The agreement
Nora
I opened my eyes slowly and looked around me, I didn't know where I was. I tried to sit up, but my head started to throb, and I got nauseous. So, I laid my head on the pillow and decided to wait for the nausea to pass. While in bed, I remembered what happened. “Shit, I'm dead!” As I said that out loud, the door to the room opened, and a woman in a nurse's outfit entered.
“None of that, you are not dead yet.”
She approached confidently and with a smile, stopping next to me.
“It's nice to see that you woke up, Nora, my name is Clara.” My incredulous face must have said everything. As Clara nodded, she added, “Everything is fine, there is nothing to worry about. You are among friends.”
“Friends? Where am I?” Suspiciously, I asked because I have no friends.
“You're at Hilda's, she called me, telling me she had an emergency, and that she only trusted me to do this job.”
“Am I still at Hilda's house? The last thing I remember is that I was in the lady's room, and suddenly, I felt bad. Then I woke up here.” I spread my arms wide to point at this room. Clara nodded, then said, “Hilda and I have been friends for a long time, we met at the hospital where we both worked. On the night shift, she was my co-worker. We're both nurses, but Hilda isn't working any more due to obvious reasons. But I do.”
Wow! Hilda is a nurse. “I couldn't imagine Hilda as a nurse, not even seeing her in action with my own eyes. Ha! So, you and she are friends? And Hilda called you to come to see how I was?”
“That's right, summing it all up, that's how it was. My friend trusts hardly any people. As you know, her world is dangerous and people can stick a knife in your back at any time.”
I nodded in agreement with what she was saying. “Yes, I entirely understand what you are saying. People only look out for their interests. That is my only experience in life. Unfortunately, I did not have a friend like you in my situation to trust. But in all this, where is Hilda?”
“HA! She has been busy this morning. Giving orders to all the staff after the party was abruptly called off because of what happened. But the funny thing is not that. Gonzalo is paying dearly for his stupidity. That woman can command an army with crossed arms.”
I started to laugh, too, just imagining that small woman going face-to-face with a man like Gonzalo. That would be epic, but back to reality, “What happened to me? Is everything okay?”
Clara cleared her throat and said, “I'll be honest with you, Nora, there isn't much I could do without the right equipment, but from what I could see of your vital signs, you had a panic attack. Your previous condition could make matters worse.”
“You mean the previous impact that caused the swelling in my brain?” Clara nodded affirmatively. “Unfortunately, that happened to you, and I need to take you to a doctor I trust. We have to study you thoroughly to know your condition. But I would rather not alarm you. Inflammation in the brain is not so easy to cure. I'm worried that the previous doctor didn't do his job well.”
I clasped my hands and lowered my gaze. It was possible that Erik cut the treatment to have me at his mercy, it’s very likely.
“Yes, Clara, it's very likely.”
I closed my eyes and tried to relax, my head starting to hurt more, just thinking about it.
∞∞∞
I opened my eyes slowly, and the first thing I saw was the ceiling, the room was dark. Only a table lamp illuminated the place. I was still at Hilda's house, and it was good.
I sat and looked around me, I was thirsty, looking for something to drink. But to my left, I heard some noise. I turned around slowly, uncertainly. And to my utter horror, Erik was sitting by the window, watching me intently. My heart immediately started pounding fast. What is he doing here? Has he come to take me?
“You surprised me this time, Nora. You have a powerful friend now. But you are still my wife. I want to clarify that for you.”
Erik got up from the chair and walked over to me. He stood next to the bed and sat down. There was a lot of uncertainty about this man. Thinking that he might attack at any moment made me not take my eyes off him for a moment.
Without wishing to frighten me, he raised his hand to stroke my face, very slowly. When he reached out to touch my skin, my disgust at his touch woke me up from my state of fear.
“Don't touch me, your smell is going to make me vomit.” His eyes narrowed at that; he lowered his hand slowly and placed it next to my leg. There was anger in his eyes, but it was by no means the only emotion he showed.
“Nora, Nora, haven't you learned that disrespecting me is dangerous? No self-respecting man would allow his wife to treat him in such a manner. Do you think I will allow it? TSK, TSK, Nora. NO!” He hit the next table with his fist, and I jumped in fright.
“This situation that you have created is going to take me some time to fix. Yet when I do…” he leaves it at that, then, he added, “Once my wife, you will always be mine.”
Everything sounded strange, his words were unclear. What I didn't understand was what he said after.
“Gonzalo made me an offer. I had a hard time deciding what to do. Some things will have to be given up in order to gain others.”
With those words, his gaze sharpened, focusing on me, “Yet, the details are not relevant. The only thing that concerns you is what I am going to tell you next, one of the conditions was that I divorce you.”
I couldn't believe anything this insane man was saying. My eyes widened to the largest in shock.
“That's right, my beautiful wife. You will be free from me. We will sign the divorce, and you can go wherever you want. There will be nothing to bind us “legally”.”
He spoke that word with more meaning. But I still couldn't believe it, I wasn't even able to plan a word. Is it true?
Erik nodded, confirming my thoughts. “You can stay here until the divorce papers are finalized. I'll send your things here with a move, too. You don't need to do anything, only when the papers arrive, sign them. Moreover, the agreement indicates that you will receive quite a large compensation. Like I told you, everything is part of the agreement.”
For a few seconds, Erik stared at me without saying anything else, but his gaze was indescribable. Then he turned and walked out the door, leaving my life for good.
It was the most emotional day of my life. Rather than sadness, was the realization that I was free from him, from his abuses, from his betrayals and infidelities.
