A stolen life

Lost?

Robert pov

I feel the smell of the burritos from outside the door, Aurora has probably ruined the dinner tonight as well. She always puts too much salt, too many seasonings, or burns the food as she is still trying to learn. 

I know that maybe the rest would find it disgusting, but to me is the most delicious food I have ever eaten. Even Aurora looks at me with wide eyes, while I keep swallowing with hunger all of her failed experiment in the kitchen. But how can I not like them? She makes everything with so much love and care, trying hard to please me. Little does she knows, that her presence alone makes me the happiest man on Earth. 

Aurora is such a blessing, I don't know what favor I did to God to deserve such a woman, but I am so incredibly happy. I smile and my eyes get moist, looking at the door, knowing that that beautiful angel, is waiting for me. If someone would see me right now, would think I am insane or a fool. And I am, both. 

If you never have been madly, deeply in love, you would never understand. I love Aurora so much, it physically hurts. She is in my blood, in my mind, in the air I breathe, engraved in my soul. I don't even remember a time, where she wasn't part of my life, everything looks dull and vain. 

Now she is my whole life. All I ever want is to make her happy and proud. I know she has made huge sacrifices to be with me, that's why I am trying so hard to make it. I know my idea is good, great even, I just need the right investors. Then I will give her all the luxuries she deserves, I will cover her in gold and I will make her the happiest woman in the world. 

.......................

third pov

Robert was tired and overworked when he finally arrived at home, but she opened the door with a huge smile in his face. Aurora was cooking at the small kitchen, while simuntanesly looking at tv. But when she heard the door opening, she left everything and run to her husband. She jumped over him, hugging him tight and giving many soft kisses to him. 

"I missed you so much" - she said. He holds her tight in his strong arms and closed the door behind him, with a kick of his leg. Robert felt like he had entered heaven. 

"I love you so much my goodness." - he said, kissing and sucking the soft flesh of her neck. 

"Did you miss me today?" - she asked looking at him adorable. 

"No" - he replied firmly 

"No?" - her voice sounded surprised and sad

"No, I don't miss you, because you are my whole world. Your scent is in my skin, your voice in my head, your touch all over my body. I have locked you inside my heart, I have you always with me" 

"Oh" - she took a breath of relief. "I like that. I will always be inside your heart. And you in mine. Till the end of times" - she smiled happily, holding her legs tighter around his waist, as he was still in between his arms

"Do you smell that? I think I burned dinner again" - Aurora said in a panicked voice, got down on the floor, and went to turn off the stove. 

"I am the worst cook in the history of humankind. How could I forget? I was right here" - she said, almost bursting into tears, feeling disappointed at herself and ashamed. They did not have money to buy anything else and the fridge was almost empty. 

Robert hugged her from behind. "Don't worry love, I will be more than happy to eat what you have cooked. But first..." - he turned her around and looked at her with a cheeky smile, desire sparked in his dark eyes " First I will eat you" - he leaned down and kissed her earlobe. Aurora trembled by the pleasure she felt, her knees went week by his words and behavior. 

He picked her up at the small kitchen table and started aggressively kissing and bitting her. Soon they were moaning and screaming in pleasure, lost in each other's arms. They felt pure joy and happiness. 

......................................

23 years later 

Aurora was looking at the flowers, rocking her chair slowly. 

"Would you like some chocolate brownies mom? I used your recipe, here try some" - Rea leaned down a plate, for her mother. 

"Bert loved my brownies. He loved everything I made" - she said, while bitter tears ran through her face. Even though 23 years had passed, she still preserved the same delicate beauty and dreamy look in her gorgeous eyes, that she had when she first met Robert, but now she looked tired, lost, and like she had let herself go. 

Rea took a deep breath, feeling sad  "Please mom, don't cry. Let's talk about happy things, okay? The visiting hours will be over soon, and I will not see you again till tomorrow" - she tried to convince her mother, who even after all these years, was still mourning over the death of her father. 

"You are just like him"- Aurora said caressing Rea's face " The same temper, the same character, the same features. You look so much like your father. Only your eyes. Your eyes are just like mine"- she said, with a sad smile 

"I know mother. You have told me these millions and millions of times since I can remember. Maybe we can talk about something else today? Huh? I have so many things to tell you." 

