A way to stay

***

An Uplifting Prayer

Heavenly Father, I look around and find sadness all around. Life is difficult for so many. The wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer. I search for answers, but alas, nothing makes sense of all the sorrow. Comfort my soul, O Lord. Send Your Spirit to impart peace and understanding. Kindle the flame of Your love in my heart, that I might be able to ease the pain of my neighbor and bring glory to Your name. In Your dear Son’s name,

Amen.

***

-This is boring… - Ave complained. Georgio looked at her with a confused pout.

-You want to dance, ma’am? – He suggested with a smirk planted on his lips earning him a glare. Ave angrily pointed at her legs as he sweat dropped. – Okay, ma’am, what would entertain you? – He took a sip from his glass. – You already drank a tray of wine so what else could there be? – He chuckled mockingly. Ave rolled her eyes.

-My room. – She answered.

-Oh my, no manners, inviting a man into such acti-

-Shut it before, you get castrated. – She whisper-shouted. He put his hands up in defeat, asking her to calm down, still sweat dropping.

-Are you sure? Isn’t a bit early to put an end to the night? – He asks her as if he begged her to keep him company or maybe it was the opposite.

-It’s not like I can move much. – She chuckled, leaning onto her palm.

-You don’t seem popular as well. - He added.

- Where did that come from? -  She asked shocked, almost falling off her chair.

- Well, unlike Leo, no one approached us to talk to you, nor looked our way. – Georgio said equally confused by that fact.

-Ahhh, well… Maybe. –Ave muttered looking at the ground. – Just take me to my room. – She sighed and Georgio helped her exit the ball room and then fetched her to her room in bridal style.

-Rest. You drank quite a lot down there. – Georgio said after placing her on the bed, proceeding to leave the room. And she nodded even though he couldn’t see her.

-Thanks. – She spoke causing him to stop before the door.

-Ah, yes, you’re quite heavy- Ave glared daggers into his back and he knew. - About what? – Georgio asked seriously, not looking back but rather lowering his head, facing the floor.

- For keeping me company. – She spoke indifferently, as if it were obvious. Out of respect, good manners. “It was my pleasure.” “Thank you, too” was it what he had to say? Ridiculous.

- Leo asked me, don’t get the wrong impression, ma’am. – He turned around and smirked at her. – It’s not like I would do shit for your sake. – Ave smirked back closing her eyes.

- I am aware, don’t worry. – She answered, taking her shoes off. Georgio stared at her for what seemed an hour but it was less than a minute before exiting the room without saying a word.

***

Ave was bored out of her mind. The alcohol had excited her and now she couldn’t sleep a blink. The sheets on her bed were a mess from her constant turning left and right.

Suddenly a knock was heard on the door and she had high-hopes it is someone whom would take her out of this devastating endless nightmare.

-         Yes. – She spoke loudly enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear her. The door creaked open.

-         Missed me much? – Leo asked closing the door carefully behind him.

-         Ha, not at all. – She chuckled with a smirk. Leo playfully frowned in response. – Couldn’t get away? – Ave asked sitting on her bed. Leo sighed.

-         And there are still guests down there. Imagine. – He spoke like a child. – But I have something for you. – He spoke again, having Ave’s attention all to himself as she was intrigued. From behind his back he showed her two bottles of Birra Milano. Ave’s eyes widened with excitement. Leo opened both bottles, handing her one. He sat beside her on the bed.       She leaned on his shoulder and they both chucked down the liquid.

Ave let her empty bottle roll on the floor and laid down, her head on Leo’s lap. He was still drinking.

-         Have you ever been in love? – Leo asked, piercing the perfectly comfortable silence. Ave glanced at his bottle.

-         … I don’t think so. – She averted her eyes towards Leo who was now playing with her hair. He was dreamingly looking somewhere into space.

-         Do you want me to describe it to you? – Silence. Leo didn’t move an inch but he went on speaking even without an answer. Ave knew she’d regret it. – It is like wandering in a field of flowers, your own garden… until someone warm and safe comes to join you. And you hold them but… Thy eventually burn away from your embrace. They disappear back to where they came from. They leave no ashes; they burn down your garden of flowers. But of course, that is because it wasn’t real to begin with... It’s funny. You could laugh about it to tears and then… cry until you go blind. From there on it is like mourning on a grave to every single of your dead flowers… - Leo spoke slowly, a tear eventually formed in his eye. But he didn’t move a muscle. Ave stared at him softly. He looked down at her, smiling painfully. – That’s what love feels like. – He said and fell asleep. Ave stared at him. She extended her hand towards his face but pulled it back to her side. She moved next to him and tried falling asleep. But the burning worry in her chest would not leave her alone. She knew too well what he had talked about.