As the first rays of morning painted the cold, grey skies of Washington, D.C., the city was once again preparing to witness history. Harvey deeply felt that this morning, a turning point in his life with the start of the presidential process, was different than usual. This morning, when he would move into the White House, represented not only the passage into a building, but also the passage through the door of a dream, a pressure, a burden, and perhaps a redemption. For him, this journey entailed the weaknesses that come with victory, regrets mixed with hope, and a confrontation with his own soul beyond a name in history.
The bed next to him was cold and empty; the only thing that greeted him when he woke up was the heavy silence in the room. This last morning in the hotel, before he moved to the White House, heralded a beginning and an end for Harvey. As he sat up in bed and put his head in his hands, he felt the weight and uncertainty of being president. He had woken many times during the night, each time with the stern face and accusing gaze of his father-in-law Otis etched in his mind. At that moment, he thought that the night of victory was actually a night of mourning, how heavy the price of everything could be.
He stood up and approached the window, his thoughts drifting back to Otis as he watched the city outside. The sudden death of his father-in-law had shaken him and fuelled Harvey's guilt. On the one hand, he was proud of winning the presidential seat, but on the other hand, the deep pain and regret of facing Otis's death was gnawing at him. It was then that he realised how lonely and cold this morning had actually been; victories had been overshadowed by losses.
Now, as he stood in the hotel room, the only thing that kept going round and round in his mind was Otis's stern and determined face. At every step, in every victory, in every defeat, he remembered that Otis was there.
As Harvey stood in front of the window, he thought about how much Otis wanted this mission for Harvey. How much Otis had fought for him, how much he had risked. Otis had put his life on the line to fulfil his will to lead. And now, in Otis' absence, Harvey had to carry that burden alone. As Otis's unadulterated faith echoed in Harvey's mind, the loneliness Harvey felt loomed over everything. The taste of victory had turned into bitter disappointment with the loss of his father-in-law. It was as if every moment of success reminded Harvey of Otis, and every celebration of victory was extinguished by Otis' absence.
Harvey looked out of the window for a moment and then turned his eyes to Paula. Her long hair, which had fallen to her shoulders, glowed faintly in the dull morning light. Paula's back was too still to even realise whether Harvey was looking at her or not. Paula stood on the edge of the sofa, her hands resting on her knees with a subtle tremor.
She was silent, as if disconnected from the world. As Harvey looked at her tired face, he once again felt the enormous gulf between them.
This silent, mournful state of hers made Harvey's feeling of loneliness grow even more. He had never felt so alone, even though someone was with him.
Harvey tried to suppress his panic and fear. He was president; the weight of victory was on his shoulders and he had to appear strong to the world. But the storm was quietly growing inside him. He thought of how high Otis had raised him, what a powerful legacy he had left. But at the same time, the weight of that legacy was weighing heavily on Harvey's shoulders. "You've got to make it."he said to himself, but even that was not enough to calm him. He tried to swallow, but his throat was knotted. He was doing his best not to let anyone see the intense pressure inside him; the cold, determined expression on his face was his shield.
No matter how strong he tried to look, Harvey's deep anxiety was evident in his every move. He felt his hands trembling slightly, but he closed them tightly to control the trembling. He couldn't feel comfortable around Paula; everything was an illusion, a mask. He closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment on just breathing. But Otis's face kept appearing in her mind. Like a ghost, he was looking at her every moment, in every corner.
Paula was the first to break the silence. Her voice was tired and distant, the words careful and cautious, as if each one had been carefully chosen and chiselled.
"Are you ready?" Paula said, her voice almost a whisper, but it echoed in the emptiness of the room. Harvey felt the emotional weight behind the question, not just for the presidency, but for the course of their entire lives.
"I'm ready." Harvey said, but his voice did not sound as confident as Paula's. This 'readiness' was not only a response to the hurried rush of the morning, but also Harvey's attempt to suppress his own inner turmoil. He took a deep breath, as if this breath was necessary to suppress all his indecisions, all his fears.
