The Thrill Of Your Love

Chapter One

• Several Years Prior •

Terzo was a lively child with a sparkle in his eye and a curious mind that could not be quenched. In the summer evening, he was spending time with his favourite person, Sister Anna, a young girl from England. She was a kind and gentle nun who had been employed to take care of Terzo since he was a baby, she loved him like her own child and always made sure that the heir to the papacy was safe and happy.

"Guarda questa!" Terzo called from behind a large tree within the depths of the ministry's large garden.

"What did you find, Terzo?" Sister Anna approached him and smiled.

"Un fiore!" Terzo exclaimed as he pointed to a vibrant yellow flower.

"It's beautiful, Terzo!" She exclaimed and crouched down beside him, admiring its bright petals and delicate scent. Terzo looked up at her, his eyes shining with pride knowing that she had liked his discovery. "What's it called in English? Do you know?" She asked. One of Anna's main jobs was to teach the small boy English, a vital part of the role of Papa.

"Flow...flower." He replied, his accent thick.

"Good." Sister Anna smiled. "This type is called a daffodil." She spoke slowly, pronouncing the word clearly.

"Daf-fo-dil." Terzo repeated the word carefully, his small mouth forming the unfamiliar syllables whilst his brows furrowed with concentration.

"Good boy, that's right! Your English is getting better every day caro." She praised, giving him a tight hug.

Terzo then suddenly gasped and pointed at a blue butterfly that had fluttered by his head. He started chasing after it, squealing and giggling with excitement.

"Terzo be careful!" She called. "Don't chase it too far!" But the boy ignored her, his sound of his small feet pattering in the grass suddenly disappearing and being replaced by a loud thud. "Terzo!" She cried, running to his side. "Are you alright, are you hurt?!" She anxiously asked but Terzo started giggling, rolling about in the long blades of grass.

"I fell!" He laughed.

"Yes you did, and you had me worried!" She chuckled lifted him up from the ground, cradling him in her arms and tickling his stomach. He nestled into her as she carried him back towards the warm glow of the towering building with impressive architecture that made up the ministry. "You must be more careful, you're always falling over!"

"I'm sorry Sister." He frowned. "It was an accident."

"I know darling. I just don't want you getting hurt, you have as much balance as a giraffe with one leg!" She exclaimed making the boy laugh.

"Sister Anna I'm not a giraffe!" His eyes glistened as he looked up to her, chuckling.

"Well I suppose you're right. But maybe one day you'll be tall enough to pass as one." She brushed her thumb along his cheeks with a grin, noticing his sunken eyes. "You look tired dear, are you ready for bed?" She chuckled as he nodded and cuddled close to her, his head resting on her shoulder whilst his hands clutched tightly to her chest.

After dodging the bustling crowds of siblings who tried to catch a glimpse of the Emeritus child, Anna shut the door to his bedroom. She helped him remove his messy clothes and shower off the dirt that graffitied his knees. She smiled at Terzo, her heart swelling with love as she tucked him into his bed. She couldn't help but admire his curious, beady eyes, which glistened in the warm glow of the lamp on his bedside table.

"What is it, darling?" She asked, noticing the pleading glint in his mismatched eyes.

"Could you read me a story, Sister Anna?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "I...I like it when you do that."