Finding Home

Chapter 11: New Beginnings

Lorenzo opened his eyes, and the first thing he thought of was Isabel's story. He had barely slept last night, tossing and turning, his mind going back to her confession of depression and feelings of unworthiness. It broke his heart to see someone so young and full of potential struggling so much.

But at the same time, he was grateful that she had opened up to him. He felt privileged that she had trusted him enough to share such personal details of her life. It made him feel closer to her in a way, like they had been through something together.

He knew he needed to help her, but he wasn't sure how. Slowly, he left her bed and started pacing in her room as silently as possible. He had never dealt with someone with depression before. Well, no one besides his mom, but he thought that was something else altogether and, in the end, he didn't want to do something that would make things worse for her. So, he decided to start with research.

Lorenzo spent the morning looking up psychiatrists in Detroit who specialize in depression and anxiety disorders. He read through their bios and looked at their patient reviews, trying to find someone who might be a good fit for Isabel.

He finally found someone who looked promising and decided to send an email. He carefully crafted his message, explaining Isabel's situation and asking if the doctor would be willing to take her case. He hit send and then waited anxiously for a reply.

In the meantime, he decided that he would take small actions every day to help Isabel. He made sure to check in with her more regularly, asking her how she was doing and listening to her concerns. He would try to be a positive influence in her life, encouraging her to pursue her passions and reminding her of her worth for as long as he could.

As it was very early still Lorenzo became energized by the thought of making the morning special for Isabel. He tiptoed to the kitchen, careful not to wake her, and started brewing coffee. The smell of fresh coffee filled the room as he moved around, setting up a small table in the living area with a vase of flowers and a plate of fresh pastries he went to buy as soon as the campus bakery had opened, they were still warm upon his return to Isabel's dorm.

Lorenzo found himself humming a tune, something he hadn't done in a while. He was excited to see Isabel's reaction to the surprise breakfast. As he placed the note on her plate, he read the poem once more, feeling his heart swell with emotion. He meant every word, and he hoped Isabel would feel it too.

He took a step back, admiring his hard work. The sunlight now filled the room, illuminating the flowers and casting a warm glow over the table. Lorenzo smiled, proud of his efforts. He took a sip of coffee and left to get ready for his own classes.

When Isabel finally emerged from her bedroom, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Lorenzo could feel his heart rate increase. She looked beautiful, even with the sleep still evident in her features. He gestured towards the table, the surprise evident on her face as she saw the flowers and the note. She read the poem, her expression softening as she finished the last line.

Isabel wakes up feeling groggy from her restless night, her eyes still adjusting to the light streaming in from the window. She yawns and stretches, reaching for her phone to check the time. As she looks at the screen, she realizes that Lorenzo is nowhere to be found. Panic begins to set in as she calls out his name, but there is no answer. She searches the apartment, looking for any sign of him, but he is nowhere to be seen.

As she starts to give up hope, she catches a whiff of something sweet coming from the kitchen. Curiosity getting the best of her, she makes her way to the kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest. And there, on the small table in the living room, she saw the most beautiful sight. There is a fresh cup of coffee, a plate of fresh breakfast, and a bouquet of her favorite flowers.

Tears begin to stream down her face as she realizes that Lorenzo must have gone out early to get everything ready for her. As she approaches the table, she notices a small piece of paper with a poem written on it. She reads it slowly, feeling the weight of each word.

Good morning, my dear Isabel,

May the day ahead be bright and swell,

May the sun shine on your path,

And bring you joy that forever lasts.

You are the best thing that ever happened to me,

I love you more than you can see,

Your strength and courage inspire me,

And your beautiful soul fills me with glee.

As we continue our journey together,

I promise to cherish and love you forever,

I'll stand by your side through thick and thin,

And help you find the light within.

So go ahead and conquer the day,

With a smile on your face and a heart full of play,

For you are amazing, brave and true,

And the world is lucky to have someone like you.

Ti amo, mia dolce Isabel.

