The Summer Of My Life

The encounter

My mind wanders to memories of my last love affair and that makes me drink the vodka in one gulp, preferring the sting of alcohol to the memories of a traumatic betrayal.

It seems that all my relationships end in a traumatic way, it's like fate. Diego, Peter, Ian, Liam... They all broke my heart.

With every glass of alcohol I drank, the more I thought about how life sucked sometimes, in fact, most of the time. It felt like a lame joke from a superior being who only made me look disgraceful and amuse myself at my expense.

I turn towards the bar and feel someone sit next to me.

— well well, look who we have here.

I feel a shiver down my spine when I hear the North American accent so familiar to me. I look to my right side having the vision of Liam wearing a black suit, his tattoos on his neck were partially covered by the fabric of the suit, his dark skin contrasted with his light brown eyes and his dark blonde hair.

His mustache had the ends turned up, Liam runs his hand over the tip of his mustache and smiles sarcastically. He hated him intensely, but couldn't show it due to the event.

— I'm surprised to see you here in Rio de Janeiro so early... I thought you were taking care of your father's business, hadn't you given up your photographer's license?

His smile is confident, he always loved talking about his deeds and achievements, he knew how to avoid fights with him. It was easy, just using his ego to my advantage.

— I actually came to visit my fiancée's family, we have good news to share.

For a second I'm in shock and he sees it, his winning smile grows. Groom? We broke up two months ago and he was already engaged?

Our relationship was always troubled, he said things that I wanted to hear at first, he was always a manipulative man who knew how to use his language to get things done. He was charming, a kind and funny man. He knew how to make a woman happy in bed and out of it. But he always told me he wasn't ready for marriage, we were together for two years and over time he got dry, rude, cruel, rude and didn't pay as much attention to me as before.

We lived together and one day I got home early from work and saw him in bed with another woman, my best friend to be specific. Amanda and I were friends since we were 4 years old, we grew up together like sisters, I never thought of something like that. That day my life changed completely, he broke up with me on the day of our dating anniversary. Since that day I've been avoiding the family, they always say my relationships won't work out and they're always right, it's like they know nothing will work out in my love life.

Shame made me avoid phone calls and visits, but I regret it, if it weren't for my absence I would have known that Grandma needed me.

I take a sip of my drink feeling my throat close with the memories.

Come on Brenda, don't go crying now!

— From your reaction, I don't think you knew that Amanda and I got engaged two months ago, you've been uninformed, My Angel.

“My angel” hearing her old pet nickname sounded so sarcastically makes my stomach flutter.

— I wouldn't specifically call it disinformation, I just don't have time for such trivial matters.

I hear her grunt and her forehead creases. Liam takes a sip of his whiskey and smiles sarcastically.

— It's a pity not to hear the latest news. I will be pleased to inform you that Amanda and I are having a baby.

I feel my body shiver and my eyes widen. Liam smiles as if he relishes my thump, he moves the glass in his hand making the two ice cubes collide and laughs.

— She's 18 weeks pregnant. It is extraordinary to know that I will have my son, a child in my arms as I always wanted.

18 weeks? 18 weeks.... That's 4 months! I feel my hands shake and my glass falls to the

floor breaking with the impact, people from the bar look at me curiously and tears fall down my face.

I always wanted a child and he always said it was something he would never want... Now it's all clear, he didn't want to have a child, at least not with me.

He just used me, I was just a toy for him. I shared my whole life, my most intimate secrets, I trusted him.

His laugh echoes through the bar as if he's just heard the best joke in the world. In a single gulp, Liam drinks his whiskey and slams his glass down on the bar.

— A whiskey for the young lady on me, I think she'll need it!

Liam speaks humorously before getting up. He smiles victoriously at me and blows me a kiss.

— You were always so dramatic and sensitive My dear. I never wanted to have a serious relationship with you... The only thing that made me put up with you for two years was your stupidity about wanting to have a boyfriend. Did it ever occur to you that a guy like me just wanted your body?

My body trembles at his approach. Liam dries my tears with his hand and makes a fake sad expression before laughing.

— Oh my angel, you are so innocent... So you call yourself so smart.

Amanda appears in the middle of the crowd and I feel my head spin, the redhead looks me up and down, her curly hair was loose and her brown eyes sparkled when she saw my condition.

— Come on love, you're not going to waste time with that one, are you?

Amanda forces her voice to sound cute and it makes me feel disgusted. Liam kisses Amanda's red lips and she smiles.

Liam smiles sarcastically and before joining the crowd, he gives his last card.

— It was a pleasure meeting you my angel, we should do this more often.

Without controlling my body, I run towards the bathroom, push the toilet door and bend down. I feel the craving and all the booze leave my system as my stomach tightens. I wipe my lips with a paper and start crying sitting on the floor.

I punch the ground until my hands hurt and my fingernails cut into my palms. Hatred for life ran through my body, the feeling of emptiness and hopelessness was so great that it made me want to give up everything.

I cry out in despair feeling my body fall lying on the cold bathroom floor and sobs take over my being.

The image of my grandmother helping me train for beauty pageants and fashion shows comes to mind, little Brenda at age 6 dreaming of being a model and having her grandmother's support. Thousands of times I received “no”, failed contests and fashion shows, tears being wiped by grandma.

I pick myself up off the ground, putting an end to self-pity. I've always been strong, I've given everything to get to where I am, I've worked hard to earn my career and it's not going to be a dumb ex that breaks my spirit. I look determinedly at myself in the mirror, clean my face, and mentally thank Priscila for insisting I buy waterproof makeup.

I fix my hair and take a deep breath adjusting my dress, checking my breath and grimacing at the smell of alcohol.