HER

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 47

♪all too well by Taylor Swift♪

                        Rᴏxʏ

The bad people in our lives teach us lessons, the type of lessons the good ones can only warn us about. Because of those bad people we become stronger, we start to fight a little harder and eventually the wounds they caused begins to heal.

Here I was standing in front of Nina's house. I attempted to knock on the front door but each time I held my hand up to knock against the wood texture of the door, I froze.

Without papi all these years, I've become a lot more stronger than the little girl who used to cry herself to sleep wondering why she wasn't enough. I had to learn how to fight too, I had to fight my demons, my depression, anxiety and insomnia. The wounds never fully healed though. I wondered if by doing this, they'd heal or worsen.

I took a deep breath then finally knocked on the door. I bit my bottom lip in anticipation as I heard footsteps approach the door.

"You came." He said in a low voice.

I nodded. "You asked to see me." I answered.

I've been visiting Nina for months now but today was the only visit that felt different. Today I wasn't Rosa, Nina's friend. I was Roxy, her sister and the man who invited me inside his house wasn't just her father, he was mine as well.

I watched him without him knowing. He was so much older than I remembered him. He was more muscular now and his eyes green and innocent as ever. His clothing style a bit more fashionable and mature. He seemed almost completely different except for his eyes.

"Please, have a seat." He told me.

I hesitated but then sat down on the sofa anyway. "I can't stay long." I told him.

"Alright." He said awkwardly, sitting down opposite me.

We sat in silence for a while as he played with the hairs on his arm and I just stared at the abstract vase of flowers that stood still on the coffee table.

"You're beautiful." He said after a while longer. I looked up at him to see him staring at me.

It was funny. I had wanted this so much for such a long period of my life. To have met him and talk to him and now that I was able to, I felt strange in his presence.

"So, how'd you find out? Nina?" I questioned, ignoring his compliment.

"The news." He answered softly. "The Dallas boxing tournament you won, it was all over tv. When they yelled your name over that mic, I had only realized."

I nodded. "So you never recognized me before?"

He shook his head.

"Okay." I said, standing up quickly. "I should probably get going."

"I'm sorry Roxy." He apologized making me freeze in my steps.

That was it. That's all he said, then watched me walk right out.

I always wanted to hear his apology. Although, I expected it to be a bit more than just a simple blank sorry.

I deserved more than that and I didn't have to apologize for wanting more. I thought I was over him. I thought I wouldn't care anymore. But still it hurt. It hurt being so close to someone in blood yet so far apart in presence.

                                        ➪

I rested my eyes, flashbacks of my childhood memories immediately playing in my head like a repeated music video.

Amidst all the trauma and long bad days that never seemed to end. It was good. It was a good life.

"Hey my princess." Troy smiled widely, kissing me gently on the forehead with his soft lips.

I smiled back brightly.

"What you thinking about?" He asked, taking my hands in his.

I smiled again then chuckled lightly.

"What is it?" He asked.

I looked deeply into his eyes then sat upright, moving my face closer to his so that he could hear my whisper. "I want a baby." I told him and he chuckled softly then got up from the bed. Reaching his hand out to grab mine. "Come on, let's go."

I giggled. "Where?"

He smirked. "You'll see."

I stood up from the bed and took his hand, following his lead.

                                          ➪

I gasped in surprise. "An animal shelter?!"

He nodded, opening the car door for me and walking me over to the building. "You'll be an amazing mother." He said, before walking inside with me.

The inside was filled with so many cute fluffy pets. All colors and sizes.  "Are all of them set for adoption?" I asked the lady manager and she nodded with a precious smile. "Just because they don't got a home to go to, doesn't mean a home can't come to them." She said patting me on the shoulder before addressing other people entering the room.

I smiled at her witty response. She was right.
I looked over at the little parrots and hamsters, at the purring cats and colorful fish in tanks. I walked over to the playful puppies in baskets and a little Siberian husky caught my attention. "Hey little guy." I petted it cautiously and it wagged its tail happily.

"Well aren't you just a charmer." Troy said bending down and petting it too.

"That's our little rockstar." The lady manager said from behind us with a genuine smile. "She's the only one of her kind in here. Very friendly and definitely a charmer. Bold and beautiful."

"Kinda reminds me of you. A mini Roxy." Troy whispered softly.

I smiled, picking her up and she licked my face excitedly. "I'll take her."

                                          ➪

Like every night we'd watch movies and Lucy would fall asleep first. With a new addition to the family, Lucy was thrilled and full of energy.

The tv screen went blank as the movie came to an end. I glanced at Troy beside me.

"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me."I whispered underneath my breath, trying not to wake Lucy and the puppy up, who's name was now mini Roxy.

Troy kissed my cheek softly, then leaned his forehead against mine. "Oh baby, if you only knew how many times a day I ask myself, if you're for real. You're here in presence and every moment with you goes by so quickly, like you're slowly fading away but then I open up my eyes and you're there, over and over again. If anything, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"I love you." I said to him, a tear escaping my eye and running down my cheek.

He wiped it away with his thumb and responded sincerely. "I love you."