r a moment, he didn't know where he was. Then it hit him: the hotel room t

dark hair spread out on the pillow, the sheet barely covering her body. They w

, careful not to wake her. Grabbing his clothes

d leaned against the wall. The water ran down

e hell d

he was manipulative, clever, and always trying to

g real; it was a mistake driven by exhaustion, alcohol, and too many thoug

out, dried himself quick

already awake. She sat up in bed, the sheet

mazing last night..." Elio gave her a dead stare

his watch and phone, and check

ile faded

cold. "Last night was a one-time thi

. "What are

was," he replied, his voice even. "Y

sheet. "So you're just going

d. "You know how I feel. I've sai

t E

it," he said, "I made a mist

ng him he turned and walked toward her and aske

but pretends, "Wh... what

e said, looking at her like h

as a club, Elio. Not

his car key, and he left t

art racing, "oh my God, that wa

at's it; no, I have to find a way; you can't just go scott-free like that, E

start seeing her differently, maybe he would start feeling something for her, just maybe, she held on

s he drove out of the hotel parking lot. The morning sun was already shining too brightly for his tired

someone to talk to. Instead, he took the longer route to the Wilson family mansion.

ore frustrated, the way he let it happen, that was the part that he hated most. Even if something like that should

at She had always been there. Feisty, persistent, and manipulating, but none of it mattered. Because the truth was

on he had become vulnerable; she was the reason he felt empty, and it

this way. It wasn't fair, none of it was, but he just wanted to f

ready to face the truth; he wasn't ready to admit that the only person who

r clicked shut behind him with a dull thud. His face was blank, his eyes dista

a slight bow, holding a tablet in her hands. But Elio didn't respond. He didn't even glance at h

staircase, sipping her morning tea. The moment she saw her son,

he calle

she saw it, the storm behind them. The pain, the regr

teacup down and made her way toward him. "Wha

let out a tired breath

his body. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands loc

stared ahead, like the walls cou

p," he fina

letting him spea

studying him carefully, gently

lk to me. Wh

is voice came low.

htly, not in shock, but

as he needed her to understand. "I was... drunk. No.

serious but calm. "You

thfully. "Maybe I'm just lo

waiting patiently

see last night was Isabella. It wasn't about Maya. It was... was about trying to

is hair gently off his forehead like she

's the one that's been in my head every second, every thought, every night.

standing nod. "You're blamin

ving her, not being able to have her. Seeing her... and knowin

nto his eyes. "That doesn't mean you're not enough.

ore, Mum. I feel... numb," he said, almost whispering. "Toward Isabella... toward every

her... it's real. And real love doesn't vanish overnigh

e couch, exhausted. "I just w

his shoulder. "But feeling means you're still fig

at if I'm done? What if I've given ever

real just because the pain tried to bury it. You haven't stopped fee

mean it?" he

d you of who you were before all this pain: the man who loved fiercely, w

hands. "I don't know w

een fighting this battle alone for years; all this starts because of her; she has been your s

the answers now, his mother's words clung to him like a thread in the dark

ng sun slowly spreading through the room, even as

You've been carrying this alone f

night with Maya all started because of Ella. Because she's

really. But I also do. If she wasn't always so far out of reach... if she

u love her, and that's never been the problem. The world around both