CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

I fall asleep much quicker than I anticipated, the day's events taking a toll on me.

This excitement has really become too much for me to handle. It's like Alessandro's appearance in my life has sparked some volcanic reactions that I would have loved to avoid in the past. I'm still not sure if all of it is worth it for the feeling of being alive. Feeling dead was much less complicated.

I dream of two little girls playing in a deserted house, no parents to feed them or bathe them, or give them the simple touch of a parent's love.

I feel someone in my room before I see them.

My hand slowly goes underneath my pillow to grab the small pocketknife I've kept there since I was ten years old, and as soon as the person touches the comforter, I lift the knife to stab anywhere that I can. but a strong hand grips my wrist and then the room is flooded with light from the bedlamp.

"What the fuck?" Alessandro hisses down at me before letting my wrist go.

"Oh, it's you." I release the bre