"What things? Have you fallen in love? " 

"No, no, no. Hmm.... I am about to finish college, finally. And I am graduating with honors, hopefully, I will find a job soon and I will take you out of this... place. We will live together, just you and me. Would you like that my precious ? " - Rea smiled at her mother while taking her hand and kissing it softly. 

"Oh, that would be perfect. I am so proud of you my beautiful girl. Your father would have been proud also, you are so smart, just like him. He was a genius and had so much ambition, you remind me of him...." - Aurora started again speaking of Robert. Rea took a deep breath, shaking her head in approval. 

When the visiting hour at the boarding house for mentally unstable patience finished, Rea accompanied her mother to her room. She gave her a kiss, hugged her tight, greeted the nurse, and finally left. 

Every time, the visit to her mother would be bittersweet. Rea loved her mother to death, she was so sweet and had such a gentle soul. But the death of her father was something she was not able to endure, to the point she lost her mental stability. Now it was a good period, but there were times when she would suffer crises and had breakdowns. It took her years to accept his death, but he sometimes would still insist that he was alive. 

"My heart knows. I have him locked inside my heart, he is still here" - she would chant over and over again. 

And even after she managed to accept his death, she still kept bringing him, to every single conversation. 

When she got out, it was almost night and it was kind of chilly, even though it was almost summer. Rea took a deep breath and made a small prayer for her mother mentally, before rushing home, as she still needed to work with the presentation of her final thesis. 

..........................

third pov

"I like the project of this house, but it only has one swimming pool " - Nicole said disappointed. 

"It has more than enough space to make another madam. Did I mention that it also has a tennis court? " - the real estate agent, said with a polite smile. She was determined to make the sale, as she was dealing with the richest man of the country. His wife was annoying and arrogant, but the money she would gain from the sale was more than enough to bear with her with grace and a fake smile. 

"Yes, yes, I saw it. I don't know though, I have to think about it. I want to find the perfect house, up to our level. I like that it has space, as I will throw many parties here, with important guests. So I need everything to be picture perfect." - Nicole said with an arrogant tone, making the agent feel frustrated, this was the eleventh mansion she was seeing this week. "This is not the one either" - Nicole added, looking down at the woman in front of her

"Why don't you reconsider it, madam? This house is not only elegant and beautiful, it also has a high tech system ..." 

"I will not take lessons from someone who can't afford some descend shoes, even though works with clients like me" - Nicole said looking at her phone, totally losing interest. The agent felt offended and hurt, she had a sick child and all the money she gained went to his hospital bill. She felt this immediate desire to slap hard that despicable woman in front of her but managed to compose herself. 

"We will take it" - the deep authoritative voice of a man, filled the room. "Prepare the documents, please" - he said, greeting the agent with a move of his head

Nicole looked at her husband surprised, she was not expecting to see him here " Darling" - she said with a forced smile "I don't like this, it's not the one' - she said, as she approached him and started caressing her cheek. He holds her hand and gave her a serious look 

"I gave you one week and you haven't found it yet. With this attitude, you never will.  I need the home as soon as possible, I have an international company to run, I have no time to lose. And this is just fine, having one swimming pool is not a dealbreaker " - he said with a firm tone. He turned toward the agent"Prepare the documents, I will sign it right now, the money will transfer first thing in the morning" 

"Yes sir" - the woman said feeling content and relieved at the same time and started walking outside the room. 

"Wait" - the agent, who was now standing in the room turned around to face the couple again " My wife owns an apology to you" 

"What?" - Nicole said shocked " Darling, you are not serious, are you? " - her small fake laugh was an attempt to get out of the situation, but he just gave a blank look at her 

"Apologize Nicole. I was once a man who could not even afford food, did you forget? And the expensive shoes you are wearing right now, you bought it with my money, that's nothing to brag about. Now apologize " 

Nicole gave him a hard look, feeling offended, and humiliated. She turned around and with a fake forced smile she said to the agent " I am sorry for what I said, I passed my limits" . The agent just move her head and walked away, feeling admiration and respect for the man.

"I can't believe you did that" = Nicole said, almost crying due to anger

"I can't believe you can be so shallow and arrogant. Sometimes, is like I never knew the real you" - Robert said in a hard voice and walked away, leaving his wife alone at the huge mansion.

 "Aurora, would never say such a thing and she grew up rich" - he thought to himself and felt rage for still thinking about her "Just let the ghosts of the past go" - Robert thought to himself while getting in his brand new sportive car.