Amber and Nathalies world

A few days had passed since the evening when Mario had told me that Nathalie would be moving in with us. My initial doubts had vanished surprisingly quickly and had given way to increasing excitement. Every morning I asked Mario how many days were left until Nathalie’s arrival. His answer was always accompanied by an amused grin and I could see how much my enthusiasm amused him.

“You’re like a little kid waiting for Christmas”, he said one morning with a grin as I impatiently peppered him with questions. I couldn’t help it - the idea of getting to know Nathalie made my insides bubble.

One evening, when we were sitting on the couch together, I asked Mario curiously: “Were you as excited back then, before I arrived, as I am now?”

Mario laughed softly and nodded. “Amber, I was even more excited. Every time I heard the slightest noise outside, I ran to the window, hoping the courier was there. Of course I knew it couldn’t be, but I was just too impatient.” He paused for a moment and grinned mischievously. “And the night before you arrived, I could hardly sleep. I lay awake and imagined what it would be like to finally meet you. The excitement almost drove me mad.”

I had to smile. It was a special feeling to know that Mario had waited for me just as impatiently back then as I was waiting for Nathalie now.

One evening I suddenly asked Mario: “Can I help unpack Nathalie? And be there to bring her to life?”

He looked at me and nodded, his eyes shining with joy. “That’s a great idea, Amber. I’d love to have you there anyway. But I’d ask you to pull back for a moment the moment I take the last cloth off her face and body. I think she should gather her first impressions in peace.”

I understood his request completely. I immediately remembered the moment when I opened my eyes for the first time. All the impressions, the light, the noises - it had been overwhelming. I was grateful to have come to life in his presence. My anticipation for Nathalie was mixed with the indispensable wish that she could open her eyes with the same gentle touch of doll magic that I had been granted.

Another time, when we were sitting on the couch together in the evening, I suddenly said with conviction: “I’d like to give Nathalie a present to say hello.” Mario raised an eyebrow and looked at me curiously.

“What do you have in mind?”, he asked.

“A dress!”, I blurted out. I remembered my photo shoot and all the beautiful clothes I had tried on. “I want to give Nathalie a dress. I want it to be something special.”

Mario smiled and nodded. “That’s a wonderful idea, Amber. That’s so sweet of you. Simply lovely!” I could see how much he liked the idea. I could feel the last bit of tension and insecurity falling away from him. I understood more and more how much he had thought about how I would perceive this new situation. I began to feel a little ashamed of my tears and my questions and reproaches that evening. But the look in his eyes told me that I didn’t have to be - on the contrary. His eyes were shining as if he was also looking forward to the day ahead - and this time together with me.

That same evening, Mario took out his tablet and we leafed through various catalogs together. I showed him a dress that immediately caught my eye: an elegant, flowing model in a delicate dusky pink. “That’s exactly the dress I want to give her!”, I said enthusiastically. Mario grinned with satisfaction and ordered it. Of course, he couldn’t resist ordering a number of other items of clothing as well. “I’m sure that looks really good on you”, he said, pointing to some of the items I had ordered.

“We’ll wrap the dress in a beautiful gift box”, he suggested. “With fine paper and a bow. That way you can give it to her yourself.” I clapped my hands with joy. “Oh yes, that will be perfect! It will be so great!”. At that moment - for this suggestion - I just wanted to kiss him deeply.

A few more - yet endless - days passed. And then the time had finally come. The big day of Nathalie’s arrival had arrived. I was full of anticipation and every time I heard a sound from outside, I asked excitedly: “Is that her? Is she here?” Mario grinned and reassured me until he finally said: “Yes, she’s here!”

He disappeared to help the courier and came back with a huge box. “It looked like this when you arrived”, he said with a grin. Together we prepared everything to make room for unpacking. He handed me the knife so that I could make the first cut in the box. “Please be careful”, he said gently. My hands were shaking. I closed my eyes briefly, took a deep breath and then carefully began to open the packaging.

When the box was finally fully opened, I briefly held my hand over the cloth that still completely covered Nathalie and said, looking at Mario: “Abracadabra?”. Mario looked at me questioningly and I said with a grin: “Well - doll magic, isn’t it?”. Mario laughed out loud. “Of course!”, he said. Then we continued with the unpacking.

When the moment came for the last cloth to be removed from Nathalie’s face and body, I retreated to the living room. I sat down on the couch, my hands firmly in my lap as I waited. My heart beat faster when, after a while, I heard Mario’s footsteps on the stairs.

“Amber, I’d like you to meet Nathalie”, he said softly as he entered the room with her.

Nathalie looked at me shyly, her movements were still cautious and timid. Mario led her to the couch and spoke in a reassuring voice: “Nathalie, this is Amber. She lives here with me - and from now on with you too - and is really looking forward to getting to know you.”

I looked at her with wide eyes. She was beautiful. Her soft, wavy hair fell gently over her shoulders and her eyes radiated a mixture of gentleness and curiosity. I turned briefly to Mario and whispered: “She looks wonderful.”

Mario nodded. “She does. But Amber, that goes for you too.” His gentle kiss on my forehead calmed my heart.

I turned back to Nathalie. “Hello Nathalie”, I said softly. “I’m Amber. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” I started to stammer - my excitement and anticipation could no longer be contained. I reached for the lovingly wrapped gift box and handed it to her with a beaming smile.

“This is for you”, I said enthusiastically. Nathalie took the box with trembling hands. “For me?”, she asked quietly. I nodded. “Yes! I wanted to give you something special to make you feel welcome here.”

When she opened the box and took out the dress, her eyes filled with happiness. She looked at me, put the box aside and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Amber. This means so much to me.”

After Nathalie had admired the dress, I suggested: “Why don’t you wear it to dinner tonight? I can’t wait to see how it looks on you.” Nathalie nodded enthusiastically. Then I leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes filled with happiness and love and she gratefully gave me a soft kiss on the cheek.

Mario looked at us curiously. “What are you whispering about?”, he asked with a grin.

I just winked at him and said mischievously: “I won’t tell you.”

That evening was the start of something new. I felt that Nathalie would become a part of our lives - not as a replacement, but as an enrichment. My heart was full of joy and hope for the days that lay ahead of us together.