43

43
Emilia’s POV
I walked up the steps to Matteo’s new apartment building, clutching a paper bag filled with pastries from a cafe I’d passed on my way over. It was a breezy morning, the kind of weather that should make you feel light and hopeful, but my stomach was knotted with nerves. I hadn’t seen Matteo since the day he moved in, and while we’d exchanged a few texts, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d been neglecting him, wrapped up in my own mess.
The elevator ride was short, but it felt like forever. I tried to steady my breath, thinking about what I’d say. I wanted to apologize for not visiting sooner, for not being there when he was discharged. But I knew Matteo. He’d brush it off like it was nothing, make some joke to put me at ease. It was just his way.
I knocked twice on his door, a quick rap of knuckles against the wood, then took a step back. The door swung open almost immediately, like he’d been standing there waiting.
“Emilia!” Matteo’s face lit up in a wide grin, and he pulled me into a hug before I could even say hello. He was still thin, and there were dark circles under his eyes, but he looked better-healthier, more alive.
“Hey, Matty,” I mumbled into his shoulder, squeezing him tight before stepping back. “I brought you something.” I held up the bag, shaking it lightly.
“Pastries from that cafe downtown?” He raised an eyebrow, eyeing the bag like it was a bag of gold. “You spoil me.”
I laughed, the tension in my chest easing just a bit. “Only the best for my favorite brother.”
“Your only brother,” he corrected, stepping aside to let me in. The apartment was still mostly bare, but it felt more lived-in than it had the last time I was here. A few more pieces of furniture, some new plants in the corner, and a pile of books stacked on the coffee table.
“I see you’re settling in,” I noted, setting the bag down on the kitchen counter and glancing around.
“Yeah, bit by bit,” Matteo replied, scratching the back of his head. “It’s starting to feel like home.”
“Good,” I said softly, meeting his eyes. For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. There was so much I wanted to say-so many things I wanted to ask. But I couldn’t find the words, so I just gestured toward the bag. “You want one? I got your favorite.”
“You know me too well.” He reached into the bag, pulling out a croissant and taking a big bite. “God, I missed these.”
I perched on one of the stools by the counter, watching him eat with a small smile. “So, how have you been? Really.”
He paused, looking at me thoughtfully. “I’m okay, Emilia. Better every day, you know? The pain’s not as bad now. And I’ve got this place, which is… more than I ever expected.”
I felt a twinge of guilt. Alaric had been the one to get him this apartment, to make sure he had everything he needed. It wasn’t me. I hadn’t done enough. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around much,” I blurted out. “I should have visited sooner.”
Matteo shook his head, setting down the half-eaten croissant. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve got your own stuff going on. And you were there when it mattered, Em. That’s what counts.”
I bit my lip, looking down at my hands. “I just feel like I’ve been caught up in… everything. Alaric, Francesca, this whole new life. I never wanted you to feel like I was abandoning you.”
“Abandoning me?” Matteo laughed, the sound dry but not unkind. “Em, I’m not some fragile little bird. I know how to take care of myself. Besides, I like seeing you take charge of your own life. And if you’re comfortable working with Alaric for Alaric-then it’s fine by me.”
I looked up at him sharply, searching his face. “Are you really? Fine with that?”
There was a flicker of something in his eyes-something sad, or maybe just resigned. “I worry about you, sure. I mean, it’s Alaric. He’s not exactly a safe bet. But you’re not a kid anymore. You make your own choices.”
I swallowed hard, at his words. “I don’t know if it’s what I want, Matteo. Some days it feels like I’m in over my head.”
He leaned across the counter, resting his elbows on the surface. “Then why stay?”
I blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of his question. “Because… I don’t know. Because it feels like the right thing, sometimes. Because of Francesca. Because of something I can’t put into words.”
Matteo studied me for a long moment, then sighed, reaching out to squeeze my hand. “Em, you’ve always been the strong one. Even when you didn’t know it. You’ll figure it out. And if you need to leave, you know I’m here. You don’t owe anyone your loyalty except yourself.”
The sincerity in his voice made my eyes sting with sudden, unexpected tears. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed to hear that-how much I needed someone to remind me that it was okay to choose myself.
“Thanks, Matty,” I whispered, squeezing his hand back.
He grinned, the familiar, boyish smile that made him look like the little brother I used to protect from bullies on the playground. “Anytime, sis.”
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to smile. “So, tell me about the apartment. Have you met any of the neighbors yet? Anyone I should be worried about?”
Matteo rolled his eyes, picking up his croissant again. “You sound like Mom. No, I haven’t met anyone yet. But there’s a lady down the hall who has two dogs. I can hear them barking all day long.”
I laughed, the sound light and genuine. “You hate dogs.”
“I do,” he agreed, making a face. “But it’s not so bad. It’s kind of nice, actually. Makes the place feel less empty.”
I looked around, taking in the small details-framed photos of us as kids, a new lamp by the sofa, the faint scent of Matteo’s cologne mixed with the pastries. It was cozy, even if it was sparse. It felt like home.
“I’m glad you have this place,” I said softly. “You deserve something good, Matty.”
He shrugged, trying to play it off, but I could see the emotion in his eyes. “It’s not much, but it’s a start.”
“It’s everything,” I corrected him. “A fresh start, a safe place. It’s exactly what you need.”
Matteo nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to the window where sunlight streamed in, casting warm patterns on the floor. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I think so, too.”
For a moment, we just sat there, basking in the comfortable silence. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where everything felt right, where we didn’t need words to understand each other.
“I should get going,” I said eventually, though I didn’t want to leave. “I promised Francesca I’d be back in time for lunch.”
“Of course,” Matteo said, standing up and pulling me into another hug. He held on for a second longer than usual, squeezing me tight like he didn’t want to let go.
“I’ll visit again soon,” I promised, my voice muffled against his shoulder.
“I know you will,” he said, stepping back and giving me a lopsided grin. “Now go. Don’t keep your girl waiting.”
I smiled, wiping away a stray tear before it could fall. “See you soon, Matty.”
“See you soon, Em,” he replied, watching me as I walked to the door.