Paula responded to Harvey's answer with a nod, but there was no emotion or expression on her face. She stared off into space, staring at something that wasn't there, as if the person she was talking to was there. Harvey tried to make sense of Paula's dull state, but understanding had become a very distant concept to them lately.
"Paula..." Harvey said, but he didn't know how to finish his sentence. There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words could not fall from his lips. Each of them stood in front of him like an obstacle, a barrier.
Paula, sensing the hesitation in his voice, turned to him, a sadness, a frustration in her eyes. As she watched Harvey struggle to speak, a slight reproach appeared on his face. But this reproach was neither anger nor resentment; it was only emptiness, only the crumbs of an exhausted hope.
"What do you want to say, Harvey?" asked Paula. Her voice did not sound with curiosity, but rather with a kind of resignation. As if she knew that no matter what he said, nothing would change.
Harvey was crushed under the weight of this question. He wanted to pull himself together and say something, but the knot inside him was unresolvable. When his eyes met Paula's, what he saw there affected him deeply. When Paula looked at him, she did not look at him with love or admiration as before, but with distance and indifference, as if she was looking at an acquaintance.
"Nothing," Harvey finally said, his voice dull and reluctant. "I just... wanted you to know..." but he couldn't finish his sentence once more. Faced with Paula's expressionless face, the words lost their meaning.
Paula stared at Harvey for a while, a slight mist in her eyes betraying her inner turmoil. But she had no intention of sharing this confusion or talking about it. She took a few steps and sat on the edge of the bed, averting her eyes from Harvey.
"Have you eaten anything this morning?" Paula asked, abruptly changing the subject, acting as if everything was just going through the motions of an ordinary day. The indifference behind that question hit Harvey like a cold wall.
"I had some coffee." Harvey replied succinctly. This simple conversation had widened the distance between them, the words had become an obligation, a formality.
Paula nodded her head slightly at this answer, but her eyes were still fixed on the window, far away. Maybe she wanted to say something, but it was not easy for Paula to pick and choose words like Harvey.
Paula took a deep breath and turned to Harvey. The dullness in his eyes was replaced by a subtle break for a moment. It was as if at that moment, the accumulation of years, the weight of unspoken words, suddenly came to the surface. However, this break disappeared again with Paula's quick averting of her eyes.
"Today... is a very important day," Paula said firmly, her voice unshakable. "For you, for the country..." But to Harvey these words did not sound like praise or support, but merely an acknowledgement of a fact.
"I know," Harvey said, his voice more hoarse than Paula's. He forced himself to conceal the anxiety, fear and loneliness building inside him. "I know," he repeated, a little more quietly this time.
Paula stood up from Harvey, her face expressionless again. "You're going to be all right," she said, as if that sentence was both a hope and an imperative. When she looked back at Harvey, there was a slight softening in her gaze, but even that was short-lived. The emotional wall between them had gone beyond words and had become an untouchable barrier.
ð“ƒ
As Harvey and Paula walked out of the heavy bronze doors of the hotel, a cold wind hit them in the face. Even in the early hours of the morning, when the streets were not yet awake, their presence had suddenly filled the air around them with electricity. Flashbulbs exploded in bursts, immortalising every moment, briefly blinding Harvey's eyes. The paparazzi pursued them like ghosts with an appetite, a click with every step, a question with every breath. Paula clung tightly to Harvey's arm, not so much in search of support, but in order not to fall.
As they drove on, the crowd parted like a sea, and for a moment in the confusion, Harvey felt everyone staring at him, holding their breath, an unbearable weight on his shoulders.
When they got into their car, the driver moved with a heavy caution, as if every turn was a tribute to this special moment in history. All the way, Harvey's heart was boiling; he thought about what he had achieved, what it meant to sit in this chair, what it all meant at the end of this giant step. But just behind these thoughts, the empty seat of his father-in-law sat like an ox on Harvey's chest. Otis's face loomed like a ghost in his mind, overshadowing Harvey's proudest moment.
Harvey's heart raced; this was not just a building, but a symbol of might, a dream, and a war.
As they approached the White House, the elegant silhouette of the historic building, with its extensive gardens, became visible behind a high wall. The vast green space around the palace, with its winter-fruited trees and quivering shrubs, seemed like a silent belt isolating this historic building from the modern world. The elegant columns of the White House shone impressively even in the cold weather; the building's historic depth and splendour were evident from every angle.