Per sempre tuo, Lorenzo!

The emotion in Lorenzo's words made her feel loved and cherished in a way she had never felt before.

Isabel sat down at the table and enjoyed her breakfast, savoring each bite and feeling grateful for the love and care that Lorenzo had shown her. She realizes that he is the best thing that ever happened to her and that she must do everything in her power to be happy. For the first time, she realizes that she deserves to be happy.

As she leaves for her classes, Isabel knows that opening up to Lorenzo was the best decision she had ever made. She is ready to face her demons and begin the journey towards healing, with Lorenzo by her side every step of the way.

Isabel spotted Lorenzo from afar and quickly made her way towards him, her heart pounding with excitement. She snuck up behind him and covered his eyes with her hands, her voice in a playful Italian accent as she said, "Indovina chi è?"

Lorenzo chuckled at her terrible accent and turned around, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Certo che sei tu, il mio unico amore!" he replied, pulling her into a warm embrace.

Isabel smiled up at him, feeling a rush of affection for the man she loved. They stood there for a moment, enjoying the comfort of each other's embrace, before finally pulling away.

"So, what brings you here today?" Lorenzo asked, his dark eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Isabel shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "I just wanted to surprise you," she said, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

Lorenzo chuckled and shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "Well, you definitely succeeded," he said, his voice soft and warm.

Isabel's face lit up with a smile. "Thank you so much, for last night and especially for this morning" she said, her eyes full of gratitude.

Lorenzo smiled back at her, feeling his heart swell with happiness at her appreciation. "You don't have to thank me, bella," he replied, using the Italian endearment that always made Isabel's heart flutter. "Just seeing you happy is all the thanks I need."

Isabel's eyes sparkled with mischief as she raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Well, I'll just have to find a way to repay you later," she said with a wink, causing Lorenzo to laugh and pull her into a kiss.

Before Lorenzo could reply, she heard someone making a fake coughing sound from behind her. She quickly realized that Marco had been there the whole time, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Lorenzo and Marco both laughed at her reaction, and she could feel her face turning redder by the second. "I-I didn't realize you were here," she stammered.

Marco finally took pity on her and jumped into the conversation, steering it away from her embarrassment. They discussed their plans for the day.

"Hey Isabel, what's up?" he said, still with a grin on his face.

Isabel and Lorenzo broke apart, still smiling, and welcomed Marco with open arms. They chatted and laughed, teasing each other with inside jokes and light banter. Eventually, the conversation turned to what they should do with their day.

Marco suggested they go to a carnival that was happening in town, and Lorenzo's eyes lit up with excitement.

"That's a fantastic idea!" he exclaimed, turning to Isabel. "What do you think, Cara?"

Isabel hesitated, thinking about the final exams she had coming up. "I don't know, Lorenzo. I really need to study and-"

Lorenzo interrupted her gently. "I know, I know. But think about it, Isabel. This is our last few days together before you go home. We should make the most of it, don't you think?"

Isabel looked into Lorenzo's eyes, seeing the earnestness and love in his gaze. She couldn't resist. "Alright, you won,'' she said with a smile. As always, she thought but did not say it. In the end, she was more than happy to be with them. "Let's go to the carnival."

Isabel, Marco and Lorenzo arrived at the carnival in high spirits, the sun was shining and the atmosphere was electric. They could hear the sound of children laughing, the smell of cotton candy and popcorn wafting in the air, and the sight of colorful rides towering over them.

They started by taking a ride on the Ferris wheel, the three of them in one cabin, admiring the view from the top as they could see the entire carnival spread out before them. They took turns pointing out the different rides they wanted to go.

"I don't know, guys. The roller coaster looks too intense for me," Isabel said.

"I'm up for anything," Lorenzo replied, grinning.

"I say we try the bumper cars," Marco suggested.

Isabel shook her head. "No, we did that already. How about we settle this with rock, paper, scissors?"

