𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬

Chapter six

March 6, 2014, Brisbane

Four days had gone by without a trace of his presence, feeding my growing concerns. The seconds ticked away slowly as I gripped my phone tightly, unable to decide if I would dare to call him. Shadows of misfortune crept into my imagination, dreading the worst-case scenario for him. My silent prayers were my only weapon.

Courage had finally found its way to me. I could no longer tolerate this oppressive wait. With trembling fingers, I was about to call out to him when the unexpected happened. The door opened suddenly, as if it was giving in to the invisible forces that were pressing behind it. And there, in all his splendor, stood Niki, breathless, as if he had just won the race of his life. My arms instinctively wrapped around him in an irrepressible rush. I couldn't explain this sudden impulse, this audacity that had taken hold of me. This gesture was so foreign to my nature, to my well-established habits.

Once I came to, I wanted to escape from his embrace but he held me tighter. It was as if he feared that if he ever released me, I would fade away into eternal oblivion. His determination to hold me was startling, transcending the limits of reason.

This passionate embrace revealed a visceral fear, an unsuspected terror of losing me forever. In that moment, I saw the outlines of a deep emotional dependency, a connection so vital that it seemed to defy the laws of existence.

- Niki ? Where were you for 4 days , I asked, gesturing for him to sit down

- At home.

- Seriously Niki, why didn't you come ?

- Just why did you hug me earlier ?

- Said the one who hugged me tightly as if I were going to disappear !

He laughed.

Seeing his eyes getting smaller when he laugh made me laughing too, I couldn't help but look at his smile so healing.

- Pretty, he said while looking at me

- Do you have some time ?

- Why ? I asked

- Do you want to go for a walk with me ?

It was 7:38pm, and although Niki was my last patient of the day, a pile of files awaited my attention, requiring a thorough analysis for the next day. Yet, despite my initial intentions, once again my body decided otherwise, the words slipped from my lips, an "okay" spoken without any real adherence on my part.

- Let's go now !

- Wait for me outside i'll be right there.

- Okay ! he said then he went out

I had some left over from the cookies I made so I took them with me before I left. I wanted him to taste my cookies, I don't know why.

- Here are some cookies !

- You made it ?

- Why? Are you afraid I'll poison you? I said laughing

He laughed while eating the cookies, he seemed to like it and it made me happy to see him enjoying the cookies I made.

- It tastes good ?

- It's not that good, he said mockingly

- Is that why you ate everything ?

Suddenly, the sky began to cry. Each drop seemed to carry the weight of the clouds, releasing their torment in a symphony of frantic precipitation. Lightning bolts ripped through the darkened sky, illuminating the scene with a strange glow. The rumble of thunder sounds like an angry roar, as the clouds pour down with an almost palpable urgency. One would have thought that the cottony veils were expiating their pain by offering it to the wretched earth. The rain was pouring down, pounding the ground and soaking everything in its path. The streets became tumultuous streams, carrying with them the cares of the day.