The White House felt like a real living thing to him: a creature that breathes, looks, remembers everything. Behind its doors lay thousands of secrets, hundreds of battles and countless victories. Harvey heaved a deep sigh. Walking through the doors of this place was not just a change of mission, but a transformation of identity.
The former president and former first lady greeted them at the door. The former president stood with the weariness of years but also the weight of experience. The former first lady greeted Harvey and Paula in an elegant gown and with deep courtesy.
The former president walked towards Harvey with an expression of wisdom, the look of experience etched on his face. For a brief moment they both found a quiet understanding in each other's eyes. The burden of years in politics, election nights, tough negotiations, deals, all of it seemed summarised in that look. When the two men shook hands, it was not just a formality, but a transfer of power and responsibility.
"Welcome, Mr and Mrs Specter," said the former president, his voice soft but authoritative. "Mr Specter, this is your day. Are you ready?"
Harvey did not answer this question immediately. His thoughts travelled through the wrinkles on the former president's face, seeing there the traces of his experiences. For a moment, he wondered how he would see his own face in this mirror years later. Without taking his eyes off the former president's eyes, he smiled slightly.
"Yes, I'm ready," he said, his voice perhaps unexpectedly confident. But the word was a comfort as he tried to suppress his inner contradictions and fears.
The former president greeted Harvey's answer with an approving nod, then invited him into the building.
"Today is a big day and we want everything to go perfectly," he said as he walked inside.
Harvey tried to control the emotions echoing in his heart as he walked beside the former president.
"Thank you. I'm sure all preparations are in order." he replied. The slight tremor in his voice was an indication that he was trying to avoid expressing his inner stress.
In the former president's eyes, there was the weight of a legacy being passed on. "This place is yours now," he seemed to say, "the stories these walls carry will grow with you."
"You will never forget this moment." the former president said, touching Harvey's shoulder lightly.
As Harvey felt the weight of these words, he experienced a deep inner fluctuation. This summit, which he had climbed for years, seemed to him only a beginning.
As if there were still many steps to climb, countless obstacles to overcome.
But here he was.
He was standing between these pillars, in the heart of the White House.
He had made it.
The marble floor beneath Harvey's feet was cold and smooth, as if it bore the imprint of decades. A large crystal chandelier hung elegantly in the centre of the corridor, like a time capsule, carrying the glow of the past into the future. The light of the chandelier shone like a starry sky on the marble floor, while huge mirrors diffused the light to every corner of the room. This hall was a place that hid the accumulated memories of hundreds of years, a place composed not only of walls but also of the density of experiences. At every step, the dust of history was breathed in; every corner seemed to hide the shadows of former presidents.
Walking through the wide corridors, velvet carpets and historical paintings on the walls, Harvey felt the heavy atmosphere of the presidential office more deeply with every step. Every corner, every room seemed to whisper a secret, a story. As the former president walked past the portraits hanging on the walls, he briefly explained the stories behind each one, the footsteps of past presidents.
"Here is the portrait of Jefferson," the former president said, pointing to a painting. "And here is the corner where Roosevelt often sat... This is where you will make history, Harvey. You will feel the past every step of the way."
As Harvey listened to what the former president was telling him, the wave of excitement and anxiety inside him was growing with each passing second. This building was not just a residence, but a symbol of strength, hope, and sometimes disappointment.
Harvey's eyes fell on the huge portraits on the wall. From George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, each portrait was a silent witness to the evolution of the nation, its triumphs, tragedies, sorrows and hopes. "These walls remember everything," the former president told Harvey.
"Every step, every whisper, every decision echoed off these walls." Harvey nodded silently. In this room, he thought that his own portrait would one day be in this gallery. Their own shadows would be part of this room, their own decisions would echo in these corridors.
Another room they visited was the Red Room, named after the intense red tones that adorned its walls and furniture. Dark red curtains hung elegantly from beneath the gold-embroidered ceiling, adding a noble atmosphere to the room. National holidays, special invitations and important meetings were held here. Harvey felt the intensity of this room's energy. It was as if red was not just a colour, but a warning; every step, every decision, carried a heavy responsibility.
