19. Matteo
Matteo
Seven days Later
Idon’t bother knocking this time. I already know she’s doing nothing but lying in her bed.
She hasn’t left it beyond shuffling to the bathroom every now and then throughout the day.
I’m not ashamed to admit that when I hear the flush of the toilet upstairs as I’m working on my coding, my entire body fills with relief.
Taking a steadying breath, I push open the door, tiptoeing in until I see those blue eyes lift. Wide awake, yet no one is home.
Setting the coffee down on the nightstand, I give her a small smile.
“Caramel latte. Your favorite.”
Her eyes slide to the coffee, her lids widening ever so slightly.
“What’s on top?”
“A heart,” I explain, my voice rough.
Her swallow is audible but that isn’t what shocks me. What does is that she moves to sit, her hand reaching for the steaming mug.
“Thank you, Matteo.”
Any shred of hope I felt at seeing a small bit of life leaves me.
I’ve never been so desperate to hear her call me Valenti.