"Trust me." (16)

As soon as Bella and I finished lunch, we immediately walked towards the dock where the boat was waiting for us.

I believe Bella was immersed in her own thoughts.

She seemed to be a girl who liked to talk, but now she stood there in silence as we were slowly walking.

"Are you okay?" I said at some point as if I had a strange urge to ask her.

Bella sighed feebly:

"You asked me if I missed Leo, earlier..."

"Yes..."

I definitely wasn't expecting that kind of response.

"I think some time apart will probably do us better." She whispered in a calm but confident way.

I immediately turned to her but I could not decipher her uncertain expression.

"Is there any problems?" I stammered.

Bella's jaw clenched: "Since... we are working together, he has not been around much."

I didn't know what working with you own boyfriend means, because I don't.

But I definitely know what loneliness means... if she meant to say that.

Joe has been focused on work pretty much, lately.

Leaving me... behind.

I nervously opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't make in time;

My phone rang before I could go on.

No. Not now. No...

I let my phone ring for a while but at the same time, I felt obliged to answer.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered to her.

My heart jumped when I saw Bella's doubtful, almost sorry expression.

I looked at the name that had appeared on the screen, sighing.

> I answer, holding the phone tightly in my hands as I walked a few steps away.

>

I walked a few more steps.

> I lied.

For some reason my gaze involuntarily glanced over Bella.

And the unexpected thing was that she looked back at me, too, as if she understood... as if she knew exactly where I was.

My heart accelerated its beat.

> Joe sighed, waking me up from my thoughts.

> He continued.

As if I didn't need his presence...

Yet he wasn't there at that moment.

> I repeated proudly, trying to resume my control.

I looked at Bella again, as if I was seeking some sort of approval in her eyes.

But she wistfully diverted her gaze to an indefinite point, as if she was thinking about something else or someone else...

Yes... by now I was definitely misunderstanding things.

And what was I looking for, anyway?

This was such a nonsense.

I have to get back to reality.

> I finally told him, letting out a sigh.

As always, I was the only one of the couple that was, at least, trying to keep things less complicated than usual.

> I could sense his smirk through the phone.

> I whispered.

> He exlaimed full of joy.

When Joe is happy, he is such a positive and loving person.

That is when I can literally think I can I touch the sky.

On the contrary, when he has a bad day or he is nervous, he becomes angry and restless.

And inevitably... I get stucked too in this negative circle, as I became his physical and mental support.

This was different from my point of view: if I had a "tough" day, Joe would tell me not to complain, to move on because I was a strong person.

However, I suffered a lot about it.

But Joe was always like that: all-or-nothing.

> I simply replied.

I ended my call with Joe, taking a deep breath of air, feeling a little relieved, somehow.

I slowly convinced myself that I had made the right choice.

Our wedding was only a few days away, and there was no point in sulking anymore.

Joe hurted me, I won't deny it, but if I wanted things to work between us, I had to put my pride aside.

Because he won't.

I returned towards Bella and she gave me a slight smile, which, to be honest, seemed more like a matter-of-fact expression.

"You look happy..." She whispered as soon as we started walking again.

I think she guessed that the call I had just ended was from my boyfriend.

"I'm trying to..." I replied, smiling faintly.

The boat was waiting us just in front of our eyes now.

Bella turned to look at me as she offered me her hand to climb the stairs. Again.

For the second time, I took her hand, and when it was time to let her go I had the impression that her touch was much more uncertain and unstable.

And for some reason I was left destabilized about it.

~

Our destination was always that small island, a few kilometers away, we also went yesterday.

Bella sat down, her long hair on the wind as she began to read a book.

My god... that book again: Jane Eyre.

I felt a shiver all over my body reading that title, again.

Bella and I definitely exchanged glances through each other, during the boating, but neither of us dared to speak first.

But by now, we were almost reaching the island.

"I'm going to get a swim..." I said, urging her to come with me.

Bella smiled at me: "I'll come later."

I nervously coughed: "Are you sure you are okay?"

Bella nodded faintly: "Yeah. Don't worry. I just... I just need to take a walk."

I can still feel that something is wrong.

Suddenly she seemed more evasive, wistful... as if she was running away from something.

But from what?

Was this always about her boyfriend and from that thing she had told me, earlier?

Or maybe me?

Bella went for that walk.

I jumped into that clear, emerald sea, that was so limpid that I can clearly see my black bikini through it.

I stared mesmerized at that beautiful horizon.

The sea was calming down my mind.

Some time passed... still no sign of Bella.

I focused my eyes on the beach, from afar.

That's when I saw her.

Her long copper hair helped me recognize her.

With the sun, they had become more fiery red.

A really beautiful color.

Bella was talking cordially to a lady and she was smiling.

I was right when I thought that she seemed like a warm, outgoing person.

I got out of the sea to dry myself.

I can see that Bella has concluded her conversation.

She saw me.

"Oh, Ellie..." She called me sweetly.

She walked towards me in her white bikini with gold trim.

Who definitely suited her... beautiful body.

"That lady told me something incredible... so incredible that we have to..." Bella's eyes shone with happiness.

This was definitely her most truthful mood.

And I liked it.

"Don't worry for what I'm about to do right now, but we have to call Vincent back immediately, for the boat..." She continued, confident.

"What do you want to do?" I asked her, laughing.

Bella smiled warmly at me:

"You'll see... just trust me."