„I think Italy has some magic water."
„I think so too."
_-_-_-_-_
He is a good short distance swimmer. His domain is the backstroke. He looks like a model and the female fans can go crazy for him.
She is a diver who masters 3 meters, 10 meters and p...
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~•~
Beatrice slowly made her way to the pool entrance where she was supposed to meet Thomas. Her steps were deliberate, her eyes fixed on the path ahead, but her mind kept returning to the result she and Theresa had achieved. Fourth place—so close to the podium, so near, and yet so far from the medal they had hoped for.
She felt her heart tightening with disappointment, even as she tried to think positively. Theresa was slowly coming to terms with the result, but Beatrice still felt the sting. Months of training, sacrifice, and hard work—and in the end, they had "only" finished fourth. She knew she should be proud of what they had achieved, but now that the moment had truly arrived, it was hard to accept that feeling.
When she reached the pool entrance, she saw Thomas already waiting for her. He stood by the entrance, leaning against the wall, his expression calm and understanding. As soon as he saw her, he straightened up, and his eyes met hers.
"Hi," he greeted her softly as she approached. His voice was gentle, as if he knew she needed reassurance. "How are you feeling?"
Beatrice shrugged and tried to smile at him, but her smile was weak. "It still hurts a bit," she admitted quietly. "Fourth place... it's so close. And I know we could have done better."
Thomas nodded and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know, Birdie," he said. "But you know, fourth place is still a tremendous achievement. Especially at the Olympics. Italy can be proud of you, and I'm immensely proud of you. You did everything you could."
Beatrice looked at him, her eyes full of emotion. "But I wanted more," she whispered. "I wanted a medal. For both of us. For Italy. For everyone who believed in us."
"And we still believe in you," Thomas replied firmly. "Not winning a medal doesn't change the fact that you're an amazing pair and that you fought until the end. Everyone saw it, and everyone appreciates it. What you did was incredible, Beatrice. And fourth place... it's still a big success for Italy."
Beatrice sighed and looked down at the ground. "I know you're right," she admitted. "But it just hurts right now."
Thomas gently embraced her, pulling her close and resting his head on her shoulder. "It's okay," he whispered. "It's okay to be disappointed. But don't let it overshadow what you've achieved. Because what you accomplished is amazing."
Beatrice pressed against him and closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in his calming scent. She felt her body slowly relax, the pressure in her heart beginning to dissolve. There was something about his presence that always managed to soothe her. And now, with him by her side, she felt that she might be able to accept what had happened and move forward.
"Thank you, Tommy," she said softly, as she gently pulled away and looked into his eyes. "Thank you for being here. I needed to hear that."
Thomas smiled at her, his hand still resting on her shoulder, as if he didn't want the moment to end. "I'll always be here for you, Birdie," he said sincerely. "And remember, this is just one competition. There are many more opportunities ahead. This is just the beginning."
