Chapter 26Rome, the near future
Eternal City, city of immortal longings, Alex thought as he plied the Spanish Steps on his daily run in preparation for the Italian Open. With the exception of Paris—and New York, of course—was there ever a more magical place in spring? The art, the music, the food—most of which he had to be careful to avoid, well, maybe just a little pasta—he wanted to burn every sensation, every experience into memory. He had never felt so aware, so alive, so afraid of losing that life. Was that why he felt so afraid to be lonely?
He had read once that loneliness was a kind of disease that could rob you of years. He had friends, of course. He had family. But to whom did he really belong? Everyone he knew had a unit. Where was his unit now that his mother was dead? She wa
