Crossing Destinies (A Pretender Story) #Wattys2019 #Wattys2021

Chapter V: Andante Amoroso Part 1

Chapter V: Andante Amoroso Part 1

Satuday, June 15th, 07.20 a.m.

The sun seeping through the window, which curtain he had forgotten to close the night before, awakened Jarod. It was just after dawn, and he saw the bright sky above the Irish garden.

He turned his head to look at Erin; during the night, the young woman had turned toward him and placed her head on his shoulder, while their hands were still interlaced, resting between their bodies. A long dark strand of hair had fallen on her face; there was no sign anymore of the bitter tears she had shed the night before.

Gently, Jarod pulled back the lock from her face. Erin opened her eyes, coming suddenly out of her sleep without a flinch, and looked at him; her expression bore no surprise, because she had perceived his presence all night long, solid and reassuring, even as she was sleeping.

"Good morning", she whispered, faintly smiling at him, in an almost apologizing tone.

"Good morning", Jarod said, returning her smile, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks to you", she answered, "I'm sorry that I dropped my issues on you", she added then, feeling ashamed.

Jarod used one hand to cup her cheek:

"Never mind. Friends are there for this, aren't they? And anyway, it's me the one who has to thank you: I can't tell you how much your trust means to me."

Erin covered his hand with hers, turned her face and kissed his fingers in a grateful gesture completely free of sexual meanings: at this very moment, they weren't a man and a woman, but just two human beings sharing a very rare and precious spiritual union.

Then Erin smiled, with a smile that reached her eyes and made them shine like stars, and caressed his cheek; eventually, she sat up, flinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The moment of intense emotion had passed, but would always remain in their hearts and souls, making them special to each other for all their life, whatever might happen.

"I go and do a bit of tai chi", Erin announced, getting up and looking for her shoes. Jarod got up, too, and picked up his shoes to put them on.

"Can I come with you?" he asked with an expecting expression. She flashed him one of those smiles of hers, as bright as the sun, which thrilled him so much, and nodded.

They went over the lessons of the last two weeks, during which Jarod had finished one form and begun another. Their soft, almost dreamy movements seemed to have nothing to do with martial arts, but in one second, they could become a lethal weapon, as Jarod knew well, for the slowness with which every move is performed demands a great psychophysical control, which takes to perfection: those same movements, performed on speed, become irresistible.

After about forty-five minutes, they stopped, and Jarod realised he felt full of energy. Indeed tai chi means supreme energy, and in China it is practiced early in the mornings before going at work, in parks and squares, people performing together, in more or less large groups, those harmonious movements.

"I'm starving", Erin confessed.

"Don't tell me!" he agreed, "Full breakfast?"

"Yeah, but Italian style", she said, and at his puzzled glance she explained, "Bread, butter and jam, and we'll drink cappuccino."

The last word was in Italian, but Jarod knew it: it meant a hot smooth milk with espresso coffee.

"That's fine", he said, smirking at her, "but can I take a shower, before?"