Le Parole Lontane (Distant Words)

Chapter 11 - Reunion

Note: This chapter is unedited.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
— Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

Rome, Italy, 2nd of June 2022

I'm almost falling asleep when Damiano and Ethan return home. Next to me, with his head resting on my shoulder, Thomas is long gone in the land of sweet dreams after a horribly long day filled with pain.

I look at the clock and see that it indicates 6 in the morning. The only two options that I have now is to either go to them or act like nothing happened or pretend I'm sleeping. Of course my curiosity wins this little game and I end up getting out of the bed carefully. The last thing I want is to disturb my little brother.

A wave of contradictory emotions are fighting in me when I step in our little kitchen and find Damiano filling the moka pot with water.

"Coffee?" I use the best disapproving voice that I have.

"Vic?!" he exclaims surprised like he wasn't expecting to see me here. "You're awake."

"Yes," I say unable to content my smile. "I'd suggest you to use the bigger pot. I'm not in the mood for going back to dreams land if you're not gonna sleep too."

"Oh, that's not mine," Damiano replies gesturing towards the opened bag of coffee. "Ethan asked me to."

"Fine."

I don't get to say anything else because I find myself squeezed in his embrace. Soft kisses cover my face until his mouth finally reaches mine. We stay like that, stopping in the middle of the kiss, in an absolute state of bliss like we are an unfinished artwork longing for this last detail to be completely whole. Breathing each other's scents, stuck in a pice of an unrealistic existence.

"I missed you so much," he whispers.

"Me too." I can't deny it.

And there's nothing else to be added. Damiano takes my hand, directing me to the living room, leaving Ethan's coffee unfinished.

There are a million questions that I want to ask him, yet I resume to none. His simple presence is enough for me now. Is it nonsensical to allow him to get away like this? Maybe. But, I'll let things be for now.

We fall asleep on the couch, in each other's arms. Head full of thoughts, but heart covered with the protective layer that only his presence can offer me.

In the morning things take their own course. Damiano and I don't address anything about his absence yesterday and Ethan spends the morning with Thomas, doing everything he can to make his boy feel better.

"I want to have a serious talk with you," I finally manage to say around lunch.

"Not now," he replies placidly. "We have a busy day ahead. Studio time, then we have to catch the jet to Germany."

"Damiano..." My hand goes over his.

"Vic, I know what you wanna say," he sighs. "I'll promise we'll discuss about it soon."

"Okay."

I have to accept it. I'm aware that he's not going to talk unless he wants to, so I decide not to force things. But, the entire situation is making me worried.