Alessandro exhaled softly, releasing my hand before leaning back on his elbows.“It’s true,” he said.“I love you, Ariana.I love you like I’ve never loved anyone in my life.”
I frowned, brushing my fingertips gently across his lips.His gaze met mine — calm, tender, steady.I shook my head slightly, biting down on my lip.
“Alessandro, that’s not true.You’ve loved before...you’re just overwhelmed,” I murmured, pressing a soft kiss to his mouth.
He smiled faintly.“No, Ariana.I’m telling you the truth.I feel a connection with you — something I can’t live without.The thought of being apart from you terrifies me.I want to wake up to you every day, hold you, kiss you, tell you how much I love you...for the rest of my life.”
My lips parted, but no sound came out.My heart thudded painfully, a lump rising in my throat.His words were so raw, so real — the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me.My eyes blurred with tears, but they were happy ones.
I threw my arms around him, sending him tumbling backward so that I was lying against his chest, my arms locked around his neck.“Oh my god...Alessandro...”I stammered, “I—I love you too!”
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me and pressing a kiss to the top of my head.I buried my face in his chest and closed my eyes, melting into him.I could stay here forever.
“That’s the kindest thing you’ve ever said to me,” I murmured.
“Of course,” he whispered.“Because I truly do love you.”
A wide smile spread across my face as I snuggled closer, humming softly while my mind painted the future I dreamed of having with him — perfect and endless.
“Every day that goes by feels like a dream,” I said against his chest.
“Yeah,” he replied.“A dream come true...for a short time.”
My smile faded.My brows knitted together.
“Which is why,” he continued gently, “you have to wake up now.”
My stomach dropped.I pushed myself up, confusion spreading through me.“Wh...what?”
“Wake up,” he said again, his expression soft but fading.“It’s time for you to wake up...to the real world.”
“What real world?N-no, no...”
“Wake up.”
“Wake up, Ariana.”
“Wake up.”
“Wake up, Ariana.”
My body stiffened as searing pain crept slowly through every limb.Consciousness slammed into me like cold water.Everything still felt numb, but I could feel the agony building — sharp and deep.
When I finally managed to open my eyes, I was blinded by the gentle light filtering through the window.
From the corner of my vision, I saw Mom sitting beside the bed, her head resting against it.I reached out, weakly brushing her hair with my fingers.
“Mom...”I croaked.
Her head shot up, eyes wide and red-rimmed from crying.The moment her gaze landed on me, a broken smile spread across her face, followed by tears.
“Oh my—Jesus, thank God you’re awake,” she gasped, clutching my hand and kissing it.“I thought I lost you.”Her voice cracked.
I closed my eyes, groaning as I tried to sit up with her help.My muscles screamed in protest.When I finally managed to sit, I pulled away gently, breathing hard.
I force out a sound that tries to pass for strength.“I’m fine, Mom.Everything’s going to be alright.”The lie lands hard even to my own ears.Regret follows instantly — none of this is her fault.I feel like I’ve been beaten until my legs don’t work; I’m useless, hollow.The risk, the trauma, the chaos — it’s all too much.I need time.I need any kind of time to wrap my head around what happened.Anything could’ve happened.A lot happened.I wasn’t ready.
“No—nothing is alright, Ariana,” she says, and the words drop like a stone.“Your baby...”Her voice breaks.“It’s gone.”She sobs over me, the sound wracking her body, and I lie there like a statue.My face hardens.My body is a block of numbness.
