Love Beyond Boarders

4

She felt the weight of a pillow hitting her head, and her mother's voice urged her to wake up. Grumbling, she pleaded for a few more minutes of sleep.

"Isabella, mi niña, wake up. The world is waiting for you," her mother's gentle voice coaxed her, accompanied by the rustle of curtains letting in the morning light.

Another pillow followed, this time thrown by Sofia, who entered the room with a mischievous grin.

"Thanks, Sofia," her mother chuckled as Isabella complained about the rude awakening. Sofia handed her a plate of food, and she begrudgingly accepted it, still half in a dreamy daze.

Sofia, an orphan from a young age, found solace and family in the warmth of their home. With Isabella being the only child, their bond grew into a sisterhood that surpassed blood ties. Her mother embraced Sofia as her own, and they lived together happily.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Dreaming of weddings, are we?" Sofia teased, a playful glint in her eyes. Irritated, Isabella retaliated by hitting her with a pillow. Sitting down beside her, Sofia laughed and nudged her to focus on breakfast.

As they ate, Sofia proposed an idea that caught Isabella off guard. "I have an idea, why don't you take the day off, Isabella? I can handle things at the shop; you need some rest."

Isabella widened her eyes, rejecting the notion. "Nonsense. You can't manage everything on your own. I might doze off during work, but leaving you alone isn't an option."

Sofia's concern for Isabella's well-being touched her, but the thought of abandoning her responsibilities didn't feel right. Being like a family with Sofia made her feel good, and she couldn't imagine a day without her.

"No, seriously, Isabella. I've got this. You deserve a break," Sofia insisted, her eyes reflecting genuine care.

Her mother, witnessing their exchange, joined the conversation. "Isabella, mija, Sofia is right. You work too hard. A day off won't hurt, and the shop will be in good hands."

Isabella sighed, considering their combined effort to convince her. "Alright, but promise me you'll call if anything comes up. I won't be able to enjoy my day off worrying about you and the shop."

Sofia nodded, her smile reassuring. "Deal. Now go, relax, and enjoy the day. I've got Flower Haven covered."

As Isabella left, her mother added with a smile, "You deserve a break, Isabella. Take this time for yourself."

Reluctantly, Isabella agreed, realizing that sometimes leaning on others could be a strength. As she left the shop in Sofia's capable hands, little did she know that this seemingly ordinary day would set the stage for unexpected turns in the chapters of their lives.

Always caught up in a whirlwind of her work, she never had time to do anything; her room had become a neglected mess. Today, with this so-called break of hers, she decided to bring some order to the chaos. Cleaning up, arranging things, and doing laundry, she finally settled down. It felt odd having this free time, a rarity for her.

Yearning for some entertainment, she made her way to the living room and turned on the TV. Channel after channel failed to capture her interest until she stumbled upon a telenovela. The plot unraveled a husband who took advantage of his blind wife and had an affair with his sister-in-law, little did he know she could actually see. Disheartened, she switched off the TV. Her mother, noticing her mood, joined her and offered comforting words.

"Mija, if your father were here, he'd be so proud of you. Just like I am. Remember, and always remember, I will always love you," she reassured, enveloping Isabella in a comforting hug.

Feeling a weight lift off her shoulders, just as she was sinking into relaxation, her phone rang; it was Sofia. She explained, "You aren't going to believe it, but someone just placed a massive order for flowers for a party. They have ordered all the flowers we have."

"Are you kidding me? Tell me you are," Isabella exclaimed.

"No, I'm not," Sofia clarified.

"Well, it looks like you do need my help after all," Isabella teased. "I told you, there's no rest for me," and they both shared a laugh.

"Get your ass here ASAP," Sofia's urgent voice demanded.

Jolting up from the chair, Isabella initially wanted to protest and tease her, but there's no time to waste. She quickly kissed her mom on the cheeks, repeating "I love you" with each peck. Her mother laughed, understanding the urgency.

"Go, Mija. Your friend needs you."

Rushing to the shower, Isabella quickly dressed up and headed straight to their flower shop.

Arriving at the flower shop, she found Sofia already immersed in preparing the flowers. "This is fantastic news, Sofi," she exclaimed, giving her a tight hug. "With the money we'll make from selling these flowers, we might even go on that vacation you've always wanted."

Sofia and Isabella squealed with excitement, reveling in the prospect. They hugged each other, sharing the joy.

"Who ordered the flowers? We really need to thank them for this," Isabella asked.

Sofia replied, "I'm not quite sure. The person didn't mention who he was, and he didn't sound like he's from around here."

A wave of concern washed over Isabella. "Oh no, what if it's a prank?"

Sofia froze, realizing they hadn't considered that possibility.

"No, I don't think it's a prank. I know it's not a prank. I really believe it isn't," Sofia reassured.

"Me too," Isabella said, and they exchanged glances.

"Don't worry, Bella. If it is a prank, I will make sure the person behind this pays," Sofia declared with determination.

They laughed about it, trusting that everything would work out for the best.

After hours of hard work, they finally finished arranging the flowers into big rings, arches, bouquets, and more. Surveying their handiwork, they couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. "Good job!" they said in unison, giving each other a high five.

"Now, we call them and wait," Isabella suggested. Sofia attempted to make the call, but the line wasn't going through. A second try yielded the same result.

Frustrated, Isabella declared, "See, I said it. It must have been a prank." Sofia, trying to ease her disappointment, said, "No, no, don't get upset. The day isn't over yet. Maybe it's a network problem or something."

Tears welled up in Isabella's eyes, and Sofia comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, I know everything will be okay, okay?" Isabella nodded and managed a

smile. Glancing at the time, they realized it was lunchtime, and Isabella insisted on heading to Bruno's for a break.