One Last Hope

Chapter 4

⭐"A year ago, you wouldn't have made the decisions you're making now. Celebrate your growth"⭐
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He stands back to let me pass. The first thing i notice is the size of the room.

It is so big!

I love the huge window overlooking the garden and all the mirrors that make it look bigger.
I spot the rest of my luggage, stacked in the corner of the room. Nicolae hurries to put down the suitcase I brought with me.

Nicolae: "The rest of your things arrived yesterday, as expected... I'll let you settle in while I see what we can get you for dinner."

He walks away down the corridor, then quickly retraces his steps.

Nicolae: "I'll introduce Lorie to you tomorrow morning. By this time, she'll be asleep and I don't want to wake her up."

Nora: "Of course, let her sleep, I don't mind meeting her later."

Nicolae: Very well... welcome to our home."

I don't have the time to answer before he's gone.
It's a real gift they have, the way they come and go without me noticing.
I begin to empty my suitcases, as Nicolae advised.
Now that I'm here, I might just as well settle in comfortably.
I take a look around.

I open a first suitcase and start unpacking my belongings. As I put my clothes in the closet, I think of the two brothers that I've just met.
Nicolae is undoubtedly more charming than Drogo. He immediately put me at ease.
His chivalrous manner is surprising. I didn't know men like that still existed.
Anyway, the least we can say is that he's not like his brother. I don't know what Drogo's problem is and I prefer not to know.
Cad but attractive...
I almost want to see him again, in spite of his cold attitude. I must admit that he moves and intrigues me...
His hypnotic gaze almost makes me forget his rudeness.

On opening my second suitcase I stop still for a few seconds. I lift out one of my most precious possessions: a snowglobe.
I unpack it cautiously and shake it up and down smiling sadly.
I have a whole collection. This one is my favourite: the one my parents brought me from Paris.
They travelled constantly with their work. Each time they brought me back a souvenir of the town they'd just visited.
London, Madrid, New York, Toronto, Rio, Beijing, Tunis, Rome, among others... There are still a lot missing, but they will never complete the collection.
They were both killed in a car crash as they were coming home.
Looking at these objects can still be painful, but I'm incapable of leaving it behind.
These relics are my only link to my family. The only thing left to me, along with my memories.

But I'm not going to spend the whole evening dwelling on the past! I've got other things to do! I turn back to my still half full suitcase.
I take out my books and CDs, which I lay carefully on the shelves.
I then tackle the last bag which contains my toiletries. As I go into the ensuite bathroom, I stop short.
It is super luxurious. I love the marble basin and bathtub from another age. At least I won't have to worry about my comfort.
After putting everything away, I go back into the bedroom and look around to get the feel of the room.

It's my home!

I put a framed picture of my parents on the bedside table and sit on the bed. I stare at it for a moment.

Everything will be alright...

I stroke the frame with my fingertips, smiling sadly. I listen, but nothing breaks the silence. Everything is so calm. A little too calm.
I lay down and stare up at the ceiling for a long time. I'm knackered, but happy to be finally settled in.
All of a sudden, I sense a presence.
A creaking sound adds to the impression. The feeling of fear forces me to move.
Drogo is leaning against the wall, in the corner of the room. He's watching me in silence.
I look up and look at him, despite the gleam that shines in his eyes. Is it animosity... or something else?