THE BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS

THIRTY-ONE (RUBY POV)

I look at the garden out of the corner of my eye while drying a plate with a kitchen towel and putting it on the island. Bluma is sitting on a white chair out there and speaks quietly, gesturing as elegantly as usual, while Iselen paces up and down near the pool, nervously, dodging my dogs and shaking her head. Bluma smiles and speaks again, my girlfriend stops, running her fingers through her hair, before shaking her head again. The city lights shine like stars against the dark sky behind them but both women ignore the beautiful landscape and keep arguing. Romeo meows and I blink, coming back to reality and focusing on what's happening in the kitchen.

"What's wrong with the cat?" the doctor stares at the animal confused, holding some clean glasses, while Romeo walks through the marble counter, anxiously.

"I'm sorry, you got too close to the drawer where we keep his bacon treats and he expected to persuade you to give him one, meowing like we're starving him to death. He doesn't have permission to jump on the counter, actually. If Iselen sees him, she'll get angry." I take the cat in my arms and carry him to his basket in the living room before coming back to help Tassia to put the dishes back in the cabinets.

"How are you feeling? I know your wound is fully healed but I'm concerned about PTSD. Do you have nightmares or need drugs to be able to sleep?" The doctor asks with a professional tone of voice and looks really worried, it's pretty obvious that she's a kind woman with lot of empathy, I bet her patients adore her.

"I'm fine, it's not been easy and yes, I have nightmares sometimes, but Iselen is helping me with that and the truth is that I don't remember much... I opened the door, saw Black Mamba, felt a blow on my chest and passed out."

"That's ridiculous! I can't believe it..." Madame's voice echoes across the garden and we both turn around, surprised. Iselen is still standing with her hands on her hips and Bluma is in front of her, rolling her eyes, before getting closer and putting her arm over my girlfriend's shoulders. They focus on their conversation again, talking in whispers while we watch them from the kitchen.

"You're taking this well, Ruby, but she seems very reluctant to accept reality. Iselen is too... rational, I'm afraid."

"I don't know what to think, to be honest," I admit leaning my hip against the island and crossing my arms over my chest, looking at Tassia from head to toe. She still looks like a shy blonde woman, very beautiful and elegant, who likes clothes with a vintage vibe, but she doesn't look like a mythical creature out of a Transylvanian legend. "I'm confused, I'm not denying that, but also relieved." I shake my head, heaving a sigh. "I decided to take this as a gift, my friend is back and it makes me happy, I'm not ready to go further than that at this moment. I don't want to think about what this situation involves... it's overwhelming."

"But, aren't you worried because vampires exist? Evil and supernatural creatures that suck the blood of helpless young girls..." The doctor wiggles her eyebrows suggestively with a hint of a mocking grin on her lips and I can't help laughing, amused.

"I don't think you're an evil creature, Tassia. Bluma wouldn't love you if you were a psychopath and, even if she's a vampire now too, I don't think her personality has changed that much. Iselen is right, it sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud... Bluma is a vampire," I shake my head in disbelief although I'm still smiling. "Anyway, she prefers to suck a different thing of not so helpless young girls." The doctor chuckles and nods before winking at me.

"Actually, she prefers a mix of both things, blood and sex, but only with me."

"You're a lucky woman," I answer laughing too.

"Yes, I really am. You have no idea how much I wanted to meet someone like her, loneliness can feel very heavy when you suffer it for centuries..." Suddenly, Iselen walks into the kitchen interrupting our conversation and hugs me tight, squeezing me against her chest till I struggle to breathe. I look at Bluma over her shoulder, puzzled, but my friend is smiling and getting closer to Tassia.