Inside, I found Zane on his knees, his hands obscuring his face as he wept.He was no longer the harsh,badguy I had first encountered or the violent individual from the other night; he was just a boy crushed by the weight of emotions that life had thrust upon him too soon.
Lacking the strength and understanding to cope, he was emotionally exposed before me, and for the first time, I truly saw him—completely and without pretense.
I knelt beside him, cradling his head as if it were fragile glass, and drew him close to my chest, enveloping him with warmth and empathy.I longed to shield him, to offer him sanctuary.At last, he surrendered, wrapping his arms around me as he openly wept, his fingers digging into my skin with a desperate grip.Together, we cried like children, two vulnerable souls bound by a cruel fate yet to unfold.
If I had walked away when he had shut the door, would everything have changed?Would fate have carved out a different path for us?Did destiny even exist?
Those were the countless questions that lingered in the air, unanswered and perhaps forever beyond our reach.
The universe I created crumbled before my eyes.Zane didn't just walk away from me; he vanished from the entire country.
He was gone.
Chapter 33
Imade my entire existence revolve around Zane, and now I found myself lost.I was at a loss for what to do with my life.Just a year ago, I was living in bliss; everything felt effortless and uncomplicated.Now, I stood outside the school with my mother, who looked at me with disappointment, as if she didn't recognize her own daughter.
Naturally, when I left, the school notified my parents.At that moment, I wasn't concerned about the repercussions.All that mattered had been taken from me.Yes, I realized I might have sounded naive.I was still young—what could I possibly know about real pain and the challenges of life?But every journey had to start somewhere, and that was mine.
When we experienced something—whether it was good or bad—we often thought it was the worst or the best thing that could happen.Yet, life had a way of throwing even bigger challenges our way, making us realize that we were wrong about the last situation being the end of the world.
Enzo once told me that as long as I learned from my mistakes, I would be okay; I would navigate this strange world, which could sometimes be harsh and at other times breathtakingly beautiful.
Losing Zane might have seemed trivial compared to the struggles others faced; maybe it didn't mean much to my parents, but at eighteen, it felt monumental to me—more than I could bear.The unfortunate truth was that no one understood that;no one at all.
My mother didn't utter a word; it was evident that I was expected to follow her to the car.The ride home was shrouded in silence, not a single word exchanged, not even after we stepped inside the house.
I retreated to my room, devoid of tears, with no emotions left to express.I stood in the center of my room, contemplating how long it would take for this pain to subside.
If I hadn't left my diary open on August 10th, Zane wouldn't have read it, wouldn't have subconsciously written my name in that classroom, and wouldn't have prompted the principal's call.I wouldn't have interacted with theVipers.None of this would have unfolded.Did we truly have any control over the paths we took, or was everything preordained, leaving us to merely act out a script?
A year ago, my concerns revolved around trivial choices—blue or pink hoodies, pizza or pasta, book or movie.Now…
When my dad returned from work, he sat at the dinner table, consumed by anger.I had no appetite; I couldn't bring myself to eat.
“Finish your dinner,” my mother commanded, her gaze fixed on her plate.I remained silent and unmoving.“We need to have a serious conversation,” she continued, still avoiding eye contact.“Firstly, you're grounded until the end of the school year.No one is allowed at the house, and you're not allowed to see anyone.I don't want to hear that boy's name ever again…”
I interrupted her, “There's no need for this.He's gone; he moved to London.You don't have to worry anymore.I have no desire to see anyone, anyway.”My parents exchanged glances, and my mother pressed on.It was a mistake.
“In September, you will resume your studies and attend the University of Rome.”
“In September,” I interrupted once more, speaking slowly to ensure she understood, “I will be as far away as possible.I plan to move to London, find a job, and be with Zane.”My voice was calm but resolute.
Her reaction was swift—she stood up, grabbed a plate, and hurled it against the wall, causing me to jump.My dad stared in disbelief, his mouth agape as if he had seen a ghost.
“You will do as I say, young lady,” she said slowly, pointing a finger at me.
“I'm not a child anymore.I'm eighteen and will make my own choices.You can't dictate my life,” I replied, maintaining my composed demeanor.Her eyes widened in shock, and I could see the blue vein in her forehead pulsating.Without another word, she stormed upstairs, slamming the door behind her.My dad remained in a state of shock, unable to process what had just occurred.
Suddenly, my appetite returned.I ate as if it were a normal day, savoring each bite while my dad watched me, frozen in disbelief.Once I finished, I washed my plate like I always did and made my way to my room, leaving my dad to grapple with the emotional chaos that lingered in the room.
This moment was crucial, a simple phrase I uttered that would come to life.Did I consciously select this path, or was it the only option available to me?
I chose to be the ideal child from that moment on.I diligently completed my homework and spent countless hours studying even subjects that weren't required.My room was spotless every day.After school, I went straight home, and on the days I worked at the coffee shop, my parents would always pick me up.
It had only been five days, but the constant arguing gradually ceased.I gave them no reason to fight.All I needed to do was wait for the school year to end.They weren't interested in understanding me; they simply wanted to dictate my actions.
I preferred solitude, often eating my lunch in the classroom.Gossip still swirled around, and I knew they were likely talking about Zane’s departure.