The former first lady turned to Paula and said, "This room is a kind of sanctuary for the first ladies.
"They sit here and think, and sometimes they get away from the world for a moment."
As Paula looked around the room, she tried to conceal the anxiety that filled her. The calm red of this room gave her a moment's peace.
The inside of the White House was like a labyrinth for Harvey, a place where he could get lost, not only physically but also emotionally. Every room, every corner hid the stories of presidents. Walking down a wide corridor, Harvey was struck by the huge American flag hanging from the ceiling. This flag was not only a symbol of a nation, but also a symbol of weight, responsibility and promise. As Harvey passed under the flag, he felt once again that this burden was now on his shoulders.
When they reached the Oval Office, Harvey took a deep breath. Here he would sit, make his decisions and lead the country. As the former president opened the door to the office, the power of the stillness inside stopped Harvey for a moment. The room was filled with daylight filtering through the large windows, the sun beating softly on the desk, illuminating the huge bookcases and the large carpet. The unique form of the Oval Office gave the impression of being at the centre of the world. The former president stood in the centre of the room, took a deep breath and turned to Harvey.
"Here you will listen not only to your thoughts but also to your conscience," he said. "This room is not only a centre of power, but also a scale of conscience."
Harvey stood in the centre of the office, his eyes fixed on the windows. The White House gardens, the vast green spaces, and the towering silhouette of the Washington Monument beyond made him feel as if the eyes of the nation were upon him. The silence inside the office magnified Harvey's thoughts. He knew he had succeeded, but it was a success that came with a loss at every step.
When the former president and first lady took Harvey and Paula to the top floor of the White House, to the private residence, Paula felt a little more relaxed. The residence had a warmer, more intimate atmosphere, far removed from the formal atmosphere of the White House. Nevertheless, there were echoes of history behind these walls. "This will be your home," the former first lady said, smiling at Paula.
"But remember, these walls have a soul too."
At the end of the trip, Harvey realised once again that the White House is not just a home or an office, but the heart of a nation. Every wall, every room, every corridor, everything had a meaning within this great structure.
ð“ƒ
The slowness of the footsteps echoing through the corridors carried the weight of the moment. Paula was having tea with the former first lady in the drawing room when Harvey was suddenly alone. The former president had hurried back to the Oval Office to make a phone call; even national affairs did not pause for a moment on such a historic day. This unexpected solitude created a void inside Harvey. Being alone in the vast halls of the White House meant facing the silence that echoed in every corner of the building. But it was also an opportunity, a hidden opportunity.
Harvey's footsteps echoed on the marble floor as he made his way through the corridors in silent observation of the paintings on the walls. The eyes of the security team, waiting for this moment with great seriousness and secrecy, were hidden in the shadows. Watching him was part of the routine of a president whose every step was calculated, like a film in which every second was recorded. But that morning, at that moment, something out of the routine was happening. At the end of the corridor, right next to an unused utility room, Harvey's security team was in an unprecedented state of readiness.
In perfect synchronisation, several security guards led Donna into the White House. This was no ordinary entrance; it was as if they were carrying one of the greatest secrets these walls had ever seen. Donna approached Harvey with heavy steps, even hearing her heart beating. She had been sneaked in through the back doors and kept out of sight.
Two attendants were waiting at the head of the corridor, with the feeling that someone might enter at any moment. The shadows had drawn a veil over this secret meeting, and Donna's presence was almost lost in the huge shadow of the palace.
Harvey was waiting at the end of the corridor. When he saw Donna coming, he gasped. Under the heavy atmosphere of the White House, meeting her was at once impossible and more real than anything else. For a moment, they both seemed to forget the rules of this great game; they just wanted to get lost in the moment. Harvey's security team stood silent vigil outside the door, determined not to let anyone disturb this secret meeting. But the risk was great; at any moment someone could burst into the corridor, at any moment someone's eyes could drift to this forbidden meeting.
