Impassive

18| Waking

She had been sitting alone in a small café, nursing a cup of coffee that had long since turned lukewarm. She had been there for hours, lost in the routine of it all—watching the world outside, not really part of it, just observing, detached.

AVA

The light creeping through the curtains was the first thing I noticed. It felt gentle against my skin, as if the morning had been waiting for me to wake up. My eyes fluttered open, squinting against the soft glow. For a second, I wasn't sure where I was. The last thing I remembered was Matteo's arms around me, pulling me close, his warmth an anchor in the chaos of the night. But now, I was alone.

Wait.

I wasn't alone. My body was pressed into the soft sheets of a bed, but not my own. Matteo's bed. The realization hit me like a wave. I wasn't in my room. I wasn't in my bed. His scent was everywhere, in the pillows, the blankets, the very air around me.

A strange wave of confusion washed over me. Why was I here? I sat up slowly, my head a bit fuzzy, my body still heavy with exhaustion. My mind was sluggish, like I was still in the midst of some half-dream. It was then that I realized: I wasn't wearing any underwear.

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. A flash of panic surged through me. But why? Why did it matter? Wasn't I just... I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of everything. The night, everything that happened, was still like a jumbled mess in my head. The last thin I remembered clearly was me, taking a shower. Maybe thats why I lacked my underwear.

I glanced down at the bed and found a large T-shirt, too big for me, draped across my chest. Matteo's. He must have given it to me when I was still half out of it. The fabric was soft and comforting, but the disorientation was still there. I shifted a bit, pulling the blanket around me, feeling a slight chill. I looked around the room—his room—everything seemed so familiar, yet foreign at the same time. How had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered was... the cold air, the yard, standing outside in that towel. His eyes, looking at me. Had I really been out there? Had I really not recognized him? I shook my head, trying to piece it together. What was wrong with me?

There was a slight creak of the door opening, and Matteo's voice cut through the silence. "Ava?" I turned toward the sound, startled. My heart skipped again, but this time, it was not from fear. There he was, standing in the doorway, his face slightly tense, his dark eyes scanning the room for me. "Hey," he said softly, his gaze flickering over me with what looked like relief. His voice, low and warm, settled something inside me. "How are you feeling?"

I swallowed, still feeling the weight of confusion, but something about the way he asked made me feel safe. It was like he had been waiting for me to wake up, watching over me all night. "I—I don't know. My head's fuzzy."

He nodded, stepping inside and sitting on the edge of the bed. His eyes didn't leave mine. "You scared me last night."

His words were soft, but they hit harder than I expected. My stomach tightened. The memory of him pulling me from the yard, guiding me back inside... It all came back in flashes. I was terrified. Of what, I didn't know. But something had been wrong with me. Something had made me wander out there, lost. I didn't know what to say. My lips felt dry, and my thoughts scattered in every direction. Finally, I managed, "What happened last night? I don't remember everything. I was outside... in just a towel. Why...?"

"You had an episode," Matteo said, his tone gentle, but there was something heavy behind his words. "You didn't recognize me. You were standing in the yard, not responding. It was like you were somewhere else." His voice was tight, like the memory was still raw for him. I felt a wave of shame wash over me. I couldn't remember it clearly, but I could see the worry in his eyes. I was the cause of that worry.