Who had to go take sleeping pills to
the United States, huh?
And despite the time it took for the photo to be taken, it was the first of many. It was not a perfect family. We had our fights once in a while, but we made peace with each other, letting our passionate bodies resolve the dispute and, in the end, none of us remembered the reason of the fight anymore.
Nicolas was mine, and I was his, neither time nor anyone would change that.