A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

08:33 Wed, Oct 23 GY.

Chapter 41' "Mama

I had

said you haven't ate anything today. | bought your favourite pasta and | thought we could eat together-"

t him off before he could finish talking, "I'm not hungry.

not hungry, Matteo."

"You haven't eaten anything."

"I don't feel hungry."

"You are hungry. You didn't even finish your meal last night,"

I sighed, "Why can't you just letbe?!"

| hadn't realised the tone of my voice was a bit harsh until he leaned back, makingshut my mouth. Our

relationship had

away and been this way ever since we lost Marco and no matter how hard he tried to support me, | kept pushing

him hurting him in the process.

Yet, he tried again and again. He ignored his own feelings for the sake of mine.

| swore to myself | had saw the tears forming in his eyes yet he looked away to hide them, makingfeel more

guilty. My heart wanted to reach out to him, let him holdin his arms and appreciate his comfort but | ended

up doing none of that.

| didn't understand myself either. How could | explain it to him?

"Please letin, Alena." He breathed out, "I know you need tto process all of this but you can't keep

pushingaway. You're grieving but what about me? I'm grieving, too."

My heart felt as if it was being crushed into pieces.

The tears were too much and | had let them fall down my

cheeks. "Matteo.

'You won't letanywhere near you. You won't lethelp you. You won't even letbe there for you. What

am | supposed to do? What am | supposed to say?" He stood up, taking a few steps away fromas he turned

around. Instantly, our eyes met. "He was my son, too." | kept quiet, not uttering a single word.

"I never imagined for this to happen. God knows how much | want to hold him in my arms, every single night.

God knows how much | imagine the three of us," he added.

"You don't need to blme. | know it's

my

fault,"

He frowned, "What?"

"It's my fault he died."

"What makes you say that? None of this is your fault, Alena."

| stood up, taking a few steps towards him. We were standing in front of each other without breaking our eye

contact-l could feel the softness in his gaze yet | knew mine were nowhere near as soft, they were burning with

fire. | was holding myself back from screaming and tearing everything apart. | held back my rage. Ever since the

night Host Marco, | wanted nothing more than to scream.

08:33 Wed, Oct 23 GY.

08.33 Wed,

Chapter 41

As loud and as long as | could. Yet, | held everything inside.

co

3 73%¥ Matteo reached out to grab my hand but | managed to push him away, ignoring his second attempt after

that. | knew | was hurting and breaking his heart by pushing him away; | just couldn't stop myself from putting

the blonand feeling as if nobody could understand.

Out of many people, Matteo was the one who understood the most.

Matteo was right, it was his son as well. It wasn't just my loss but his, too.

He cupped my face, staring into my eyes. "Look at me."

| looked straight into his eyes.

"Leavealone," | breathed.

"No."

"No?"

No. 1

I'm not going anywhere,"

| pushed his hands away from my face, slightly causing him to stumble. As | took a few steps away, | knew better

than to let him be anywhere near me-all of this was only going to cause further arguments in the future. It was

best for us to heal on our own, | didn't have to hurt him. "Hove you, Alena. I'm here with you," he added without

hesitation.

It was hurtful to hear him say that. Not because | had stopped loving him but because | knew deep inside of me,

it was what

| needed to hear. As hard and as much as | tried to push him away, | knew | always needed him here with me.

He cared about me.

He showedhow much he cared.

All | did was ignored his efforts.

I quickly stepped inside and walked down the hallway, ignoring Matteo as he continued to trail behind me. |

could hear him calling out my na few times but | didn't understand what was going on with myself as |

hurried down the stairs, reaching down to the bouquet of flowers on the kitchen island. "Alena?" Mama called

out, stepping in from the living room.

J

| didn't spare a glance before reaching out to the bouquets and threw them on the ground, causing a mess. |

picked them up, throwing them away a few times.

Matteo grabbed a hold of my arms, pullingclose as Mama watched with teary eyes.

"Get these out of the house! | want them out!" | shouted, pointing at the flowers.

"Shh, baby. It's okay, calm down."

"Get away

from me!"

"Alena!" Mama exclaimed, surprised by my actions.

Matteo finally let go of my body and | began to take a few steps away from them. They both watchedas if |

had lost my mind, as if | was overreacting.

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08.33 Wed, Oct

Chapter 41

Mama stood still at her spot tear stains on her cheeks.

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I glanced down at my hands, seeing a few cuts here and there from the thorns. Matteo noticed them and he tried

to reach out but he decided to remain still, afraid if | was going to lash out again.

It was the look on his face that had brokethe most.

The

dark circles under his eyes were obvious and hollow, he seemed as if he hadn't been sleeping for the past few

days. | couldn't tell because whenever | went to bed, he was either in his office or away at work-he chome

late ever since we lost Marco, maybe he needed more ton his own.

Then again, | knew how much he cared. | knew how much he wanted to comfort me.

"Get rid of them, please." | muttered, feeling guilty for my behaviour.

"I'll throw them away, baby. | promise," Matteo replied.

Our eyes never looked away from one another as he slowly made his way towards me. Once we were close

enough, he began to pullin for a hug; his hands wrapped around my body, his chin on top of my head and

his scent engulfing me.

| closed my eyes as | enjoyed the warmth of his body.

What happened to us?

We were always loving, always together, always one.

Inever raised my voice at him and he never did it, too. How did we

end up here?

I had missed his touch, his kisses and his embrace. | had missed everything about Matteo and | dreaded the

distance between us; the distance | had created on my own.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm right here," he whispered.

The rage had left my body.

Yet the guilt remained.

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