Chapter 53

After such a challenging and dramatic journey, Russo and I had at last arrived at a tentative cease-fire understanding with one another. In spite of the fact that the wounds from the past were still very fresh, there was still a possibility that we may have a future together, and the fact that this possibility existed was a glimmer of hope that we were unable to ignore. The weight of our shared history put a strain on both of us, but as the sun began to drop, we recognized it was time to leave the past in the rearview mirror and focus on the here and now.

We found ourselves in the bedroom, which was only dimly lit, and the air was thick with anxiety and a sense of desperation all around us. Our eyes met in a silent interaction that said volumes about the sentiments that we were both harboring but were unable to say. Our eyes met in a way that told volumes about the feelings that we were both harboring. My eyes had a glimmer of forgiveness, but Russo's were filled with a mix of desire