A while later, Hilda walked into the room, and I told her everything that had happened. She confessed to me that she was so angry with her husband for what happened, that she convinced him to resolve the problem he caused.
As a result, Gonzalo and Erik reached an agreement. In exchange for the divorce, Gonzalo would give him possession of some areas of the city. That would be very lucrative for my future ex-husband. Finally, he agreed, and the paperwork will be done as soon as possible.
In the same afternoon, Gonzalo entered my room and apologized for causing so much trouble. He would, but, do it again if it meant protecting his wife. Having understood perfectly, I responded by saying that I would also do anything to protect those I love.
Hearing him speak, I was so awed by the intense love this man had for his wife. I always imagined having a romance that would last forever. But to date, luck has not been with me. Now that I am free, I could find that person who would do everything for me in the future.
The next day, Hilda took me to the appointment Clara had made with a specialist at her hospital. First, they sent me to do an ultrasound, which took me 40 minutes, then some blood tests, and finally, the appointment with the doctor.
I was so exhausted that I wanted to lie down and watch TV, but I had to know whether I was okay or not.
Hilda, Clara, and I were in the office waiting for the doctor until he finally made his entrance.
The doctor was approximately a middle age man, looking like he had a lot of experience. Most important of all, he was not bribed by Erik.
“Good afternoon ladies, thank you for your patience. I couldn't get here sooner, as my team and I were analysing the cranial ultrasonic photographs.”
The doctor turned on his computer and opened some files. Then he turned the screen towards us and explained, “These are the images of your brain, Nora. And these black spots that you see here,” the doctor points with his hand to the place where we had to see, “They are the spills that you suffered. The black spots are the bruises that were formed. I'm certain if they had brought you in immediately after the damage, the swelling wouldn't have got out of proportion, and you wouldn't have these faints.”
I was more saddened by that news than I was angry by it. They played with my life and health. A few tears escaped my eyes and I wiped them away before anyone could see me.
The doctor continued, “The good thing is that you are here, and on time. If only you had let more time go by, the consequences could be disastrous. You could have suffered a stroke at any time.”
Hilda gasped in shock as we heard him. She took my hand and squeezed it slightly. I gave her a sad little smile because I couldn't say anything. I had no words to describe the abandoned state I was in as if my life and health were not worth it.
“Nora, you don't have to worry, this has an effortless solution,” He said because the doctor observed my expression.
“To end the black spots and any other problems that arise, we will administer steroids. And you will have to come in once a month to check on the progress. In five months, you should be perfect.” I nodded in agreement.
“Everything will be fine, you have us now.”
“Definitely girls, I owe you the best gourmet French food on the planet.” I smiled at both of them from the bottom of my heart. I'm surprised to think that a couple of strangers could have more care and attention towards me than my blood.
I invited them to eat at a hamburger restaurant, but Clara told me that she had to stay to finish her shift. And that's how Hilda and I ended up alone, eating double cheeseburgers and a bunch of fries with a lot of ketchup.
When we're done, we head to the mall. There is nothing better to ease a broken heart than shopping. But notice that several men were discreetly following us. And without drawing attention to myself, I reported to Hilda what I had discovered. She smiled mischievously and told me they were her bodyguards.
“Wow! Your husband does take your safety very seriously.”
“Yes, and I adore him for that. Despite what he does for a living, I have his heart in my hand, and it is pure gold.”
After finishing our shopping, we headed home because now, I was officially living with them. As Claudia rightly said, this place was the safest in the country. And thinking about her, I wonder how she is doing now that the house is all hers. They must be wallowing in their disgust, like usual.
The next day, the moving truck arrived with my belongings. When I saw my things, I felt as if my chest had a hole. My feelings of abandonment and rejection were once again heightened. Despite wanting to leave that life, it was devastating to know that no one wanted me and that no one would fight for me. Yet, I must recover from these five years.
I don't know if I will be able to continue where I left off, but I must do something. There is a sense of overwhelming loss. I need to find meaning in life, the kind of thing I look forward to waking up to every day.
Hilda placed my things in a room that was empty, and I chose what things to keep. I would throw away the rest, as I have no family memories to treasure, or objects worth keeping because of the sentimental value they represent.
No, nothing, my life is empty, that is what I realized today. I have to pick up the pieces that are left and try to put them back together.
That day, I began to decide what to keep and what to throw away. It took me five years to collect everything, and Erik sent it all to me. Surely, he was not interested in keeping any of my belongings. This arrangement worked out so well for him that one person's life could be replaced by another. However, what else could I expect? It was the same for my parents and me, only this time, I wasn’t changed from hand to hand. Now I'm on my own. And I have to learn to live for myself, and, as I always wanted, to find love.
I also got rid of my past that day because along with the move, the divorce papers arrived.
I looked at them apprehensively at first, but with Hilda's help, I managed to print my signature after reading the entire content. Apparently, I am a wealthy woman now, thanks to Gonzalo. Since the divorce had to include a very generous compensation, and by this, I mean that it is very generous.
The papers were sent to the judge, who would revoke our marriage certificate. The next day I was a free woman. Leaving the house for the first time after my divorce, I was finally able to breathe the fresh air, and it didn't get stuck in my throat. I no longer felt ants crawling all over my skin, I had finally freed myself from Erik Costa. And despite the divorce and the fact that I no longer lived in that house, there was something bothering me.
The last words of Erik and Rosa were ringing in my head.
“We will sign the divorce, and you can go wherever you want, there will be nothing to bind us “legally”.”
“Once my wife, you will always be mine.”
“Men with this kind of life, they don't forget and forgive, and if you continue like this, you won't live to tell the tale.”
“Remember, you have no way out of this marriage, you will only do so when you are dead.”
