WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

29.Breaking Point

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the blinds, casting long, lazy streaks of light across the apartment. The air smelled faintly of the night before, hints of alcohol, smoke, and the faint sweetness of memories made and soon to be missed. Astra sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Vanessa's sleeping face. Her girlfriend looked peaceful, her honey-brown curls messy against the pillow, her features relaxed in a way that Astra rarely saw. It was moments like this when Astra felt the weight of her love for Vanessa most profoundly.

But beneath that love was a flicker of unease. The past few days with Giorgio and Michele had been joyous, filled with laughter and the kind of carefree energy Astra knew Vanessa craved. Yet, the drinking and smoking had escalated to a level that tugged at Astra's fears, her mind drifting back to the stories Vanessa had shared about her life in Milan. Back then, it wasn't just about fun, it had been an escape, a trap that had nearly consumed her. And while Astra loved seeing Vanessa happy, truly happy, she couldn't ignore the small voice in her head whispering concerns.

The apartment was unusually quiet for a Friday morning. Giorgio and Michele, always the loudest presences in the room, were still asleep in the living room, the faint sound of their snoring carrying through the cracked door. Astra glanced at the clock. Their flight back to Naples was in just a few hours. Vanessa had class today, but Astra doubted she'd even considered going.

Astra turned her attention back to Vanessa. She was curled into Astra's side, the same way they'd fallen asleep the night before. Astra's heart softened at the sight, a wave of affection overtaking her. She didn't want to wake her, to pull her out of the rare calm that sleep seemed to bring. But time was ticking, and she knew Vanessa needed to get up, if not for class, then at least to say goodbye to her brothers, and bring them to the airport .

Leaning down, Astra brushed a strand of hair away from Vanessa's face, her fingers lingering for a moment. Then she bent closer, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before moving to her lips, her voice a gentle murmur. "Good morning, love."

Vanessa stirred slightly, her brow furrowing as the world began to seep into her consciousness. Her mind felt foggy, a dull haze left behind by the drinks and smokes of the previous night. She blinked slowly, her eyes fluttering open to find Astra's green gaze watching her. For a moment, she simply stared back, her brain struggling to catch up with the day.

"Mmm," Vanessa groaned, her voice raspy from sleep. "Morning already?"

Astra chuckled softly, her hand trailing lightly down Vanessa's arm. "Yeah, morning. You've got class, and Giorgio and Michele are flying out soon."

Vanessa groaned again, this time in protest, rolling onto her back and throwing an arm over her eyes. "I don't want to move. Too early."

"It's not that early," Astra said, her tone teasing but tender. "And you've got to say goodbye to them before they leave. You can't just sleep through it."

Vanessa sighed, finally letting her arm drop and turning her head to look at Astra. A faint, sleepy smile tugged at her lips. "You're too good to me, you know that?" she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

Astra raised an eyebrow, leaning down to kiss her again, this time a little firmer. "Well, someone has to keep you on track. Now, come on. Up."

Vanessa grumbled but began to sit up, running a hand through her wild curls as she blinked at the light filtering through the blinds. Her head throbbed faintly, the remnants of the night before making her wince. She glanced over at Astra, who was now standing and stretching, the soft morning light catching the golden tones in her hair.

"Do I really have to go to class today?" Vanessa asked, her tone half-serious, half-pleading.

Astra shot her a pointed look, hands on her hips. "Yes. But first, you're going to get up and say goodbye to the boys. Then you're going to shower and drink some water, because you look like you had a bit too much fun last night."