They met in one of the back corridors of the White House, in a room usually never seen by guests and used only by security and staff. It was a small, cramped space, not unlike a large utility room, with a few cupboards, cleaning supplies and a dusty corner lit by a faded yellow light bulb that had never been extinguished. At that moment, this cramped space seemed like the safest refuge on earth.
The tension between Harvey and Donna crackled like dry leaves waiting for a spark to explode. The moment their eyes met, the air seemed to fill with electricity, a circle surrounding them. Time stopped for a moment. Donna's warm breath was like a delicate wind falling on Harvey's lips; a storm that filled the infinite emptiness inside Harvey, reuniting him with life. The distance between them, however small, was as wide as an ocean, as far apart as continents, and both of them were obliged to close this gap, as close as a breath but as far away as a lifetime.
As Harvey reached for Donna, his hands trembled as if he were touching fire. Touching her, feeling that delicate skin, was like finding water for a man who had longed for it for years. When his fingertips lightly touched Donna's cheek, it was as if the entire universe had suddenly stopped. Harvey's heart was beating wildly in his chest, burning a little more, melting a little more with each beat. The fire in Donna's eyes was drawing Harvey in, dragging him deeper and deeper. This was a fire that could not be extinguished; it was a passion that they could not escape, they could not hide, they had no choice but to surrender.
Donna and Harvey, two lost souls with no other way out but to entangle themselves, were drawn to each other as if they had forgotten the forbiddenness of meeting. It was as if their hearts were beating in a single body, and every touch of their lips sounded like the explosion of a star. Within the cold and splendid walls of the White House, their fire was a secret so great that no monarch in history had ever carried it, so sensual that no president had ever uttered it. In Harvey's eyes, the fire of touching Donna was turning into a fire that burned his body; this fire was growing bigger and more uncontrollable every moment.
Harvey's breathing grew deeper as Donna's hands moved softly over Harvey's shoulders. Every breath he inhaled carried Donna's warmth, the scent of her skin. The stirring inside Harvey was transformed into a storm by Donna's presence; when his lips touched Donna, it was as if he forgot all the burdens of the world for a moment. The moment their lips met was like the answer to a call from the deepest parts of two souls. Both of them wanted to get lost in the enormity of this moment; that intensity penetrated into every cell, slowly intoxicating them.
"We only have five minutes." Harvey said.
As those words fell from Harvey's lips, the unbreakable chains of the forbidden bond between them were revived. Donna took a step closer to Harvey, her lips almost touching, yet so far away. Harvey's breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling, trying to suppress the intense desire within him. But Donna's presence was cracking through the strong armour. Everything was so close, Harvey felt her warmth, her skin more than anything else. They both knew this wasn't just a date. This was a volcano on the verge of erupting, a forest fire ignited by a spark.
"Are you ready?" Donna's voice was soft and inviting, like a melody whispering the most beautiful note of a song.
Harvey brought his lips closer to Donna's, his fingertips tangling in her hair. With each touch, each breath, each whisper, the distance between them melted a little more. When her lips touched Donna's, it was an explosion, a flame in which not only their bodies but also their souls merged. In that moment, everything was erased; oaths, protocols, rules... All that remained was them and the indescribable fire they created.
"No." Harvey's words fell from his lips like a lament. The fire of desire within him drove him closer and closer to Donna. The fire in his heart grew and grew, and Donna's presence was the only thing that fed it. When his lips lightly touched Donna's neck, he felt her take a deep breath, a reflection of the unquenchable fire between them. Harvey's hands wrapped around Donna's waist; to have her, to feel her, to live the reality of the moment.
"You know my fixed ideas about these risky dates, but today I felt like I was going to lose my mind if I didn't see you. I had to call you here. If I didn't see you, I couldn't breathe."
Donna looked at him with both understanding and deep sadness in her eyes. "I know," she said slowly.
"I know how dangerous this moment is, but I know I have to be there for you." Donna's voice reawakened all the feelings that had been lost inside Harvey.
This moment was both a refuge and an abyss for both of them, both of them standing on the edge of this abyss, holding on to each other's hands.
"I wish it had been different," Harvey said with a moment of despair.
