Oblivion

B| Photos

before Italy

JOSEPHINE

I leaned against the kitchen counter, the warm light from the setting sun spilling through the window. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful, and yet I couldn't shake the feeling of being overwhelmed. The silence was a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind, like it often did after my therapy sessions. It was as though everything I'd just tried to work through would suddenly flood back when I was alone, and it was impossible to make sense of it all in a single breath.

I was still processing what had come up today, the things I hadn't even known were buried so deep. The doubts, the insecurities—everything I tried to push away kept coming back, whispering in my ear, telling me that maybe I wasn't strong enough after all.

I took a slow breath, trying to ground myself, when I heard footsteps behind me. I knew who it was without even turning around. Vito. He always knew when I was struggling, even when I tried to hide it. I straightened up slightly, but the knot in my stomach didn't loosen.

"Josephine?" His voice was soft and I could already hear the concern in it. He knew something was off, even if I hadn't said a word. I didn't turn to face him right away. Instead, I let the quiet stretch between us. I didn't want to explain. I didn't want to burden him, especially not today.

When I finally did turn, he was standing there, looking every bit the man he had to become far too early. His suit was sharp, as usual, the dark fabric contrasting with his lighter skin, and his hair was perfectly styled in a way that always seemed effortless. A bitter part of me hated how effortlessly he looked like he had  under control, like he could conquer the world with a single step. Vito had always been the one who held everything together. One who shielded me from the chaos.

I forced a smile, but it felt stiff on my face. "Hey, Vito."

He didn't return the smile. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, his gaze softening as he studied me. "Are you okay?" 

His question was gentle but insistent, and my throat tightened, as if the very idea of speaking would break something inside me. I swallowed. "I don't know." The words came out before I could stop them. "It's just- I've been thinking about everything—and it feels like with every step forward, I fell two steps behind."

His gaze never left mine, his expression unwavering. "Come here." he said slowly, his voice quieter now, more serious, while he opend his arms for me.

I shook my head, trying to brush it off, but it was too real to ignore.  Vito's eyes softened even more, and he stepped closer, his presence somehow calming, even though he carried the weight of his own responsibilities. He was the one who had grown up too fast, the one who learned to hold everything together long before he should've had to.

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for," he said, his voice steady but kind. "You've always been."

I looked at him, my heart aching. The way he said it, so sure of himself, so sure of me, made the pressure in my chest lighten just a little. He always reminded me of my worth, even when I couldn't see it. Even when I felt like I was falling apart, he was the one who held me up without question.

"Sometimes I feel like I am lost," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. My eyes felt a little damp, but I blinked it away. I hated feeling vulnerable, especially in front of him. Vito's gaze softened even more, and I could see the familiar flicker of concern in his eyes. He stepped closer, the air around us shifting with the weight of his presence. Despite the sharp suit and his perfectly composed exterior, Vito had always known how to make everything feel- manageable. Like, even when I couldn't carry the world on my own, he could help shoulder the burden. It was one of the things I started to learn to relied on, and at times, it felt like the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart.