Romanticismo Per Caso ❤

Thankful for you (Lorena's POV)

After Elias and I reconciled, we decided to walk together in downtown Stockholm. Our walk ended with a visit to an art museum.

Through the doors, there were gigantic walls full of artwork and middle displays. The ceiling was up unbelievably high and past the rows of walls was a staircase that led to the second floor. There must have been multiple floors in this museum, and I could tell that every floor would have something that would engross me.

We walked to the help desk to purchase two adult tickets. We stood together, our feet in sync, before we dropped our hands that had been joined together momentarily. I couldn't believe that I might have another chance with him. It was surreal. I don't want to ever mess this up and I promised him I wouldn't. That was one promise that I knew I would never break. Guilt engrossed me, somewhat. His love was unselfish, undeserving. What am I doing? "Two adult tickets, please," Elias blurted, interrupting my chain of thought.

"Okay, have a wonderful visit," The woman at the help desk ended. She handed us two bracelets to keep on while we peered at paintings and visuals.

When we made our way past the walls of paintings on landscape, we looked up to the top of the building. There were 6 floors above my ant-sized body. I wondered what I looked like from the top of this building. It would be a humorous sight.

When we were on the second to the last floor, I saw a funny painting that caught my attention. "Elias, what is that?" I asked with a big laugh. He stopped walking for a moment and peered over me. He chuckled and looked down at me for a second. The painting consisted of a man with his eyes crossed, holding a glass of wine, and he was riding a donkey. "That is what the Swedish would call a berusad målning," he responded, my face enamored by his thick Swedish accent.

"You act like I know what that means," I retort, sarcastically. He put his arm around my shoulder, and I flinched a little bit. "I forgot you're a little slow. It means drunk painting." He laughed and made a small noise of agony when I nudged his arm in defense.

"I am not slow." I rolled my eyes. Well, maybe at times I was. I was slow when I didn't tell Elias about Francesco. Oh no, here comes the guilt. Part of me told myself that I needed to tell Elias how I was feeling right now. I would. "How would I guess that anyway?" He chuckled with this natural big smile that made me always fold.

As we made our way to the top floor which had a huge balcony, I already felt my feet being exhausted. "Great idea to wear heels, Lorena," I scolded myself in my head. But I would have to keep up with it.

On the balcony, there were many places to sit and eat. Yet, when we were there, nobody had managed to be there. It was a beautiful abditory, where people could escape reality. The view far out below displayed mountains, their curves perfectly formed. We were high above ground level, but I felt contempt where I was. The only trial I felt within me was my alexithymia.

I took a deep breath and looked down to see Elias's hand out, an offering for a handhold. I took a deep breath and accepted it.

"Is everything okay Lorena?" He asked, stopping me in my tracks of walking ahead, further to the edge of the balcony.

He came close to me, and I already knew that I had to tell him my concern. "Elias, I-," I struggled with the words.

"It's okay babe, I'm here." He gave my hands a little squeeze, reassuring me that he was there.

I was on the verge of tears. I would not cry in public. I was filipendulous. I tried to search for a nepenthe, but everything that I did was in my brain.

"Lorena," He said sweetly, caressing my face with the palm of his hand. "What's wrong?" I looked into his eyes, embracing his deep compassion.

I took a deep sigh, then my thoughts poured right out of me. "Elias, I don't deserve you. Why would you take me back? I am so selfish, I should just leave. Your mother is right," I teared up. I didn't even wipe my face from the waterfall.

"Oh Lorena," He replied. He brought me in for a hug as I tried to stop my tears from actually communicating with him. He let me go, in one minute, surprisingly.

"What did my mother say about you?" He pinched his face, his forearm muscles appearing cut from stone. He must've been going through some conflict with his mom right now, which wasn't good. I hope that they were okay. She was probably the only reliable parent or family member in the family.

"She said you were finally moving on. And, I just don't know Elias. Maybe I should just leave. My guilt is too strong right now."

"Lorena," He soothed, putting my hair behind my ear. "I'm not going to say that won't face guilt after what happened, but so do I, at times." She raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I feel bad for not accepting that you have loyal piety and love your parents. I know that you would never want to cheat on anyone. You are so loyal and dedicated to the restaurant and your loved ones. I let my stupid pride break us up as well. And Lorena, I broke you in the process."

I cried but smiled. "I'm so sorry," I looked at him as he wiped one final tear from my eye. Gosh, I was such a baby. I will have sores and eye bags when I get home that I need to manage.

"Lorena, I'm even more sorry than you." He did a small upside-down smile, his look showing calmness. "I guess we both hurt each other in a way," I added.

"Yeah, I guess so. But this time, I will never hurt you. I will always protect you, daydreamer. No one will mess with you unless they want to be hurt."

"Overprotective much?" I laughed.

"Over you," he glanced down at me, "Absolutely."