Lemon Like Love

Hot Coca

~Midnight~

The bright light of my computer screen illuminated the dark room, casting long shadows across the walls. Outside, the world was asleep, enveloped in silence. It was at this late hour that my mind came alive, buzzing with thoughts and ideas. I ruffled up my hair in frustration as I scrolled through countless news articles and magazines, only to find that not even a single one had the information I was looking for. Frustrated, I closed my laptop and decided to try again in the morning, hoping that the dawn would bring with it some much-needed answers. Why was this case even more complicated than before? I couldn't help but wonder. As I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind began to wander through the labyrinth of possibilities. Each thread of information I had gathered so far seemed to lead me down a different path, leaving me with more questions than answers. The pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and I was struggling to find the missing link that would tie them all together. 

Just then someone knocked on my hotel room's door , interrupting my train of thought. Startled, I quickly sat up and glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was well past midnight, and I hadn't expected any visitors at this hour. Curiosity piqued, and I cautiously made my way towards the door, my heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation. I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to peer through the peephole or simply swing the door open. But before I could make a decision, the knocking persisted, growing louder and more urgent. With a deep breath, I gripped the doorknob and slowly turned it, allowing the door to creak open.

As the door creaked open, I found myself face-to-face with Matteo. Relief washed over me as I saw the familiar face.

"Matteo?" I exclaimed, surprised to see him at such a late hour. He seemed equally surprised and slightly out of breath. Before he could speak, I invited him inside, curious to hear what had brought him to my doorstep at this time of night. I locked the door behind him, sensing a sense of urgency in his presence.

"What's going on, Matteo?" I asked, trying to hide the concern in my voice. "Why are you here so late?" 

"I couldn't sleep, and some thoughts were bothering me," Matteo replied, his voice filled with unease. "I needed to talk to someone, and you were the only person I could think of."

" Oh, Matteo, couldn't sleep, huh? What's keeping you up at night? Did you have a nightmare, or did you just miss me too much?" I teased, playfully poking fun at his late-night visit.

Matteo chuckled nervously, clearly not expecting my teasing response.

"Well, it's good to know I'm the first person you turn to when you can't sleep. What kind of thoughts are tormenting you tonight?" I continued to tease, unable to resist adding a hint of mischievousness to our conversation.

"Oh, you know, the usual," Matteo replied with a sheepish smile. "Just the weight of the world and all its uncertainties."

I chuckled before making him sit down on the couch.

"Want some hot coca ?" I asked teasingly. "Maybe that will help lift the weight of the world off your shoulders." 

Matteo's eyes sparkled with laughter as he accepted my offer.

"Ya, why not? A little hot cocoa never hurts anyone," he replied, settling into the couch cushions. I made my way to the kitchen, the sound of his laughter echoing behind me. As I prepared the steaming mugs, I couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these, when the weight of the world seemed a little lighter. Returning to the living room, I handed Matteo his mug and settled in next to him. We sat in comfortable silence, sipping our cocoa and letting the warmth seep into our bones.