Chapter 208

Chapter 208

AUTHOR'S POV

Emilio stood outside the guest house staring at the white roses in his hands. He'd been bringing Allegra flowers every week for the past three months, white roses because they were her favorite, though she'd stopped remembering that a long time ago.

He didn't know why he kept coming. She rarely recognized him anymore and when she did, it was only for minutes before the fog rolled back in and she forgot again. But he couldn't stop himself from showing up, from sitting beside her bed, from talking to her even when she looked at him like a stranger.

He had loved her for years and now she was dying without ever knowing how he felt.

He grabbed the roses and walked inside. The nurse smiled at him with pity in her eyes.

"She's in her room. Having a good day today, actually. She's been awake and talking."

Emilio's chest tightened with something that felt dangerously close to hope. Good days were rare now, precious and fleeting.

He knocked softly on her door before entering. Allegra was sitting by the window dressed in a pale blue robe, her hair brushed and pulled back. She looked almost like herself.

She turned when he entered and her face brightened with recognition that made his heart stop.

"Emilio! You came to visit."

He stood frozen in the doorway because she recognized him and the relief was so intense it hurt.

"I brought you flowers." He held out the roses.

"White roses." She smiled and took them, bringing them to her nose. "My favorite, You remembered."

He sat in the chair across from her and watched her arrange the flowers in the vase on her table. Her hands trembled slightly but her movements were careful.

"How are you feeling today?" He asked.

"Better." She looked at him and her eyes were clear, focused. "I'm having one of my good days. The doctor says I won't have many more of those."

The honesty cut through him. "Don't say that."

"It's true though, isn't it?" She sat back down and folded her hands in her lap. "I can feel myself slipping away. Every day I lose a little more. Soon there won't be anything left."

"Allegra, please."

"I'm not afraid of dying, Emilio but I'm afraid of forgetting completely, of dying without even remembering the face of my son”

Emilio reached across and took her hand. "You're still here.”

"For now." She squeezed his fingers. "But we both know that won't last."

They sat in silence for a moment and he memorized everything about her. The way the afternoon light caught the silver in her hair, the small scar above her left eyebrow from a childhood accident, the gold band she still wore even though she sometimes forgot why.

"Thank you for coming to see me so often. Angelo told me you visit even when I don't remember you."

"Of course I visit and will keep doing so."

"Erasmus used to say you were the best man he knew. He trusted you completely."

Emilio swallowed, "Erasmus was a good man."

"He was. I loved him so much." Tears filled her eyes. "I still love him even though sometimes I can't remember his face, I can still feel the love, so pure and strong.

Emilio's throat closed up and he had to look away.

"I miss him every day." Allegra continued. "Sometimes I wake up and forget he's dead. I reach for him in bed and he's not there and I have to remember all over again that he's gone."

Her breathing was getting labored as the tears poured from her eyes, she was clearly agitated just speaking about Erasmus.

"I'm sorry." He said simply.

“Erasmus…I miss him…he loves me so much but why does he have to die? Why did he leave me alone?”

She stood up and started pacing, her breathe coming in a gasp.

Emilio grabbed her shoulders, “Allegra, calm down please”.

Allegra paused and stared at him, her eyes glazed, she smiled so bright at him, her expression turning into a lovestruck expression and Emilio's heart stopped.

“Erasmus, it's you….I miss you so much”. She cried and Emilio stiffened.

“Allegra, I'm not…”

“Don't you dare say it, why do you keep saying you are not Erasmus? Don't you love me anymore? How can you do this to me?

“Allegra…”

“Tell me that you still love me Erasmus, please say you love me”. She pleaded and Emilio couldn't turn her down.

“I love you Allegra…I love you so much”. He said, meaning every word.

Allegra smiled and wrapped her arms around him, then she rose on a tiptoe and brushed her mouth against his.

Emilio's breath caught, he knew that she was not in her right mind but he couldn't help himself, he kissed her right back.

Guilty finally kicked in, he shouldn't be taking advantage of her like this.

He broke the kiss and set her away from him, his heart twisting inside of him.

“Rest Allegra”. He said simply and quickly dashed out before he did something even more stupid.