Every step Emanuele took down the huge hallway on the fourth floor of the apartment was painful, tiring, and absolutely hellish. The pouring rain outside didn't help either. The heavy suitcase she was dragging was soaked, as was Emanuele herself, and it was past eleven o'clock at night. She had rented a room in that building, and the landlady must have been asleep. The girl tried to call Alexandra's cell phone, but apparently it was turned off. The girl's red dyed hair was stuck to her face, mixed not only with raindrops but also with sweat. Almost growling in frustration, dying of shame, cold and irritation, the tan-skinned, the girl rang the doorbell. A clap of thunder rang out. Would the landlady be annoyed that she had arrived at that hour? A few seconds passed. Well, it wouldn't be surprising at all if she was asleep. Emanuele's hands were trembling from exhaustion, hunger and apprehension. The last few hours had been extremely difficult. But at least she was far away from the
Emanuele's heart felt like it was going to come out of her mouth. The hand that held the strap of her bag loosened immediately. A real nightmare, hellish and terrible, took possession of his consciousness. Inside herself, she tried to find some spark of calm, of tranquility. Something she could hold on to while a huge hurricane of doom raged inside her. But instead, beyond pure lethargy, there was fear. An icy, dark, empty fear, like the mouth of a huge beast about to devour everything in its path. Would that... would that be the day he would finally die? Those would be your final minutes, those in which the memories of our life pass before our eyes like a short movie? She could not see her attacker, nor recognize his voice. The breath that exhaled from her profane mouth was horrible, a mixture of alcohol and rotten teeth. The icy blade lay close against her neck, and Emanuele felt a thin trickle of blood pouring down her lap. Soon other noises took over the alley. Rough, evil lau
"Are you okay?" Emanuele continued to stare at Joshua's face; his breathing panting and difficult. "Are you okay?!" He repeated once more, paying attention to the details: the blouse almost open, the trickle of blood dripping down, the jacket thrown (and wet) a few inches away. The woman tried to speak, but could not. Instead, a murmur came from her lips, mixed with what sounded like a wail or cry. Joshua immediately tore a piece of his own shirt from beneath his jacket, pressing it to his neck. "They're not coming back," Joshua said. His eyes were shining with an unknown emotion. "Not punched like that. That's if they survive." The man took a breath and continued, "I'm taking you to the hospital." The redhead finally managed to say something. "No... Sleep. Hotel." "You're not sleeping in a hotel, Emanuele." The girl lets out an agonizing noise of protest and pain, and Joshua puts his big, warm hand on her shoulder. "I am Alexandra's brother. I... I went after you when you l
Emanuele opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling. The bed is comfortable and slightly messy. The wound on her neck hurts, although it doesn't seem serious, and the early morning has been terrible because of the nightmares. The night before, after Joshua left the bathroom after cornering her against the wall, leaving her with a mountain of questions, she tried to take a shower. Her hands shook from the adrenaline, and several times she had to hold back tears as she cleaned herself. When she finished, the girl noticed that her clothes were still in her suitcase, which was in the living room. Not wanting to disturb her host, Emanuele wrapped herself in her towel and went into the living room, silently thanking Joshua for not being there. Apparently he had gone back to his own room. It had destabilized her. In fact, more than she was already unsettled. He saves her one moment, only to leave her alone the next? The dark-skinned girl stood up. Despite the great risk she had taken the ni
"Joshua told me you were coming this morning, and his sister said the same thing. But you showed up late last night. Why?"The accusatory tone and the total difference in attitude from Thabata's earlier moment causes total distress to Emanuele, who can't even formulate a sentence.But the blonde doesn't even let her manage to organize her own thoughts. Slowly walking around the room, Thabata continues:"My boyfriend is a very good person. He would throw himself off a bridge to save a helpless person. But don't put any ideas in that head of yours, you hear me?""... What?""What?", Thabata repeats debauchedly. Then she returns to her angry countenance. "He won't be here long, it's only until my sister-in-law returns from her trip. And I'll be keeping an eye on you.""But-""He's quite handsome, isn't he? Attractive, charming, brave.... Everything a girl like you has probably never seen in her life."Emanuele just stands still, listening endlessly to the offenses uttered by her roommate
The two girls stand still, looking at Joshua. The man places the package on the table, and then asks once again:"What's going on?"Thabata's face changes completely: the hostility previously shown turns into contemplation, politeness, and concern."Hi, dear. Thank you for bringing what I asked for!" She hugs him, but Joshua does not enthusiastically reciprocate. "Emanuele and I were talking about the horrible night she had last night. She came to apologize to me for locking herself in her room."Emanuele could knock down a wall of so much hate, but she decided to play along. All she didn't need now was to be the enemy of the apartment owner's brother."Yes, I... I came to get something to eat and took the opportunity to apologize. But I saw that you had left. So I will apologize to you now. It was very rude of me to do what I did.... I'm sorry."Joshua raises his hand in a soothing gesture."It was nothing. It's all right." Then he turns to Thabata, a gleam appearing in his eyes. "I'
