Faded Love

13

Running downstairs, Emilie found the Monegasque about to ring her apartment intercom. "Emi," Charles laughed, noticing her presence.

"Good morning, Charlie," she smiled closing the apartment building door behind her before making her way to him.

"Ready?"

"Yes," making there way to his car Charles opened the passenger door for her and then made his way into the drivers side. "You have quite some fans," Emilie laughed as she watched people surround his car screaming as they held up there phones frantically trying to take pictures and videos of him.

"Not just me," he smiled, turning to look at her as he started the engine.

Once they were further away from the inner city Emilie decided to ask him what she had asked Carlos earlier, "Who told you about my dream day?"

"What?"

"Well, you said a little birdie told you about my dream day. I was talking to Carlos earlier and he said he didn't tell you anything about it."

"Carlos was up this early?" Charles laughed, clearly trying to dismiss her questioning.

"I made him get up this early. But Charles, don't ignore my question."

Turning to look at her because of his formal name, Emilie held a serious look. He knew he had to come up with something, "Your papa."

"Really?!" She sounded surprised to say the least.

"Well, you know him and I are like this," Charles said, crossing his fingers together.

"That's so weird, I wonder why he never introduced me to you."

Sadness quickly resurfaced onto Charles as he suddenly remembered why she was asking all these questions.

Finally making it to the hike trail, Charles got out the car and quickly ran to the passenger side to open the door for Emilie, sticking his hand out for her to hold onto.

As they started the hike Charles went on to ask her more about her life, even though he knew everything about her. "What's your favorite color?" he asked.

A snort came out of her mouth, "Wow. You have asked some deep questions and have told me some deep stuff about you and you ask me what my favorite color is?" she finishes, laughing.

"Yes, I have to know every little detail about you," Charles said, as he stepped ahead of her, walking backwards.

"Can you please face forward, you're going to fall," Emilie said, holding out her hands in caution.

"I know this trail like the back of my hand, now stop ignoring my question."

Rolling her eyes with a smile, Emilie caved, "Forest green and baby pink."

"Odd combo, but I like it."

"What about yours?"

"Ferrari red, baby," Charles exclaimed holding out his hands to his side to show of the Ferrari red shirt he had on.

"All you wear is Ferrari merch, you need a new wardrobe."

"Have to represent, what do you mean new wardrobe?" he said, stopping and looking down at his shirt.

"You're a millionaire that wears merch on a daily basis, not even Adam Sandler," she said, leaving him behind on the trail.

Catching up to her Charles asked in a more serious tone, "What's your biggest fear?"

Staying quiet for a good minute Emilie finally spoke up, "Letting fear take control of my life. Like after this major crash, I feared I would lose my life. I told my father I didn't want to race after I recovered. That I would simply retire because I feared for my life. He didn't fully agree, but he told me if that was what I felt was right then to go for it. But the more I thought about it I realized that it wasn't I who took that decision but fear."

Charles stood still, once again, in awe of who the person in front of him was. He knew her, he had known her for years. He had known how to love her and cherish her. He had known every curve of her body, every scar marked across her body. Yet he slowly realized that the woman that was standing in front of him was much more than the woman he knew.

~

"He's on his way home to his wife and two kids, one boy and one girl. Ohhh and they have a dachshund name Leo."

"Leo? Why Leo?" Charles asked as he took a spoonful of his açaí bowl, watching a man walk down the streets of Monaco.

"He looks like he would name his dog Leo." Emilie shrugged, also taking a spoonful of her açaí.

"Alright, what about that old couple, right there?" he pointed out across the street. The couple was sitting out side of a little café, drinking their morning coffee.

"They've been married for sixty-four years. They had four children, three boys and one girl, all living in different parts of the world, only seeing each other on special occasions. Grandchildren, they have nine, all which they love dearly."

"How do you come up with these scenarios?" Charles laughed.

"Try it, it's not that complicated. Look, you see that young woman over there, your go." Looking at who Emilie was looking at he saw a young woman walking down the street with one to many shopping bags.

"She's twenty years old, daddy's money who clearly has clothes and shoes she's never worn before yet she buys new clothes and shoes any chance she gets."

"God, you're horrible at this," Emilie said, looking at Charles in terror.

"What? Alright, what did you see?"

"A young twenty-two year old woman, who's business just bloomed and thought the best way to treat herself is through buy some new clothes. And that other clothes, she has worn, will simply be donated."

"You are too much of a optimist, Emi."

"This world needs it," she simply shrugged eating another spoonful of her açaí.