"I wish we didn't have to meet here, in secret, in the middle of everything."
Donna bowed her head slightly, moving closer to Harvey without letting go of his hand.
"I want to share every moment with you," Harvey said again, his voice shaky and crushed under the weight of his emotions.
Donna took a deep breath and began to speak, her voice steady but full of emotion.
"You are president now. With the power you wield, you can shape your own life. Now you have to be honest with yourself. There is no love between you and her, there hasn't been for years. Paula is not on your side, I am."
Harvey bowed his head slightly, crushed under the weight of Donna's words. He knew she was right. For years his marriage to Paula had been a mere formality, a token union. But it had become even more complicated after the death of Paula's father. The pressure of his position made every decision more difficult.
Donna looked at Harvey's face for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but then he just nodded. She understood, she knew how much Harvey was struggling, how confused he was. But now she also knew her own limitations.
"Anytime, Harvey. But please, don't forget how important this is. I don't want to wait to live my own life. You should want that too."
"I do," Harvey said quickly. "More than anything."
Donna's words had touched that broken spot inside Harvey. He had struggled for years with guilt, fear and indecision. But now, in Donna's presence, he let down that armour of insecurity, if only for a moment. He held her tightly, wanting this fleeting moment to stretch into eternity. His lips lightly touched Donna's hair, inhaling the scent. This was the greatest triumph of her life, the truest feeling.
"I will preserve this moment, Donna. Even if everything changes, I won't forget this moment."
Their time was rapidly running out. A world was waiting outside, ready to tear them away from this dream world. But Harvey would not let go of Donna, wanting to steal even those few seconds with them. When his lips touched Donna's for a moment, all the difficulties in the world disappeared for a moment. That slight tremor on her lips, that delicate warmth on Donna's skin, was beyond everything. The fire inside him was blazing, his desire and love for Donna enveloped his whole being.
"If I could live this moment a thousand more times, I still wouldn't be satisfied. Without you, everything is incomplete," Harvey said.
When their lips met once more, the fire between them ignited. That narrow cabin was filled and overflowed with their passion. Time did not flow for them; every second was worth a lifetime. They both wanted to get lost in this fire, to hold each other, to feel each other's breath. This was not just a meeting; this was a proof of Harvey and Donna's commitment to each other, their passion, their indispensability.
"To be with you... So close, so real... This feeling is stronger than anything else." Donna's words echoed inside Harvey.
When Harvey took a step back from Donna, she still had that flame in her eyes. They had both walked purposefully into this fire, and it was impossible to give it up now. The walls of the White House had witnessed their secret meeting, but even those walls could not contain their passion. In Harvey's mind, the light in Donna's eyes continued to burn. It wasn't just a passion, it was the one thing Harvey had been searching for for years, the one thing he longed for, the one thing that made him complete. With his lips still remembering the taste of Donna, with that unquenchable fire in his heart, Harvey had to return to the world again. But that moment, that fleeting moment, stretched into eternity with him.
"I live this moment, this fire, above everything else. To burn with you is my greatest freedom."
Harvey's voice came out in a hoarse but passionate whisper. For him, Donna was a reality beyond everything, a dream beyond every limit. When his fingers gently touched Donna's hair, he found the peace he had been waiting for. Donna's skin was an ancient map for Harvey; with every touch there was a new treasure, a new secret to discover. When the warmth of Donna's lips touched Harvey's, the unquenchable fire inside them flared up again.
When Harvey's hands wrapped around Donna's waist, all the barriers that separated them evaporated. It wasn't just a touch; it was the desire of two bodies and two souls to come together without ceasing. In Donna's eyes, Harvey found himself. In each other's eyes, on each other's lips, they both found the answer they had been searching for all their lives. The magic of that moment turned every second, every breath into a fragment of eternity.
Harvey moved a little closer to Donna, his eyes locked in hers, his breath melting in hers. When his lips lightly touched Donna's neck, it was as if the whole world fell silent, time stopped. As Donna's hands roamed over Harvey's back, the deep panic inside Harvey gave way to a peace he had never known. This moment may have been only a few seconds, but for Harvey it was worth a lifetime. For him, Donna was a refuge where all the noise of the world was silenced, where only their hearts spoke.
