Rome hit different the second you stepped off the plane. The air was warmer, softer. The sky brighter. The noise louder in a way that felt alive, not chaotic. Even the airport smelled like espresso and fresh bread. Gabe pressed his face to the window of the car the entire ride into the city, pointing at every scooter, every fountain, every building older than anything he’d ever seen.“Dad! Look! That building is crooked!”“That’s just old,” I said, laughing.Sara elbowed me. “Be nice. He’s excited.”“I’m excited,” I admitted. Because for the first time in a long time, it was just us. No guards hovering. No meetings. No threats. No Juan. Just Rome. Just my family.We checked into the hotel, a quiet place near the Spanish Steps, and Gabe immediately ran to the balcony, shouting, “Mom! Dad! You can see EVERYTHING!”Sara joined him, her eyes wide, her smile soft.
Last Updated : 2026-05-05 Read more