Page 36 of Stronger Than Fate

“Well, by nature we tend to run away from what frightens us, and I suppose it’s no different with love.”

“And what do you plan to do?”

“Not create expectations, or rather, try to manage them as best I can. But right now, what I’m going to do is dance with my friend,” I proposed.

“What?” he said, bewildered.

“I’m going to put on music and we’re going to dance together, jumping and shouting to shake off all this bitterness we have. Don’t they say dancing heals the soul? Let’s rebel against sadness!”

“You’re out of your mind!” he exclaimed, and I loved seeing that smile on his face.

“Position your phone so I can see you move that sexy body,” I demanded.

I searched for a song that would make us shake and found the right one, which I also knew my friend loved. “Jump” by Van Halen began playing loud and strong.

“Yes, baby! Let’s jump!” he exclaimed.

We both started jumping and spinning in front of our phone cameras so the other could see us. We sang the song very loudly and didn’t stop moving uncontrollably. At one point, Sean climbed onto the couch and jumped, shouting “Jump.” We shook our heads and couldn’t stop laughing while we sang. We were two crazy people releasing all our frustration, but it felt good, it really felt good to do this with my friend. When the song ended, we couldn’t speak because we were so out of breath, but we also couldn’t stop laughing.

“That was awesome,” Sean said.

“I told you it was what we needed, handsome,” I affirmed, laughing.

With our dance, without using words, we had expelled from our bodies the sadness we were feeling minutes before, and now we were filled with an indescribable sense of peace.

“I have to admit you were right about it being good therapy,” he said, laughing. “We should do it again sometime.”

“Whenever you want.”

“I’m going to let you go because I’m suddenly feeling really tired,” Sean said.

“Go get some sleep, we’ll talk more another day.”

“I hope so. Take care and call me. I love you, gorgeous.”

“I love you too, handsome. Rest well.”

I would have liked to tell him everything that had happened with Sol, but our conversation hadn’t allowed for it, so I decided I would tell him another day.

I wasn’t sleepy yet, so I decided to do something I loved—I went to get my guitar. I’d been playing since I was six years old, and with so many years of practice, I’d become quite good. Every time I embraced it and started playing and singing, the guitar absorbed me and I let myself be carried away by themusic. It was like my escape route, I felt free. I started with the first chords and suddenly I was playing and singing “You're beautiful” by James Blunt. It was a song I enjoyed playing and singing, but deep in my heart it always made me feel sad, so I don’t know why I chose it at that moment—I simply found myself playing it.

When I was about to finish, my phone rang. It was a video call from Henry, already saved in my phone with his first and last name. It surprised me, but I must admit my heart sped up a little.

“Hello,” I whispered.

Henry’s face filled my phone screen, and I felt a flutter in my stomach seeing him looking so incredibly handsome.

“Hi. How was your meeting with your brothers?”

“It was a nice time, very enjoyable as always,” I replied.

“And what were you doing just now?”

“I was just playing the guitar.”

“You play the guitar,” he stated. “You’re a box of surprises. Keep playing and show me how you do it.”

I had never been shy about playing and singing in front of others, but with him it was different. I felt timid like never before, and I didn’t like that feeling.