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Chapter 59
I was in the back of the car again, the one from my childhood vacation.
Except I was my age now – 21.
My parents weren’t there. The front seat was empty.
But the motorcycle rider was outside the broken window with his black helmet and mirrored visor.
He stared at me –
And there was a gunshot, deafeningly loud –
But this time, the gun was in my hands.
I looked down at the smoking shotgun, then back up at him –
And I realized it wasn’t a man on the motorcycle.
It was me.
The helmet was gone, and I was staring at my own face covered in blood.
My whole body jerked –
And I jolted awake.
I was in a bed. Everything was dark –
But Massimo was lying there in front of me. I saw his dimly lit face and felt his comforting hand on my arm.
“You’re safe,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”
Despite what he said, I jerked up on one elbow and looked around, terrified that men in camouflage would be there –
Or a man in black motorcycle leathers with a mirrored visor on his helmet.
“Everything’s okay,” Massimo murmured as he gently stroked my arm. “You’re safe.”
I calmed down enough to take in my surroundings.
The room was silhouetted by moonlight filtering in through the window. I didn’t recognize anything. It was a completely different layout from what I remembered. Even the bed felt different – stiffer.
“Where are we?” I whispered.
“Another cabin.”
“How did we get here?”
“I carried you. You don’t remember?”
The memory of me telling Massimo about my parents came flooding back.
But strangely…
Instead of pain and sadness…
I just felt relief.
I collapsed back on the bed, stared into his kind face…
And I smiled weakly. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said as he smiled back. He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “How are you feeling?”
“…empty.”
His brow knitted together in a frown.
“No, it’s a good feeling,” I reassured him. “Well… not good… but a relief. Like I’ve been carrying around something horrible… and now it’s gone.”
Sadness welled up inside of me from out of nowhere, and my eyes filled with tears.
“Hey… hey,” Massimo whispered, and he pulled me to his chest and hugged me.
After a few sobs escaped my body…
I relaxed.
I felt so safe.
I laughed a little through my tears. “I guess it’s not completely gone.”
“I wouldn’t expect it to be,” he murmured as he stroked my hair.
I loved it… the gentle rhythm of him touching my hair… the feel of his strong arms around me.
Despite the sadness, I felt a peace I hadn’t felt in…This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
Actually, I’m not sure I had ever felt it before.
Not since my parents died.
Massimo drew back so he could he could look in my eyes. He took my hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “Thank you for saving my life back there.”
Tears blurred my vision again – but this time, they were happy tears. “Thank you for saving mine.”
“But I didn’t. That was all you.”
“I meant back in Venice.” I grinned. “Even if you did spank my ass in front of God and everybody.”
He laughed, and I saw a look of relief fill his face.
Then we kissed softly…
And he held me in his arms until I slept again.