As Long as I Breathe...

Chapter 16 - Goodbye

One night, Marco and Lina are enjoying a quiet evening together. They are sitting next to each other, chatting.

Marco: You know, being with you, this is great. Sometimes I think about how we'd be in a normal life... 

Lina: Yeah... me too...I often imagine that...

Marco: Don't worry... We're getting to him. I just need a few more time and we can launch the whole operation, and then... (getting closer to Lina, he brushes a lock of hair from her face and delicately lays a kiss on her cheek) we can start our life together.

Lina: (smiling at him, then she rests her head on his shoulder) Can't wait...

Marco: If we weren't into this, what is it that you would be doing? Got a dream job? Wait, let me guess... A teacher, maybe? Teaching English literature?

Lina: (laughing) Really? Just because I love books and reading, you see me as a teacher? 

Marco: What? You're upset? (teasing her)

Lina: Yeah, pretty much! (she says ironically ) No... I... (sighs) I wanted to be a lawyer!

Marco: Lawyer? Pretty fancy! And why? 

Lina: To fight for justice! Justice serves everyone: The good, the bad, the rich, the poor, people of all races, colors, and religions. Those people are defended equally or SHOULD be, because that's what justice is in the first place: Judging people equally. Justice is a noble power and embodies equality. But when it falls into the wrong hands, it ceases to be... It only serves then personal and political interests! And I wanted to be this new face of justice, real justice as it should be! Defending ALL people! But I guess that'll remain just a dream... (she heavily sighs).

Marco: (turning to her and laying his hands on both of her cheeks) No... it's never too late to become what you wanna be! Soon, you'll pursue that dream of yours! I promise you... You just gotta hold on to it! And what you just said, it's very beautiful! (brushing her cheeks) You never cease to amaze me! Even your dream job is about serving other people! Helping them! Yet, you're so reluctant to let people help you... Lina, you're such an enigma that I'm still trying to solve (he says with a soft voice)

Lina lays her hands on top of Marco's and smiles at him.

Lina: (in a very soft voice) What will I do without you... You're really the best thing that happened to me in all this chaos... you're the one who kept me from falling down, keeping me up on my feet. Somehow, I'm glad I walked into that storehouse or I wouldn't have met you... 

Marco: (in a low husky voice, he whispers to her) and I'm glad I took this undercover case... 

Suddenly, they are interrupted by a loud thud.

Marco: (pulling his hands from Lina) What's that?

They stand up abruptly and approach the shutters. Once in front of the shutters, they are blown away by a blast. There is a cloud of thick smoke, and two men walk in. Marco and Lina are knocked down on the floor, then both slowly get up.

Lina: (holding her head and wincing) What was that? My head is hurting!

Marco: Get behind me!

Lina gets behind Marco; a man approaches him, and they get into a fight. Marco punches him, but the man punches back, and with the help of the other man, both knock down Marco. Lina watches in horror, then she tries to run to Marco, but one of the men pushes her to the ground and pins her hands behind her back. While Marco is defenseless on the floor, the man next to him draws his gun and is about to shoot him when he is interrupted by a voice.