𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗟𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦 ✔️ (𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀)

Epilogue

P A R I S

Four months later.

The room is quiet except for the muffled sound of my quiet sobs. I'm sitting on the floor, my back pressed against the bed, knees drawn up to my chest. Suitcases sit open in front of me, half-packed with things I'll need. I was supposed to finish hours ago, but I just can't bring myself to move.

A lump builds in my throat as I bury my face in my hands. The realization hits me again: in a few hours, I'll be gone. New York. College. Alone.

I swipe at my cheeks angrily, but the tears keep coming. I thought I was ready for this, thought I'd come to terms with it all, but today... today is different. Today, everything hurts.

It's not just leaving. It's the coldness in my dad's eyes every time we speak-or don't speak. Ever since he discovered about Luciano and me, it's like I stopped being his daughter.

And I miss him. God, I miss him so much.

With mom gone, he's all I've ever had. My rock. My safe place. And now? Now it's like I'm a stranger in my own home. He still lets me live here. We still see each other. But we don't talk. Not really. It's like the best parts of us, the bond we once shared, have been ripped away, leaving only awkward silence in their place.

I've gotten used to it-or so I thought. But today, the reality of it crushes me. I'm leaving, and there's no comforting hug, no teary goodbye from the dad who used to be my whole world.

And then there's Luciano.

The thought of him sends a fresh wave of anguish through me. He's been my anchor, my safe place in the storm of my life. When I thought I'd drown in the pain of losing my dad's love, Luciano held me up. And now I'm leaving him too.

We've talked about this, prepared for the distance, but none of that makes it easier. The thought of not seeing him, not feeling his arms around me, not hearing his voice in person-it's unbearable.

A broken sob escapes me and I clutch my knees tighter to my chest, pressing my forehead against them. My chest feels hollow and heavy at the same time, the ache so deep it's hard to breathe. A soft knock startles me, snapping me out of my haze.

"Cucciola?" Luciano's deep voice rumbles gently.

I curse under my breath, and quickly wipe my tears with trembling hands. I scramble to my feet and pretend to busy myself with folding a sweater, not wanting him to see me like this.

He wasn't supposed to come this early. He was going to take me to the airport later after work-because my dad apparently doesn't care enough to-but not now. Not when I look like a wreck.

My heart hammers in my chest as I hear the door creak open, then close softly behind him. Before I can fake a smile or even face him, his lips brush the top of my head and his fingers ruffle my hair, sending a flood of warmth through me.