Compassion
Giovanni needed to bandage a cut I caused on his knee.
Dante made a glass of hot milk and some cookies and we got together to watch a comedy movie.
I don't know when I closed my eyes, but I slept soundly until eleven in the morning.
Now I'm entering the room where Dominic is.
I found Lizandra who was tired and said she should go home and rest.
She thanked me and now here I am with red cheeks watching Dominic sleep.
I sit in the armchair next to the bed and look at the devices connected to it.
Relief floods me when I realize he's okay.
“You're going to get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that,” he whispers in a still sleepy voice.
I smile at him who looks at me with a slight smile.
"Are you okay? Were you hurt?" he asks analyzing me.
“I’m fine, it was you who worried me” I say calmly “I thought I was going to die”.
He shakes his head.
"And leave you? No, really" his voice is full of amusement "What about the little girl?"
“She’s with her family, she wasn’t hurt, but she has a lot of therapy sessions ahead of her” I say looking at my hands.
“Thank you for saving me,” he says and I look up to see his.
“You would have done the same, and I'm proud I saved the girl,” I say sincerely.
He reaches out his hand to hold mine and I lay my head on the edge of the bed.
“I love you my angel” he says softly and my heart warms.
I look at him with an interesting feeling in my heart, could this be love?
“I love you” I say and the words feel good, feel right.
I stay with Dominic all day, we talk about school graduation plans and the future.
No matter how much we said loving words to each other, neither of us commented on our future together.
I know we should take some time, see what happens, but I know deep down in my soul that I don't want to be away from him.
The sun is setting when Lizandra enters the room with a suitcase.
“Sorry for the delay,” she says and I reassure her.
“No problem, the day was pleasant and we talked a lot” I say without letting go of his hand.
“That's good” says Lizandra, noticing our approach.
I can tell she's a little nervous and looking for something to do just so she doesn't interrupt us.
“I’m going to talk to the doctor and I’ll be right back,” she says, wanting to leave the room quickly.
Dominic and I laughed about it until he got serious.
“There’s something on your face,” he says and I lean over so he can take it off.
I'm taken by surprise when he kisses me, his lips are soft and gentle, at first I'm surprised, but then the kiss becomes deeper and more anxious.
When we pull away, I'm out of breath and my lips are pulsing.
“Maybe I’ll get better faster now,” he says and I simply agree.
I'm speechless, frozen by the feeling of your mouth on mine.
This was different from the other kisses, it was something more.
"Are you well?" he asks seeing my lack of reaction.
“Y-yes” I stutter finding my voice “It was unexpected, but good.”
He smiles, not like those arrogant kids, but happy because it felt good.
“I'm happy, I've been wanting to do this since you arrived” he says and I pat him on the shoulder.
“You should be focused on your recovery,” I argue with him.
Lizandra enters the room and I straighten up, not wanting her to notice that she's almost on top of Dominic.
“I hope you recover soon,” I say, stepping back. “I’ll try to see you before you leave.”
“If I’m not here, come to my house,” he asks, pouting, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“I’ll do my best,” I say with a smile. “Take care, Lizandra, and thank you again for everything.”
“Thank you, Elena,” she says calmly and affectionately.
I leave the room feeling silly; it was the best kiss I’ve ever received.
I go to the waiting room and don’t find anyone, so I decide to go look for them.
I leave the medical area of the base and stop in the main courtyard.
Lorenzo’s office is at the top of a metal staircase, but that’s not where I’m going.
I know where the cell area is, because that’s where the groans of pain I hear are coming from.
I enter the dark corridor without making much noise.
I walk slowly until I find the cell I want. I see Edgar lying on the floor with his hands bound by long chains. I remember what Dominic said.
He can't hurt me, I'm free, he's not.
"You had a choice, I know you did," I say, and he looks at me.
I see pain in his eyes, but what strikes me is the fear.
He gave in!
"Hello, darling," he says in a hoarse, weak voice.
"My family has taken a dark path, they've gone too far," I say, feeling bad about it. "But you led them to this."
"Do you approve of this?" he stares at me doubtfully. "Today I heard my son's cry of pain."
I disguise my surprise; he doesn't know they were released.
"And my family heard mine," I tell him without feeling anything.
He's just a wretch taking up space in the world, he doesn't deserve my pity.
"Then we're even," he says, shrinking against the wall. I click my tongue and watch him intently.
"I can guarantee you a quick death," I see Edgar look at me in surprise. "I won't kill you, but I'm not a monster, not like you."
"What do you want in return?" he asks, and then I realize how broken he is.
"Tell me why you're so important to Sinclair," I say, proposing a deal. "And only after you confirm that your words are true will I end your family's suffering."
Promising a quick death is more believable than promising freedom.
And coming from me, well, that makes it all the more real.
"I have the coordinates of a warehouse near the mansion they built to hide," Edgar says anxiously.
"Tell me, and I'll confirm the truth," I say firmly.
He says, and I put the numbers on the map; The satellite imagery shows a warehouse with some containers outside.
“Near how near exactly?” I ask, still suspicious.
“A hundred kilometers away, the place is surrounded by woods, but there’s a dirt road that leads to the mansion,” he explains, and I believe him. “Now, please, keep your word.”
Seeing him plead doesn’t bring me the satisfaction I expected.
I take a step back and turn around.
“Elena, please,” he begs, and I clench my hands tightly.
“They were released and sent to Russia yesterday,” I say calmly. “Even if you don’t deserve it, they are safe and free.”
I leave the cells after that feeling a little lighter.