Joshua murmurs softly."Emanuele."The redhead seems to be half dreaming, half awake. His voice was deep, deep and soothing. She remained in the same place."Emanuele."Again, she just listened to the call. His hands remained on her shoulders.But then the girl finally comes to her senses.Joshua is frowning as he watches her. Quickly, feeling very ashamed, the girl gets off the teacher. How humiliating! How long had she stood there like a fool? And I wonder what he was thinking of her now."That was quite a tumble. Are you okay?"The man didn't sound angry or offended. In fact, it was concern that glistened in his eyes as he stood up. But there was also no sign of spark, reverie, or any of the things Emanuele had felt. What a disaster."I'm fine," she replied, trying in vain to regain her composure. "I'm sorry... I don't think I can really do that kind of thing. I'm no good.""It was my fault. I think we need to slow down the intensity until we find a rhythm that's comfortable for y
Emanuele is sure that Joshua wants her too.There is a sparkle in his dark eyes, something that sparkles like a diamond. The girl simply knows; she understands that he wants her. Even if they hardly know each other.Or... No.In fact, Joshua stands a respectable distance away from her, still with a friendly smile on his lips. Courteous, even. But no shadow of flirtation or any sign that denotes anything more.Emanuele leaned forward, true, but not so much. In her mind, incredible things were about to happen. But it was all just a daydream.How stupid she was!And the tense seconds? Apparently those had been real, but still completely out of the context in which she imagined it."Emanuele.""Huh?" the redhead gave a startled little jump, keeping her back erect again."I know it's not a good idea to ask this, but... Are you sure you're okay?""What do you mean?""You know. After yesterday.""I'm fine."Emanuele's voice came out shaky. The man understood. "I just wanted to say that if y
. . . . . . . . FIVE MONTHS LATER . . . . . .Emanuele looked at herself in the huge full-length mirror. The girl hardly knew where to look, which detail to care about first.She didn't know whether to look at the beautiful hairstyle in her now dark brown hair; her natural color.She didn't know whether to look at the impeccable makeup on her face, which made her even more beautiful and radiant than she was feeling.And I also didn't know whether to look at the beautiful white dress, simply cut, adorned with small mother-of-pearl beads. Despite the simplicity of the outfit, it was undeniable to say that the bride looked divine that day.Smiling, she turned around in front of her own reflection. Her heart was pounding with happiness, and she felt the stars in the night sky outside wishing her good luck. The curtain behind the door opened. A short, pudgy girl smiled sympathetically as she entered the room, openly admiring her."Miss Parker, you look beautiful!"Emanuele smiled."Thank
The old man falls to his knees at the same instant. Emanuele runs to him and hugs him tight, but Joseph does not respond. Instead, he seems to be doing his best not to scream as loud as he can."Dad!" The girl says."Adriele died? I had two daughters, and one of them died? Is that it?! Is that what you are telling me?!'Emanuele tries to hold back her sobs, but she can't. Instead, she says:"Yes, Dad. I'm really, really sorry. It all happened so fast! I lost my mother, my sister, and now... Now you are all I have left. You are literally all I have as family!"Joseph can't say anything for a while, only cry. The two of them are shaking very hard. Sarah, when alive, said that Morgan couldn't get the proper reaction, that he was too broken inside. But now he seemed quite emotional. I wonder what had happened.The smell of her father, enveloping Emanuele's nostrils, is soothing and familiar. In a snap, she remembers that the same scent enveloped her when she was in the arms of death, tra
Convincing Crimson to enter the police database to find her father's address was not that difficult.In fact, Emanuele was quite surprised when she had to use only one of the six rehearsed arguments. The old man shrugged and said that at that point it was no longer worth trying to pretend not to act unofficially from time to time.What really took a lot of lip from the redhead was convincing Joshua not to go with her. The girl knew that he only wanted to protect her, but Emanuele was very assertive in her arguments. She needed to do this alone, face that part of her past, and see if there was any possibility of fixing it in her future.Sarah had said that he was in a depressive spiral, and that when he saw her he could not react properly, and that it hurt her.Emanuele then prepared herself emotionally. She would not be disappointed or resentful if, by some chance, the man who at one time taught her a beautiful lullaby did not remember her... or was not touched by the moment.The youn
