The cave was a small, damp sanctuary, a refuge from the harsh realities of the wilderness. The flickering flames of the fire cast dancing shadows across the rough-hewn walls, creating an illusion of warmth and comfort. I sat beside Alessandro, my eyes fixed on his face, my heart aching.
He was still unconscious, his breathing shallow, his face pale. I had managed to clean and bandage his wounds, but he needed medical attention, and I didn't know how long he could survive without it.
I thought of our past, the stolen moments of intimacy, the whispered confessions, the passionate embraces. I remembered the way he looked at me, his eyes filled with a raw vulnerability, a desperate need for connection.
I remembered the night he told me about his father, the hard man who had taught him every
