FAITHFUL TO YOU
CHAPTER 1: I HAD ONE NEW MESSAGE
I entered my house, my empty house, in haste, eager to escape everything I had left behind me for the night, fearing it would all reach me should I not be fast enough to lock the door behind my shoulders.
I sighed, leaning against the hard length of the walls of my apartment. God, I had been so stupid! I should have known it would have ended like that, should have know that all I would be thinking about would be him.
What had possessed me to give the guy a chance? Sure, he was good looking, and I was flattered to think he'd want to go out with me. I had accepted because I needed something positive in my life, especially at that point in my life. I missed him, so I decided to go on a date with another guy. Really, really smart, Bonasera.
My eyes traveled fast through my dimly lit apartment, immediately finding what deep down I knew I was really looking for. My laptop, perched on the kitchen table. I smiled, that always made me think of him.
Striding over there, I snapped it open, it was never turned off lately. I had one new message. Of course I had, he had never failed to send me at least one email since… I had to stop myself there, I couldn't think about the day fate made him leave me, I was not strong enough. Sitting on the chair in front of the electrical device, I opened the virtual letter.
My dearest Stella (my heart still fluttered at what had come to be his usual greeting),
I hope my email finds you well. I am perfectly aware of the fact that we "talked" yesterday, but it's just not the same. Not being able to see you on a daily basis is… I don't even know how to describe it. It's like living, or rather trying to live, someone else's life. Am I making any sense?
Perfect sense, I knew exactly what he meant… the truth was, before then he had never voiced such thoughts… and then, there they were, his feelings open for me to read, literally. It was so unusual for him… maybe the long separation from his team had started to take its toll on him, just like it had happened to us all.
Anyway, tonight I bring you good news (well, it is for me): I'm coming home. Finally, Stella, I'm coming home!
I yelped in surprise and secret, well, not so secret, pleasure. He was coming home! For weeks I had dreamed of reading those lines, and finally there they were! I couldn't help the joy that permeated my chest, the butterflies that took residence inside my stomach. I would see him again!
We will be able to talk to each other face to face, not via email… I hate this stuff, it's too impersonal. I must warn you, though, you might find that my appearance has changed; for one, I have gained some weight. I hope that won't trouble you much…
He was concerned about his appearance? Who cared! As long as he was there by her side…
That's all for now, I'm still not sure when I'll come back to New York exactly, but I'll let you know once I sort that out.
Take care.
Mac
I sighed, typed a few words of reply and closed the laptop. Such intense emotions seemed to have dried me completely of my strength. Without Mac by my side, I felt weak. I had tried with all my might not to let it show, but the guys knew, and understood, and supported me, thank God. No teasing, no jokes about me taking possession of his office, of his stuff, and now that I thought about it, no mention whatsoever of what had happened to him.
I dragged my tired body to the bedroom, not really finding it in me to shed my clothes and dress for the night. I let my limbs hit the mattress, hiding my face on the pillow. Right then, I wanted nothing more than forget that awful day.
Stella fell asleep, still in her work clothes. She barely had the time to realize how wise her decision to leave that prick at the bar had been, that otherwise she would have missed Mac' precious message, before succumbing to sleep.
Sleep had not come easily for her since Mac's departure. That was why she had literally collapsed on her bed, and why she had the following morning off: she had a lot of backlog sleep to catch up.
But why would that night be any different from the previous ones? Why would nightmares not plague her that day?
They would.
They did.