Lorenzo and Marco looked at each other, shook their heads but shrugged. "Sure, let's do it," Lorenzo said.

They each put their fists out and counted down, "Rock, paper, scissors!" Isabel threw out paper, while Lorenzo and Marco both threw out rock.

"Looks like Isabel wins. What's your pick?" Marco asked.

Isabel smiled mischievously. "Let's do the haunted house."

Lorenzo chuckled. "You sure you want to do that? You might get too scared."

Isabel rolled her eyes. "I'm not scared. I bet I'll be the bravest one there."

As they made their way to the haunted house ride, Isabel’s excitement grew. She loved the thrill of being scared and couldn't wait to see what was in store for them. The ride was filled with twists and turns, jump scares and loud noises, but they all made it out unscathed, laughing and out of breath.

Next, they headed to the shooting range. Lorenzo and Marco were convinced they could win the grand prize and started taking shots at the targets. However, Isabel surprised them both by winning every single shot. They were amazed and couldn't believe that Isabel had such sharp shooting skills. Isabel just shrugged and smiled.

As they walked away from the shooting range, Marco shook his head in disbelief. "Isabel, you never cease to amaze me. How come you never told us about your shooting skills before?"

Isabel chuckled. "It just never came up in conversation, I guess. Plus, it's been a while since I've shot anything, so I wasn't sure if I still had it."

Lorenzo looked at her with admiration. "Well, you definitely still have it. I'm impressed."

Isabel blushed. "Thanks, Lorenzo. I guess I have my dad to thank for that."

Marco raised an eyebrow. "Your dad taught you how to shoot?"

Isabel nodded. "Yeah, before he remarried he used to take me hunting every summer since I was really small. He thought it was important for me to learn how to survive and fend for myself, should I need to, in addition to how to handle a gun safely and responsibly." Isabel remembered fondly. ''Of course all of this was hidden from my very nature lover grandma, it was our secret.''

Lorenzo looked at her with concern. "I hope he taught you to never use a gun unless it's absolutely necessary."

Isabel nodded. "Of course, Lorenzo. My dad always stressed the importance of only using a gun for self-defense or in a life-threatening situation. I would never use a gun unless I absolutely had to."

Marco patted her on the back. "Well, you certainly proved your skills today. Maybe we should start calling you 'Sharpshooter Isabel' from now on."

Isabel laughed. "I don't know about that, Marco. I think I'll stick to my regular name."

After a few more rides, they decided to take a break and get some snacks. They indulged in some cotton candy, churros, and a hot dog each. Isabel was having the time of her life, and she couldn't have been happier to spend her last few days in Padua with her two closest friends.

As they were finishing up their snacks, they spotted a ride that looked like a giant swing. Marco suggested they go on with it, and they all agreed. The ride went higher and higher until they were almost parallel to the ground. Isabel screamed in delight as the wind rushed past her face. They felt like they were flying, and for a few moments, they were lost in the moment, free from any worry or stress.

As the carnival started to wind down, they made their way to the exit. Isabel couldn't stop smiling and was feeling grateful for the fun-filled day they had just experienced. They all agreed that it was a day they would never forget, and they made plans to come back to the carnival the next time they were all together.

As they walked away from the carnival, Marco's phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and quickly looked at the screen, his eyes widening in surprise.

"What is it?" Lorenzo asked, noticing the change in Marco's expression.

Marco hesitated for a moment before replying. "Oh, the email you asked me to tell you as soon as it arrived. It finally came through."

Lorenzo quickly jumped in to change the subject. "Hey, did you guys see that guy on stilts? He was so tall!"

Isabel noticed the strange interaction between the two and raised an eyebrow. "Is everything okay?"

Marco smiled and laughed, playing along. "Yeah, and what about that guy with the big furry hat? He looked like a walking animal!"

Isabel let out a small giggle, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She made a mental note to ask Lorenzo about it later.

As they continued to walk, Isabel tried to push the thought to the back of her mind and enjoy the last moments of their fun day together.