When their lips met again, they embraced each other with a passion more real, more pure than anything or anyone else. In Harvey's mind, Donna's presence became his only reality. They both knew that this was not just a moment, a meeting. This was a destiny beyond all prohibitions, beyond all boundaries, written only by them. In the shadows of the White House, they were both reshaping their destinies. Without letting go of Donna for a moment, Harvey disappeared into her warmth. With each touch, their lips went a little deeper, coming together a little more. This was not just a meeting; this was the brightest, most passionate flame of the fire between them.
In Harvey's mind was the taste of Donna's lips, the warmth of her touch. At that moment, the whole world ceased to matter. Harvey and Donna had created their own world, they had started to burn in their own paradise. And in that heaven, in that fire, there was only them. Everything else was just a shadow, because Harvey and Donna were burning in each other's light, in each other's fire. This was the poetry of a flame that would never go out, of a passion that would never be forgotten.
But reality was harsh enough to pull them out of the fantasy world they were hiding in. Harvey touched Donna's face one last time, his fingers sliding across her cheeks as if frozen right next to her lips.
"I wish this moment could last forever," Harvey said, his voice as light as a whisper, but as deep as the longing and passion within him.
Donna's gaze travelled over Harvey's face, memorising every line, every wrinkle. The darkness in Harvey's eyes was familiar to Donna; she had learnt to get lost in that darkness, to live in that uncertainty. She bit her lip slightly, leaning a little closer to Harvey, as if she wanted to penetrate him.
"I know this world doesn't belong to us," he said, his voice fragile. "But this moment, these few minutes, is more real, more precious than anything else."
Harvey was shaken by Donna's words. Somewhere inside, he knew how fragile everything was. Donna was not just an escape, a refuge for him; she was the greatest contradiction, the greatest passion, the deepest wound Harvey had ever experienced. And this wound was getting deeper and deeper every day, sucking Harvey in a little more every day. Harvey took another step towards Donna; the distance between them almost disappeared, they merged into each other.
"I can't breathe without seeing you. This burden, this pressure... I can't move without you," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a confession. "You're the only thing keeping me alive."
Donna looked into Harvey's face; deep in those eyes, she saw how alone he was. The fragility that lay beneath his seeming strength squeezed Donna's heart like a vice. She wanted to reach him, to not leave him alone in this darkness. But at the same time, she knew the weight of the politics, the weight of the huge worlds involved in Harvey's life. And that weight was pushing them back one step at a time.
Donna took Harvey's hands; his cold hands mingled with her warmth. For a moment, it was as if this union was strong enough to heal their pain, their fear, all their wounds. As Donna held Harvey's hands tightly, the weight of forbidden love that escaped both of their eyes became more and more evident with each second.
"I'm here for you. No matter what, despite everything." she said, her voice shaky but determined. "But you should know, this is just a moment. It will always be like this for us."
Harvey found his own brokenness in every letter, every syllable of Donna's words. He put his lips to Donna's forehead; the touch was a ritual known only to the two of them, free from all the weight, all the worries of the world. Donna's scent was the only peace Harvey inhaled.
"I don't know anything except that I'm here with you right now," he whispered.
Harvey's eyes disappeared into Donna's. This moment was perhaps the thing that held them together the most; no promise of the future, no weight of the past. Just the pure and undying devotion they felt for each other in that moment. And that devotion echoed in every cell of their being; when their lips met one last time, this passion, this forbidden love, would never truly end.
But time was passing faster than ever for them. The sound of footsteps in the corridor reminded them that they had to go back. Harvey looked at Donna one last time; there was an unending longing in his gaze, but also an unending hope. When he let go of Donna's hands, he felt as if he was leaving a piece of his heart behind. But they both knew; this was their story. Forbidden, yet indispensable. And that story was enough to keep them bound together.
"I will always love you," he said, his eyes never leaving Donna's. " Despite everything."
