A Week In Rome | AWI series |✔

By xkalopsia

4.3K 753 1K

❝What brings you to Rome?❞ ❝A broken heart. You?❞ ❝I have three months to live. And I've heard gelato is pret... More

A Week in Rome - summary & copyright
"A Week in..." series
One Year After | A Week in Rome |
» monday
» tuesday
» tues - wed
» wednesday
» thursday
» friday
» sunday
» now
Author's Note: Thank you
awards & accolades

» saturday

182 45 37
By xkalopsia


"Do you believe in life after death?"

My eyes were overcome with an obsidian sky, illuminated by countless stars that were no longer concealed by the clouds that had overstayed their welcome. The crescent moon hung in the corner of the tableau, much like an ornament, illuminating the skies for just the two of us—at least, that's what I liked to believe.

The sea sang to us as it kissed the shore, whistling and waling to the wispy winds as they danced in the sky. I'd always dreamed of spending a night on a beach and falling asleep to nothing but the sound of waves crashing against sand, and lately I'd found many of my dreams creeping their way into the reality that never before was so vicarious. 

Max was beside me, his arms folded behind his neck to cushion his head. He watched the stars with me as they vied for his attention, pink lips parted just the littlest bit. I was close enough to him that my hair, as it was spread out onto the beach towel, was touching his own, and our breathing always did fall into one rhythm. 

He gave the question some thought, then turned his body towards me. He used his right elbow to prop his head up, his hand resting against his chin as his eyes met mine.

"I believe..." His fingers played with the end of my hair, taking it between his fingers. "I believe that there is some type of life after death. Otherwise, what is the purpose of life?"

His words were deliberate, careful. He knew why I was asking. I was leaving tomorrow. And I didn't want any of this to end. The night could have been infinite and I would've have been content.

I nodded in agreement. "In this second life, will you wait for me? Whether it's a day after, or many years?"

My words were spoken mindlessly.

Max took my hand in his and traced circles into my palm, a storm brewing in his eyes, his lips gracing a lopsided grin. 

"I would be mad not to."

I smiled. "And if I get there first, I promise I'll wait for you."

Silence ensued as we were engulfed into the night, hands intertwined. Our minds were lost in their own worlds, yet they were somehow entangled in the same thoughts. The ocean's screams grew louder, but they were deafened by the wailing of our effervescent hearts.

"Can I ask you something?" I raised my eyebrows, finally deciding to ask him something I'd been wondering about for days. He nodded, his expression curious. 

"How did you find me again? In the plaza, I mean. The day we went to the Colosseum."

Max chuckled, giving me a knowing look.

"I stayed at the plaza all day, hoping I would see you at the tour stands again."

My eyes widened. "All day?" 

He nodded, and I found myself wanting to ask him everything I'd ever wondered about. 

"Why? What did you see in me?"

"I liked that you did not treat me differently when I said that I was dying. It was refreshing. And your eyes. I really, really like your eyes."

I was happy that the darkness was there to conceal my reddened cheeks. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, and at the same time, I felt inexplicably sad. We stayed quiet. Consumed in a comfortable silence. The memories of the past few days flooded my mind, and I wanted to relive every single one of them. He spent his limited days with me, and that was not to be taken lightly. As I thought about him and only him, an idea came to mind. 

I sat up and scooted to the end of the beach towel, and put my hands onto the cold sand. My eyes searched for a water bottle nearby and once I found it, I poured some water into my hands. 

Max watched in amusement as I gathered the sand in one pile, my tongue peeking out of the corner of my mouth in concentration.

"What are you—" 

"Just watch," I interrupted him. He peered over my shoulder as I crafted the sand with my hands, the shape now resembling a mountain. I leaned back, satisfied with my poor artistry. 

"Am I supposed to guess what this is?" Max laughed, rubbing his chin in thought.

"It's the Great Pyramid of Giza! One wonder down, six to go!" I held my hands out, pointing at the pile of sand. Max looked at me. Then back at the sand. And at me. Laughter bubbled out of his mouth as he shook his head.

"If you say so," he mused. Then, the top of the "pyramid" cracked, the sand rolling down the side, destroying my sculpture. Both of us shared a look and fell back into laughter, as we played in the sand, trying to sculpt the remaining wonders of the world.

