Chapter 16: Old Wounds and Unfinished Conversations
218 Words
The night air clung to Emilia’s skin as she walked beside Luca through the quiet streets of Florence. The distant hum of passing cars and the faint sound of music drifting from a nearby café filled the silence between them. But neither of them spoke.
Luca’s mind was still tangled in the unexpected encounter with Matteo. The way he had looked at Emilia—the lingering pause before he walked away—made something inside Luca coil with unease.
Finally, he stopped, turning to face her. “You never told me about him.”
Emilia let out a small sigh, rubbing her arms. “There wasn’t much to tell.”
His jaw tightened. “He seemed to think otherwise.”
She hesitated, avoiding his gaze. “Matteo was… safe. He was steady. He didn’t ask me to cross oceans or chase impossible dreams.”
Luca exhaled slowly, understanding the weight behind her words. He had been the one who asked her to wait. To believe in something uncertain.
“And did he make you happy?”
Emilia looked down, her fingers tightening into fists. “He made me feel like I could move on.”
Luca swallowed hard. The words hit him like a slow, sinking realization.
She had tried to move on.
And maybe… she had succeeded.
- Writer