Even though Donna didn't want to leave Harvey's eyes, she knew that this moment had to end. Even though the excitement of this forbidden meeting and the intensity of that moment burned inside her like a fire, she knew it was time to return to reality. When she took a step back from Harvey, the rhythm of her heart was still beating rapidly with the effect of his touch. Realising how much time was running out, she quickly tried to gather her emotions. The sad smile that appeared on Donna's lips made her look at Harvey one last time, a farewell that they both knew but could not articulate.
"I trust you, Harvey," she said, her voice firm but deeply emotional. "Today is a new beginning, for you and for this country."
Harvey felt those deep fears easing for a moment as Donna's words sank into his mind. Donna had always reassured him, had always been a light in his darkest moments. But now, that light seemed to be a challenge for him; the presidency would make him not only a new leader, but a man who would have to hide everything about this love.
Donna squeezed Harvey's hands one last time, turned and headed quickly for the stairs at the end of the corridor. Neither of them wanted to spoil the magic of the moment, so they didn't look back. As she walked through the grand and ornate halls of the White House, she left something of Harvey somewhere inside him. But at that moment, their world would collide with the harsh face of reality outside of this brief meeting that lasted only a few minutes.
When a door at the end of the corridor opened, the security guard escorting Donna hurried her out. The air was cold, but Donna's inner fire was warming everything. She took a deep breath before mingling with the large crowd of guests gathered for the swearing-in ceremony, her eyes quickly trying to find her place in the procession as she thought about Harvey's historic speech at the inauguration.
There was hope in her; perhaps this speech would open a new chapter in his life and give Donna a glimmer of hope.
Meanwhile, instead of watching Donna disappear, Harvey walked the long corridors of the White House. Each step brought him a little closer to reality, each breath a little heavier, the burden on his shoulders a little heavier. Before meeting the former President and the former First Lady again, he stopped for a short moment, took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind; today was the beginning of everything and he knew how difficult this beginning would be.
When he walked through the door of the hall, the former president was waiting for him. As Harvey stepped into the large and majestic room, he felt a strange loneliness in this place where the past and the future merged. The Former President walked towards him, shook his hand and looked into his eyes with a slight smile.
At that moment, the most important thing for him was to fully feel the weight and responsibility of this mission. His eyes trembled slightly; the darkness inside him deepened a little more. He saw Paula in the distance, standing quietly in a corner. Harvey looked away from her, because at that moment, looking at Paula, facing her, was the hardest thing he could do.
Harvey's heart raced as they walked together to the area where the swearing-in ceremony was to take place. When the large doors to the ceremony area opened, the light pouring in dazzled Harvey's eyes. The gazes of hundreds of people were focussed only on him. The crowd sitting in the stands, the flashes of cameras, the sounds of applause... All of them were coming at him at once. Harvey forgot to breathe for a moment in the middle of this huge crowd.
His eyes searched for Donna sitting in the protocol row. When he looked at her, he saw that familiar light in her eyes. They both knew that this moment was just the beginning for them, but it was also the first step on a journey that would require many sacrifices.
Harvey's steps were a little heavier, but just as determined, as he made his way to the podium to take the oath of office. As the crowd erupted in applause, Harvey stepped behind the podium. He gazed ahead, and the old fear, the deep loneliness that had been deep in his heart, vanished for a moment. It was replaced by a vague but hopeful sense of Donna and the future.
As he placed his hands on the Bible, Harvey's eyes locked with Donna's; at that moment, they both felt the same. As Harvey began to take the oath, his voice was strong and resolute, the voice of a man fighting the greatest battle of his life, not just as the leader of a nation, but as a man fighting the greatest battle of his life. At that moment, as the world revolved around them, Harvey had only one thing on his mind: Donna.
When he finished his oath, the applause was deafening. Harvey slowly lowered his hands; he had officially taken over the presidency. As he looked out into the crowd, his eyes found Donna for a moment, and they both knew that no matter how difficult the journey, their love for each other was strong enough to see them through it all.
When Harvey stepped down from the podium, the turmoil inside him had calmed down a little, but still, deep down, that passion for Donna, that forbidden love, still burned. And that fire would always keep Harvey going. Because sometimes, the things that seem the most forbidden, the most wrong, are the things that people need the most.
