LOGIN~LUCAS~"I don't have any picture of my mother, Camilla."The moment the words leave my mouth, something inside my chest tightens painfully, and I find myself staring at the bowl of ice cream in front of me because looking at her feels strangely difficult. I had not expected her question to affect me this much, especially when I have spent years convincing myself that I have made peace with everything that happened.But the truth is that I have never really made peace with it.I have simply learned how to live without bringing it up.I lost my mother when I was still little, too young to understand why the people who were supposed to protect us could become the very reason our lives fell apart. So many years have passed since then that I sometimes struggle to remember the smallest details about her, and the possibility that I might eventually forget her face completely frightens me more than I would ever admit to anyone.I try to picture her now, sitting acr
~CAMILLA~I feel so excited that my mom is calling.I love my father dearly, and he is undoubtedly the person I am closest to in my family, but there is something about seeing my mother's name appear on my phone that makes me feel like a little girl again. I immediately pick up the call, unable to stop the excitement from creeping into my voice."Mummy!""Oh, look at who's finally happy to hear from her mother," she says, and I can practically picture the amused expression on her face. "How are you doing, my darling? Are you feeling well? Are you eating properly? You're not overworking yourself, are you?""I'm fine, Mummy. I'm doing great, I promise.""You're always saying you're fine, but that doesn't mean you actually are." Her voice softens with concern. "And tell me, why have you refused to come home? Do you know how long it has been since you came to visit us properly? Your father keeps asking about you, and I'm beginning to wonder whether you have decide
~CAMILLA~It’s lesson day, and I arrive at Lucas's apartment with a smile that refuses to leave my face and a container of ice cream held carefully in both hands, feeling ridiculously pleased with myself because, for once, I am not showing up empty-handed or expecting him to take care of me. I have kept my promise, and although I had to spend a little longer than expected arranging enough ice blocks around the container to keep the ice cream frozen on my way here, I consider the effort worthwhile because I cannot wait to see his reaction.The moment Lucas opens the door, I slip past him into the apartment before he can even finish greeting me, making sure to keep the container level as I head straight for the kitchen."Camilla, what are you doing?" he asks, closing the door behind me."Saving your ice cream!" I announce, placing it on the kitchen counter and immediately removing the lid. "Come quickly, Mr. Lucas, before it melts. I brought it especially for you
~LUCAS~I thought leaving Camilla with Esmeralda would make me feel better. But it does not.The moment I step into my own apartment and close the door behind me, the silence feels strangely uncomfortable. I drop my keys onto the table, take off my jacket, and stand there for a moment, staring at nothing while my mind remains exactly where I have left it.With Camilla.I keep thinking about the way she looked earlier, pale and exhausted beneath the blanket, and the thought of her waking up with the pain returning makes my stomach tighten.Esmeralda is with her now, so there is no reason for me to worry this much. I have specifically asked her to reach out if Camilla wakes or if anything changes.Still, it does very little to calm me down.I try to distract myself.I shower, change my clothes, make myself something to eat, and even open the files I plan to review for my upcoming lessons, but none of it holds my attention for more than a few minutes. My eyes mo
~CAMILLA~When I open my eyes again, the first thing I notice is that my body does not feel like it is being ripped apart anymore.The pain is still there, lingering somewhere deep in my lower stomach, but it has dulled into something I can actually tolerate. My head feels clearer, my muscles are no longer trembling with exhaustion, and even the heaviness that had been pressing down on me earlier seems to have lifted.I take a slow breath and stretch slightly beneath the blanket. Then I turn my head, and I see Esmeralda is sitting beside my bed.For a second, I simply stare at her.She is leaning back in the chair with her arms folded, looking like she has been waiting for me to wake up. Her phone is in one hand, and the moment she notices my eyes are open, her attention immediately snaps toward me.“You're finally awake.”My eyes move past her almost instinctively. I look toward the bedroom door, then the couch, then the space near the window.My heart drops sl
~LUCAS~I set the bags down beside the bed and crouch beside her.Up close, she looks even worse.Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly dry, and there is a thin sheen of sweat across her forehead. She has pulled the blanket almost up to her chin, as though even the smallest movement might make the pain worse.“Camilla,” I call softly. Her eyes open slowly. For a second, she simply stares at me, almost as though she cannot understand why I am standing in her bedroom.“You really came?” she says.The weakness in her voice makes something twist inside my chest.“Yes,” my voice comes out quieter than I intend. “You should have told me it was this bad.”Camilla closes her eyes again instead of answering.I reach out and press the back of my fingers against her forehead. She is warm, but not alarmingly so. Still, the sight of her lying there makes something uneasy settle in my chest.I have seen her tired. I have seen her frustrated, distracted, annoyed, excited,
~MARCELLA~I take Lucas to my favorite spot.A slightly secluded corner, tucked away just enough to give privacy… but still with a perfect view of the entire restaurant.It's romantic, quiet and perfect.We sit down, and almost immediately, a waiter approaches us.I smile politel
~LUCAS~The box is the first thing I notice when I wake up.It's there…. right where I left it before going to bed last night.Like it knows I haven’t made peace with myself yet.It's pushed neatly against the wall like it hasn’t been silently haunting me all night. Like
~MARCELLA~I take one slow step closer to him, letting the bass roll through my body.I stop just close enough for him to smell my perfume—warm, sweet, dangerous.Up close, he’s even better. Sharp jaw. Long lashes. Lips that look like they’ve never learned how to beg. Calm
~TWENTY TWO YEARS LATER~ ~MARCELLA~I weave my way onto the dance floor with Stephanie, my best friend, finding the beat as I sway my hips and lose myself in the groove, erupting loud cheering noises from the hungry crowd whose hungry eyes are ravaging all over my body.I'm







