The blurry vision of a vaguely familiar setting forced me to blink several times to confirm that what I saw wasn't a dream. From what I could tell, I had returned to my old body on Earth.
I was seated in my office when I heard Alessia's voice calling me from a distance.
—Sweetheart! Are you there?
—I'm in my office —I replied, and seconds later, her stunning figure appeared in the doorway.
Alessia, as always, radiated a natural beauty that stole my breath with a single glance. That morning, her belly seemed even more pronounced, a soft and perfect curve delicately outlined beneath the light fabric of her dress. She wore a vintage light blue dress, adorned with a delicate pattern of tiny yellow flowers that seemed to dance across the fabric. The design, though simple, exuded elegance: long sleeves finished with white lace cuffs that added a refined touch, and a fitted bodice that subtly accentuated her pregnant figure. Fine lace decorated the neckline, extending gracefully toward her shoulders, lending her a feminine and classic air, as if she had stepped out of an old painting.
Her long, wavy hair cascaded in waves of shimmering gold that glowed under the light, reaching past her waist. The loose waves, with an almost ethereal romanticism, flowed gently, and a few strands curled delicately around her face and shoulders, framing her with natural tenderness. A small crown of wildflowers in shades of blue and white adorned her mane, like a whisper of nature that made her resemble a fairy-tale figure. Her large, expressive eyes were a deep emerald green, a vibrant contrast to the gold of her hair, seeming to hold an ocean of emotions in their gaze.
—Sorry for interrupting, sweetheart —she said with that smile that always disarmed me—, but it's your birthday, and I have a surprise for you.
—A surprise? —I asked, intrigued, as she approached.
She sat delicately on my lap and kissed my cheek. An intense citrus scent invaded my senses, tickling my nose.
—You're getting heavy, you should stop eating so much, sweetheart. You're turning into a whale! —I teased, while she looked at me with that mischievous spark I loved so much.
—I was reflecting this morning —she murmured thoughtfully, playing with my hair— about the baby's name… What do you think of Violet?
—For a boy, it's frankly awful —I replied, feigning seriousness.
—If it's a girl, my love! —she exclaimed, laughing, as she playfully swatted my shoulder.
Her eyes sparkled as she thoughtfully caressed her swollen belly.
—I know we decided not to find out the baby's sex, but that doesn't stop us from picking a name. It's coming soon, you know? Three weeks at most.
—Yeah, it's nice… Violet —I admitted, feeling a strange lump in my throat—. I don't want to ruin the moment, but I'd like to finish my chapter. It'll take thirty minutes, tops.
—No way! —she declared firmly— You'll have to postpone your work until tomorrow. Besides, the doctor ordered you to rest that hand.
—Listen, Ale —I sighed, frustrated—. I have to deliver this damn novel in just a month, and I'm still far from finishing it. I'll see you in a bit, for now I need…
—You can do it, sweetheart! You always do —she interrupted—, but not today! Tonight, we're going out to dinner!
—Sorry, but I'm not very hungry —I protested weakly.
Alessia gently pressed her lips to mine, silencing me and putting an end to any argument.
—I don't recall asking for your opinion —she whispered against my lips with a radiant smile—. Besides, don't they say appetite comes with eating? We're dining out for your birthday, and you need to get ready. I made a reservation for seven, and it's almost five, and you're dressed like an abandoned lumberjack. The restaurant is half an hour away!
She rose gracefully and walked toward the door while I protested:
—Like… a lumberjack? I don't own lumberjack clothes.
She turned and looked at me with mock pity.
—You're right! I can't picture you as such a filthy lumberjack. That's not very respectful to forestry work —her eyes twinkled with humor—. I'm going to prepare a nice hot bath for you.
From the hallway, she shouted:
—And shave that beard, it's as rough as a scouring pad!
I sighed deeply, resigned to her sweet tyranny.
—Looks like work will have to wait until tomorrow…
As I sank into the bath Alessia had prepared, I felt my inflamed wrist gradually relax in the steaming water. I'd been sharing my life with her for four years, but we'd known each other since childhood. I still vividly recalled our first glance, both of us sitting on the fresh grass of the school field. Her mischievous smile was forever etched in my memory.