"You've messed up my philosophy, Amora." 

My gaze flitted from where it was focused on the sand underneath my hands to Max's eyes, galaxies of emeralds and gold.

I furrowed my eyebrows, biting my lip in thought.

"How so?"

Max sighed. "Do you remember how I told you that I live every day like it's my second to last? So that when I fall asleep, I have something to look forward to?"

I nodded, the memory clear as day in my mind. It was difficult to ever forget his words.

He laced his fingers with mine, the warmth of his hand ironically sending chills down my spine. 

He licked his lips before speaking. "Every night, when I fall asleep, I look forward to you."

Words evaded my mind as I listened to his musical ones.

"It's like I'm stuck on repeat. And I will never, ever stop looking forward to you." His voice was laced with passion, and I realized that we were leaning closer and closer to each other. It was underneath the bewitching skies that our souls became entangled with one another. My heart burned with a fire so strong and deceiving that I yearned for its pain.

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, my lips finally met his. And underneath the very skies that witnessed our passion, we shared a kiss unknown to anyone else. They were to keep our secret, because it was a sorrowful one. 

When Max backed away, his eyes shined more than I'd ever seen before, and my heart raced as I tried to study his expression. Maybe it was the adrenaline pumping in my veins, or the way that we were lost in each other's worlds, but I found myself telling him the truths I'd kept to myself.

"I want to stay," I blurted, biting my lip in anticipation of his response. Max's smile dropped and something in his demeanor shifted. He was no longer radiating. His eyes were overcome with concern and he sat up, entangling his hands in his hair in what seemed to be frustration.

"You..." he shook his head as he spoke, "You can't. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. It was selfish of me." 

He seemed upset with himself as he sat on the sand, playing with the watch on his hand. I sat up, my mind racing with a million questions. 

"Max, I want to. We can travel, and we can try everything you've ever wanted to try—"

My words were childish, dripping with hope. Max took my hands into his and sighed heavily.

"Amora," he began, his eyes meeting mine, home to disappointment, "I can't give you what you deserve."

My stomach churned, a dull pain lodged in my throat. His grip around my hands tightened as he continued.

"Five percent," he said, his voice quiet. His eyes refused to meet mine, but I could see his chest rise and fall at a faster pace.

"Those are the chances that..." I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence. The night that was so exquisite before was now dire.

"Yes. The chances that I'll survive past three months. And I can't let you waste your time with me. You have a life to get back to..." he trailed off as his eyes were fixated on the ocean, his voice wavering the slightest bit.

I blinked away unwelcome tears, ignoring the pain that was surging through my body. 

"I like this life more." I was being stupid and childish, there was no denying it. But the thought of leaving was unbearable.

Max brought his hands up and placed them on my cheeks lovingly.

"This isn't your life."

His eyes swirled with a type of sadness I'd never seen in anyone, held up by dark bags I'd never noticed before. They twinkled with tears, the corners of his lips turned upwards into a solemn smile. I found myself nodding and find a place for my head to rest against his chest.

His heartbeat was louder than ever, and I longed to be beside it for the rest of time. But it would be our last night together, and nothing was permanent. Especially not something as magnificent as what I had with Max. We remained in each other's embrace for what could have been hours, until finally the sky was overcome with clouds that never failed to appear. 

I found myself drifting in and out of sleep, my eyelids feeling heavy. And when the first few drops of rain fell onto my body, I breathed deeply, leaning into Max as much as I could. I wanted to drink up all of his presence, before it was too late.

"I love the rain," Max said softly, remaining still as to not disturb me. His hand remained on the back of my head, running up and down my hair, as his other one held me close to his chest.

Somewhere in between reality and the slumber I was soon to slip into, I found myself murmuring the words, "I love the rain, too."

The stars, the moon, the ocean, skies, and our hearts knew that it wasn't the rain that we loved; it was each other. But those were words that had gone unsaid, for they were words that would hurt both of us more than we could tolerate. We were dancing on the brink of something sad, dark, and twisted, and those words would be the ones to render us in fragments of our intertwined souls.

»»————-  ————-««

photo credit: https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p8382611

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