WOULD YOU RESCUE ME?

55.Strings of Connection

Vanessa's hand trembled slightly as she lifted the glass of water to her lips, taking small, deliberate sips under Astra's watchful gaze. The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the occasional sound of water being poured into Vanessa's glass. Astra sat close, her chair angled toward Vanessa, her emerald eyes never leaving her girlfriend.

"Drink a little more," Astra murmured, her voice gentle but firm as she reached out to steady Vanessa's hand.

Vanessa glanced up at her, her honey-brown eyes heavy with exhaustion but filled with gratitude. "You're going to turn me into a fish at this rate," she teased weakly, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Astra's lips quirked into a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Better a fish than dehydrated," she countered, her tone soft but laced with worry.

Vanessa chuckled lightly but didn't protest, taking another sip before setting the glass down on the counter. Her head drooped slightly, her body leaning against Astra's for support. Astra immediately wrapped an arm around her waist, her touch steadying as she whispered, "Van, do you want to go back to bed? You can barely keep your eyes open."

Vanessa nodded slowly, her head lolling against Astra's shoulder. "Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I need to sleep a bit more."

Astra guided Vanessa back to the bedroom with careful steps, her hand never leaving her girlfriend's waist. Once they reached the bed, Astra helped Vanessa settle under the blankets, tucking them snugly around her. Vanessa sighed softly, her body sinking into the mattress as her eyes fluttered shut.

But just as Astra was about to sit beside her, Vanessa's phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, breaking the fragile quiet. Vanessa groaned softly, her brow furrowing as she turned her head toward the sound. Astra shot her a sympathetic glance before picking up the still-ringing phone and passing it to her.

"Here," Astra said gently, not bothering to check who was calling.

Vanessa glanced at Astra, a flicker of annoyance crossing her features. She opened her mouth, likely to protest that she didn't want to talk to anyone, but the words died on her lips when she looked at the screen. Her expression shifted instantly, her honey-brown eyes widening as she turned the phone toward Astra, revealing the caller ID.

Vanessa's mother.

Astra's jaw dropped slightly, her gaze darting to the clock on her own phone, which she had kept close in case of emergencies. The time read nearly 2 p.m. Realization hit her like a wave, Vanessa was late for lunch with her parents. The missed calls and unread messages on Vanessa's phone only added to the urgency. Astra could see the tension building in Vanessa's posture as she scrolled through the notifications, her fingers hovering over the screen.

"You need to call them back," Astra said firmly, her voice cutting through the rising panic in the room. "Tell them you're going to be late. You're in no condition to drive, Van."

Vanessa was already typing out a response, her brows knitting together as she scanned the messages. Her mother's words stood out: "torna per l'una e chiedi ad Astra se vuole unirsi a noi per pranzo."

Vanessa's fingers paused over the keyboard as she reread the message, a small frown tugging at her lips. She glanced up at Astra, her voice tentative. "My mom wants you to come for lunch," she said quietly, holding the phone out for Astra to see.

Astra blinked in surprise, her green eyes scanning the message before flicking back to Vanessa. "Me?" she asked, her voice soft but filled with curiosity.

Vanessa nodded, her expression a mix of exhaustion and uncertainty. "Yeah. You don't have to if you're not up for it," she added quickly, her tone almost apologetic.