That smile that kindled hope, that smile that always seemed to say: "You and I, it's possible." I recalled our first awkward but sincere kiss, her fruity scent that always transported me to a better place, the first time I gazed at her naked body under the dim moonlight filtering like a secret through the half-open curtains of her bedroom years later.
For much of my life, I had existed with an apathetic and disinterested attitude, steeped in a permanent state of melancholy. I was never an exemplary son, and now that my parents were gone, guilt gnawed at me like an unrelenting acid.
The damage I had caused… the people I had hurt with my indifference… that weight would always follow me.
Bitterness had been like ink spilled on absorbent paper, spreading through my entire existence like a dark, sticky mask that covered everything in its shadow. Today, I turned twenty-five, and soon I would be a father. Thinking about it brought an involuntary smile to my face.
Only now did I understand that it is precisely loneliness that drags us into the mire like a diabolical melody. Loneliness is the edge of the precipice where the fall of any human being begins… Once there, we start sinking into ever greater depths…
And it must be understood clearly: loneliness doesn't mean being physically isolated, it means lacking genuine affection…
One can create, meditate, plan, and work in complete physical isolation and feel fully fulfilled, as long as deep within their being they hold the energy of knowing they are loved by someone… even if that someone is absent…
In contrast, another person can be surrounded by crowds and feel terribly empty, knowing that no one truly sees them. Loneliness leads to alcoholism, addictions, infidelity, self-destruction…
—Hurry up, sweetheart! I don't want to be late!
Alessia's melodious voice echoed from downstairs, snapping me out of my reflections. I'd been soaking in the water too long, now barely lukewarm.
—Coming! —I replied, stepping out of the bath and dressing quickly.
As I descended the stairs, I saw Alessia adorned in a splendid red dress that delicately accentuated the curve of her belly.
—What do you think? —she asked shyly— My mother gave it to me. It was a dress she wore when she was pregnant with me.
—You're absolutely beautiful.
From her petite height, Alessia stood on tiptoe and planted a soft kiss on my cheek.
—I'll drive. With that tendinitis, it's not wise for you to Angrily —It's ridiculous. I drive perfectly —I protested—. Besides, I've never needed both hands to steer a wheel.
—Fine, but be careful, my love —she conceded with a worried look.
We left the house and headed to the car. The road wound through verdant hills, while a dense fog slithered over the asphalt and climbed the slopes like wandering ghosts. The sun was now just a faint reddish glow on the horizon. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Alessia watching me with an enigmatic smile.
—What's making you smile like that? —I asked, curious.
—You've changed so much, Noah —she replied softly—. I'm glad to see you like this. And soon, we'll be three —she added, caressing her belly—, that fills me with joy.
I returned her smile, feeling a pleasant warmth spreading through my chest.
The darkness, initially timid among the crevices of the hills, began enveloping the trees lining the road. Now, steeped in the opaque density of the nascent twilight, rain suddenly fell in silver filaments that pattered against the windshield, amplifying into a deafening downpour.
—It's seven —Alessia remarked, checking her watch with a worried gesture—. We're going to be late.
—It's fine —I reassured her—. They won't cancel our reservation for a fifteen-minute delay.
As I took a particularly sharp curve, I spotted pale headlights approaching at breakneck speed. Lights that seemed to zigzag erratically and dangerously. The thick fog was treacherous, and the vehicle I thought was at a safe distance emerged suddenly from the gloom like an apparition.
—My God, it's not in its lane —I murmured, feeling fear grip my throat.
I sharply turned the wheel to the right. The other car's engine roared furiously, closing in fast, too fast. As if time had solidified into a viscous substance, I slowly turned my head and saw, in slow motion, Alessia's horrified face.
—NO! —I screamed desperately.
CRASH!!
…
[Insufficient authority to continue.]
[Spiritual Vision (S)]
[This ability bestows upon the Enlightened an extraordinary gift that transcends the boundaries of reality, unveiling the secrets of the soul and destiny. Under the right conditions, the user can behold another person's past and future from the perspective a third, like an observer suspended in the fabric of time. Beyond temporal barriers, this power allows the perception of non-physical entities, such as supernatural creatures, and through this ethereal light, the user can sense imminent dangers, assess a person's health and emotions, and discern their degree of corruption. Furthermore, it awakens memories of past lives, fragments of a forgotten past that surge forth with the intensity of an overwhelming torrent.]
[You will now abandon the Tower of Paradise.]