For a few seconds, all Emanuele can do is stare at Joshua. The two of them are still naked, and the distance between their bodies is as minimal as possible. "What?" she asks, softly. I wonder if she had heard right. Had her emotions stunned her enough for her to hear such a request?He gives a quiet laugh, then opens a confident, sentimental smile."Will you marry me?"The girl immediately sits up, leaning against the headboard of the bed. She covers her own nakedness with the blanket, still looking at the man, who also sits down."I..."Several things go through her head.The first was that no, she could not get married. Not in that life and not ever. All the misfortunes that had happened to her, all the horrible and unfortunately scarring traumas that were etched into her skin; all that made marriage itself a terrible idea.According to the books that the young woman read, especially during her teenage years, marriage was the union of two people. Total commitment to each other, com
As soon as he closes the door, Joshua gives warm, soft kisses on the sensitive skin of Emanuele's neck. The man sighs, almost intoxicated with passion, and murmurs:"I love the way you smell."With all the delicacy and romance in the world, Joshua props the redhead's torso on the bed, leaving her legs and feet touching the floor. He caresses her over her clothes. Emanuele moans."The last time we were together like this, I gave only a demonstration of what might come next. Remember?"He stimulates her further with the tip of his thumb, in subtle, gentle circular motions. "Those were the words of a man overcome with desire, and even lust, if I am willing to admit it. Today I may again have those feelings in my body, but... there is a difference. Now I am sure that I love you."Still with his thumb on Emanuele's clit, Joshua kisses her eagerly; the movement of his tongue is smooth and warm. Murmurs come out of her throat, as if the teacher is delighting in that moment.Emanuele's hands
The winter dawn is cold.A month has passed since Emanuele saw her sister die. One month, and even then, the memory was still latent and terrible.The girl had already been to therapy, but the nightmares continued to torment her. Joshua didn't know what to do anymore, since every night at two o'clock in the morning the girl's terrified screams woke him up.The teacher got out of his own bed in the dim light. The clock on his cell phone said it was one hour and fifty minutes, that is, ten minutes before the nightmares began.Standing up, taking care not to make any excessive noise, Joshua opened the door to his room, going towards Emanuele's door.But the door was open.Frowning, the man approaches the room. Her bed is empty.Still not making hasty decisions, Joshua goes to the living room, equally empty. His heart only slows down when he sees the girl sitting at the table, drinking a glass of water. She watches him without saying anything, then goes back to sipping the liquid.Slowly
Joshua immediately embraces Emanuele as soon as she, still very tearful and emotional, leaves the room where Sarah is being held. She clings to the man's clothes, sobbing terribly. Her eyes are swollen and red. "I am here," he murmurs. "I'm right here, my love." The girl can barely respond or say anything. A man wearing religious robes appears. He is middle-aged and wears thick-rimmed glasses. In his hand is a Bible. The man's voice is patient and docile, and he uses all his politeness as he approaches Emanuele. "May God's infinite mercy soothe your heart, child. I am so sorry for your loss." Apparently, the priest was already very well informed of the situation. The girl does not respond, only sinks even deeper into the chest of Joshua, who makes no mention of letting go. The policeman in charge of Sarah's surveillance accompanies the religious man. That was the protocol. Before being formally executed, Sarah would have the right to console herself and at least try to ensure a se
The next day dawned gray, cold and absolutely silent.Of course, cars were still passing by, people were leaving their homes to go to work, and children were going to school. But the noise present, that typical sound that Emanuele's ears were used to, could not penetrate the enormous bubble of silence that surrounded her.The call from the delegate the day before was an answer she had been begging to receive, but now that she knew that her sister's last wish was to see her, an unbearable weight had taken over her heart. Sarah was going to die. And all they had together were brief, monitored, timed conversations.Emanuele looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black overcoat and pants of the same color, as well as dark boots. Her dyed red hair was tied up in a tight bun, and no matter how hard she tried to disguise her swollen face, red from crying with makeup, it was still obvious to anyone paying a little more attention. Joshua appeared in the doorway, wearing dark soci
Emanuele could neither sleep nor eat properly in the days that followed.All the girl could do, and at the massive insistence of Joshua who took care of her whenever he could, was to take a few naps and, very begrudgingly, put food in her stomach. He always tried to be as close as possible, even though he needed to work.With the insurance money, Joshua was able to recover almost nothing from the old apartment, so he opted to buy new furniture and decorate Alexandra's apartment, or rather his apartment. Doing this, however, seemed pointless and even disrespectful, since the present moment was one of mourning, not of celebration.When the man apologized for his attitude, Emanuele just shrugged and continued to stare at some fixed point on the wall.They did not sleep together. Each stayed in his own room most of the time. Joshua tried to get close to her physically, but he was content to give her a respectful cuddle and caress to comfort her. It was not the time for them to get close l