Episode 18

Lorenzo: I wake up feeling a bit awkward and go to get dressed. Alice does the same and we meet at the breakfast table. We have breakfast and Theo asks to go to the pool, Alice goes back to her routine and I head to the company. I come back home, have lunch, and drop Theo off at school with Alice. The week goes by smoothly, Theo is sleeping in his own room again and we are getting closer every day. I've been keeping my distance from Alice as much as I can, everything is just so strange. I come home late from work today and find Alice outside in the cold, she has just recovered from the early stages of pneumonia and now she's standing in front of the pool as if she's contemplating whether to jump in or not, this can't be happening. I walk quickly towards her.

Alice: Things have gone back to normal, Lorenzo is fully involved with Theo and everything related to him. Between us, things couldn't be stranger, he avoids me as much as possible and when he's here, he spends time with Theo and then lets me be, I've been spending a lot of time alone in my room. I have fully recovered from the flu and now, without Theo sleeping with me, the emptiness in my chest has opened up again and the pain is so suffocating that I have the terrible idea to jump into the pool, I stand here thinking whether to jump or not. I hear Lorenzo's deep voice behind me, I turn around suddenly and he's right in front of me, I lose my balance, he tries to hold me but we both fall into the pool. It really was a terrible idea, the water is even colder than the filtered cold water.

Lorenzo: I call Alice, she turns around and loses her balance, I try to hold onto her but we both fall into the pool. God, I'm going to kill this woman! Seriously Alice, have you gone crazy?

Alice: I start laughing, my teeth chattering from the cold. It really was a terrible idea.

Lorenzo: You realize that just now? I can't help it and end up smiling with her. I throw my briefcase, phone, and wallet out of the pool. I take off my suit and grab Alice's hand to get her out of this freezing water. I climb out first and offer her my hand. We run to the area where the towels are and I grab several towels to cover Alice, who is shivering from the cold. I quickly rub her arms and dry her hair. She keeps staring at me, serious-faced, and I have no idea what's going through her mind.

Alice: I grab a towel and cover Lorenzo's shoulders, I get too close to him, he holds my hands and blows on them, trying to warm them up with so much care. We are so close that I feel my heart beating fast and strong, the sensation is wonderful, I feel like my heart was asleep and has finally started beating again.

Lorenzo: I notice a tear rolling down Alice's face and I don't understand anything. Are you alright?

Alice: I take Lorenzo's hand and place it on my chest. It's beating... my heart is beating again.

Lorenzo: Alice smiles through her tears and I perfectly understand what she meant. I stare at her for a moment, gently cup her face, and without thinking much, I lean towards her lips.

Security Guard: Is everything alright, Mr. Lorenzo?

Lorenzo: One of the security guards doing rounds must have heard the noise from our fall into the pool, and as soon as he asks if everything is alright, I snap back to reality and immediately move away from Alice. Everything's fine.

Alice: We had a moment, a moment where I even thought Lorenzo was going to kiss me, but one of the security guards arrived just in time and he backed away. I can see him returning to his serious posture, and I even believe it was for the best. I'm sorry, I'll go change. Thank you!

Lorenzo: Alice...

Alice: I know, Mr. Lorenzo, I understand. I say with embarrassment, forcing a smile.

Lorenzo: Alice goes upstairs and I'm lost in my thoughts. I gather all my things and enter the house, go straight to take a hot shower, get dressed, and lay down thinking about what just happened. I felt what Alice told me, the sensation that my heart is still beating, in fact, that I still have a heart. That small woman is going to drive me crazy and her smile is etched in my mind. I have a hard time falling asleep.

Alice: I take a shower, change clothes, open the window, and lie down, thinking about everything that happened. Lorenzo smiling by the pool, the way he looked at me, the almost-happened kiss, and how alive I felt with him after the hardest years of my life. I fall asleep and am awakened by Daniela knocking on the door.

Daniela: Good morning, Alice. Can we talk?

Alice: Of course, come in.

I speak while still sleepy.

Daniela: Today will be a difficult day, I came to give you some time off. You can come back tomorrow at the end of the day, Theo will stay with me.

Alice: I don't understand.

I say completely confused.

Daniela: Today marks two years since Suzi passed away, it's a day that Lorenzo prefers to be alone.

Alice: Alright, thank you. Are you taking Theo now?

Daniela: He already left with Bruno, I just came to let you know.

Alice: Thank you, Daniela.

Daniela says her goodbyes and leaves. I sit there for a while, thinking, and decide to stay in the mansion today. I go downstairs, there are no employees here, so I decide to prepare lunch. I cook the meal and spend hours at the table, waiting for Lorenzo to come out of his office. He doesn't show up, so I prepare a tray of food for him and slowly make my way to the office, fearing what I might find behind that soundproof door, as I have no idea what goes on inside. I knock on the door, afraid.

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