From Crime To Court

Chapter 23

▪️S E R E N A▪️

My dreams were like shards of broken glass, scattered and disjointed, as if someone had rifled through the pages of my mind and dispersed its contents haphazardly.

In the midst of this chaos, Alessio's soft voice pierced through the fog, a lifeline pulling me back to the surface of consciousness. Slowly, I blinked away the remnants of sleep, the soft tendrils of slumber dissipating as Alessio's concerned expression came into focus.

"What's wrong?" I murmured; my voice slightly raspy.

"You were talking in your sleep," Alessio replied softly, his eyes searching mine for answers. "About passports and missing your plane. I know of passports, but what is a plane?"

His question hung in the air, heavy with expectation.

As Alessio's words penetrated the haze of sleep, clarity washed over me like a cold splash of water. Suddenly, I felt the urgency to escape the confines of the large four poster bed, eager to clear my head of the fog that clouded my thoughts.

Without a word, I all but bolted from his side, my heart pounding in my chest as I sought solace in the darkness beyond the window. Grasping one of Alessio's tunic shirts from a nearby chair, I hastily pulled it over my head, feeling its familiar warmth enveloping me as I sighed.

I leaned against the cool glass, enjoying the feel of it against my skin as I took deep breaths, willing the turmoil in my mind to settle. The revelation of my sleep talk had shaken me to the core, dredging up memories and emotions I had done my best to keep at bay.

While I gazed out the window, admiring the stars in the sky, the weight of Alessio's curiousity hung heavy on my shoulders.

What was a plane?

How could I explain the complexities of a world he could never know, a world that existed beyond the confines of his time and understanding?

But even as doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind, I knew that I could not keep hiding the truth from Alessio any longer. With a steadying breath, I turned away from the window, prepared to face the unknown.

Yet, as I spun around, ready to confront whatever lay ahead, I gasped in surprise, startled to find Alessio standing right behind me. His presence, so close and unexpected, sent a jolt of electricity through me, causing me to stumble backward until I felt the wall behind me.

He had not bothered to get dressed, his bare chest illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. Despite the urge to avert my gaze, I found myself unable to tear my eyes away from his face, captivated by the intensity of his expression.

For a moment, we simply stood there, locked in a silent exchange, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between us. And in that fleeting moment of vulnerability, I realized that I did not have to face this alone. Alessio was here, by my side, ready to stand with me as he had said he would numerous times before.

With his hand reaching out to gently brush against mine, a silent reassurance of his unwavering support, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. However, when he spoke, I was not prepared for the words that came out of his mouth.

"Go on, lie to me again..."

With my back pressed against the wall, I stammered, "What–"

Alessio placed a finger against my lips, silencing my protests, and smirked. His eyes held a mixture of amusement and understanding, as if he had seen right through my feeble attempts at evasion.

"Go on, lie to me again," he repeated, his voice laced with teasing sarcasm. "But try and make it more believable this time."

With a resigned sigh, I made a decision to trust Alessio with the impossible truth, no matter how unbelievable it may seem. And as I prepared to speak, I felt a sense of relief wash over me, knowing that there would be no more secrets between us anymore.