Alexandra didn't sound irritated or angry as she stepped into the hallway and said aloud:"No one is going to hit anyone here. I've had enough stress for one day."The authority in her voice is undeniable and irresistible. Johnny immediately apologizes, but glares at Joshua, who puts his hands in his pockets innocently.Emanuele takes a deep breath and enters the room. There were few clothes to be packed. It was so strange to have to pack again... Joshua takes the cue to leave. He says goodbye to everyone with a brief chin gesture. The man's gaze is deep, and it is obvious that he still had many things to say.Johnny starts to help the girl with her bags and says:"I don't think he's really going to leave you alone.""He'll give up sometime.""If he hasn't given up so far, even after all he's heard from you, he's not going to anytime soon."She didn't want to agree, but she didn't have the heart to disagree either. Joshua was extremely determined to win her over, and Emanuele genuine
The receptionist at the hospital is getting more and more bored. The few mothers who still bothered to choose that maternity hospital to have their children, a bunch of crazy ones, were mostly at home or waiting to be discharged.Needless to say, the few relatives who visited the new mothers barely stayed for the full visiting hours, preferring to leave half an hour earlier.Nobody liked to be there, that was a fact. Not even the employees. Whispers here and there were always about the scandals involving the names of doctors, nurses, and even the high ranking professionals; rich and haughty businessmen who laundered money left and right. Everyone in Laketown knew. It was impossible not to know.The name of that establishment was dirty, and there was no possible campaign that could clean up that huge stain within the clean white corridors. Not even after swearing together that all the corrupt people involved had already been arrested.Nobody, absolutely nobody believed that story.So
The past week had flown by like the wind, and Emanuele didn't know whether that was good or bad.She was now sitting at the hastily made wooden desk in Johnny's room, carefully reading the polite but formal e-mail, which said many things; among them that the girl was fired.Running her hand through her now-dyed-black hair, Emanuele sighed heavily.Her freedom to come and go, her home, and now her job. Even after she was dead, her mother was still the source of all her problems.She tried to cry from sadness and revolt. But so many tears had been shed in the past few days that now the reservoir was empty.As if fate itself was scripting the events, the girl's cell phone began to vibrate with the arrival of a text message.Emanuele didn't even come close to checking her cell phone.Instead, she snuck over to the window, taking care not to leave her face exposed. When was the last time the girl had left her boyfriend's apartment?The world seemed more or less the same. Children played, a
Emanuele does her best to keep a neutral expression and a placid face, but it is much easier said than done. Sitting at the kitchen table are not only Crimson, but also Joshua, as if the whole universe were conspiring against her.While the brunette makes a quick cup of coffee, her former roommate comments in the most casual way possible:"I like the new hair color. Did you decide to go back to your natural color?"Although she didn't want to admit it, it was nice to hear his voice and to count on his support in such a difficult moment. The smile that Emanuele opens is sincere as she replies:"Actually, my hair is not black, but rather dark brown. But yes, I wanted to give it a change in look and stay as casual as possible.""I see. Do you intend to dye your hair red again someday? I really liked seeing your hair that color."The compliment doesn't sound like an attempt at seduction or flirtation. Again she smiles, turning her back to him as she continues to prepare things."I don't
At first Emanuele doesn't think she heard the deputy's words correctly. Then she leans forward, raises one of her eyebrows, and opens her mouth to ask:"What?"Joshua also looks quite stunned, although he remains in a strategic silence.Crimson interlaces his slightly gloved fingers and scratches his gray hair before clarifying:"That's why I came here. Just to let you know that while things are really worrying for your side, we are indeed making progress in the investigation.""You already know it's not me, I've already been cleared?!""I can't clear you, Emanuele. Only a judge can do that. And about what we found out, all I can say is that the chance that it was you is.... Inconclusive."The honey-colored skinned girl almost screams in frustration."So that's it? You're telling me that I'm innocent, while at the same time you can't define me that way yet?""I'm saying that although suspicions fall on you, the forensic analysis and some more of the evidence collected at the scene doe
Emanuele is happy, or as happy as she can feel, to notice that all the confusion that ensued as soon as Johnny arrived in his own apartment is over.Not that it was easy to calm things down. It was Crimson who had been crucial in talking to the other two men, perhaps using an authority that was not his place, but still very welcome.Johnny had not exchanged a word with Emanuele, and even now, meeting with Amanda, Amora and Johnny, the boy avoided looking directly into her eyes. The deputy had already returned to his duties.The twins' apartment was spacious and comfortable, but Emanuele's anxiety and distress made the walls seem tighter and more threatening. It was after eight o'clock at night.Joshua looked worried, but the girl couldn't tell if it was due to the stressful situation she was in, or guilt for, once again, leaving Emanuele in a tight skirt when it came to her boyfriend. Just like Johnny, he reserved the right to remain quiet.After serving the orange juice with lemon, A
Joshua is extremely quiet, but the expression on his face is more than enough for everyone to know what is going on in his mind: shock, pain and a flood of doubts.Johnny opens his mouth to try to contest, to say that this is absurd and doesn't make any fucking sense, but the seriousness on the faces of Amanda, Amora and Andrew - especially Andrew - makes him fall into a deathly silence.But Emanuele can't process all this quietly. Her hands shake so much that she has the impression she might faint at any second."... What did you say?"The twins and Andrew just cast a compassionate glance at the girl, who explodes:"What did you say, dammit?!"Making an appeasing gesture with his hands, the boy tries to remain calm as he explains everything:"Your mother's name is Margareth, isn't it? Margareth Barbara Parker."The wide-eyed look filled with fury and fear at the same time was confirmation enough. The boy continues:"The former doctor who attended us, as I said, was one of the most in
Emanuele doesn't know how long she stayed inside that unending hell.All the girl knew was that no matter how hard she tried to escape, no matter how hard she tried to run from that terrible reality, she could not.She could hear the people around her, as well as see what was happening. But her mind was far away, watching in a confused and reticent way. Johnny's hands were on her face, and beside him, Joshua was talking restlessly to the twins and Andrew.The more the truth was told, the more terrible the story became; the more she wanted to sink into a dark pit and scream louder and louder.Emanuele never knew what motherly love was. All the affection she was getting in a natural way, not only from Joshua and Johnny, but also from her friends who were doing everything to help her, was very strange to her, although welcome.Even though she knew that all that was reported corresponded to reality, and not to a perfect and at the same time miraculous justification, Emanuele felt anger.A