I wanted to respond. I wanted to explain that nothing about my life could be reduced to something that simple.
But nothing came out.
So I left.
Back in the room, everything felt empty. No comfort. No history. No version of me left intact. I sat on the edge of the bed, breathing slowly, trying to remember who I used to be before everything started breaking.
Before love became something that destroyed me instead of saved me.
**
I didn’t sleep that night.
Morning came, but it didn’t bring anything soft with it. Just silence layered over silence. My body moved out of habit more than thought—like I had been doing ever since Gabriel got sick.
At the long dining table, I sat alone. Then my phone rang.
Vincenzo.
I answered.
“We’re heading out,” he said casually, like he was talking about nothing important. “Noel wants parasailing. Lena didn’t refuse. You know how she is.”
He chuckled lightly, like this was something funny we were sharing.
“My parents might drop by later. Make sure the house is ready.”
“Okay,” I replied.
Then the line went dead.
No goodbye. No hesitation. No mention of Gabriel.
Not a single word.
Today was his birthday.
I went back to the glass mansion.