Love conquers all

The last bell of the day rang and I went to the locker to drop off my books and notebooks, took the biology work to complete and put it back in my bag.

At the exit of the school I was about to go down the first step, when I heard someone talking behind me: “Are you going to the hospital?” I turned a little startled, to look at the source of the voice behind me and saw Nathan, leaning against the wall.

“Yes, I’m going to the hospital.”

“Well, me too! Would you like to walk together?”

“Sure why not!” Along the way he told me about his sister, about his old school, I would not have said it but he was not one of few words. A very pleasant walk!

When we got to the hospital we went to Nathan’s father’s office.

“Hello guys!” He greeted us warmly. “You wait here, in my study “; he said, inviting his son to come in, as he escorted me into a room to proceed with the allergy test. The result was that I was also allergic to peach hair, so from that moment on, I would only see them in the refrigerated counter of the supermarket, or at the fruit market stall.

“We’re done, Myra.”

“Thank you Dr. Johnson!”

“Please call me by my name: Ivan.” He asked me as he was about to open the door to go out. “Okay, Ivan. See you tonight for dinner.” I said as I left the room. Just at that moment Doctor Leporis was passing in the corridor who greeted me: “Hi Myra. Why are you here?”

“I had anaphylactic shock yesterday and came for prick tests.”

“Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?”

“Yes, I’m still thinking about it.”

“There’s no time to waste, so don’t think about it too much.”

“I’ll give you an answer as soon as possible.”

“Well, see you soon Myra.”

“See you soon, Doc.” I greeted Doctor Leporis, hoping that Ivan would not ask me anything. No, I didn’t have that luck!

“What was Dr. Leporis referring to?”

“Yesterday I came for tests and we found out that I have glioblastoma.” A grimace of regret appeared on his face, he was a doctor so he knew very well what I was talking about.

“Don’t tell Nathan anything. I want to be the one to talk to him about it when I’m ready.”

“I am a doctor, therefore I am bound by professional secrecy.”

“That’s why I told you!”

“Remember as Doctor Leporis already told you, don’t waste time.”

“See you tonight.” I said lowering my head and starting to walk. Passing by Ivan’s studio I called Nathan: “I’ve finished the tests. We can go.”

“Good, let’s go!” Nathan said as he got up from his chair and left his father’s office.

After saying goodbye and updating my mother on the prick test results, we went to my room to complete the biology report.

Sitting next to each other at my desk, we were deciding how to connect our works.

“I reread yours and you reread mine, then we connect them!” Nathan offered this proposal which seemed tempting to me, so I accepted. I was focused on reading when I noticed a point where I wanted to add an annotation and reached out to grab the pen. At the same moment my hand reached the pen, my fingers crossed those of Nathan who, by sheer coincidence, was trying to grab the pen too. Our eyes met and we stood there for some time, staring at each other. It might have seemed like one of those awkward moments, but I didn’t feel anything embarrassing, mostly and oddly aroused. Then I smiled at him and he kindly said to me: “You take the pen, then you pass it to me.”

“Thank you.”

After about an hour, the biology report was over.

“Do you want to be a doctor like your father?” I asked him because I was really impressed with his work, it was very accurate and I couldn’t have done better myself.

“Yes, I’d like that very much, I’ve always been attracted to science subjects.”

“You are talented, not that I’m an expert, but during the school years I have never had a group homework companion, or a couple as in this case, as accurate and exhaustive, precise as you.”

“I take this to be a compliment then, thank you.”

“Please, even if there is nothing to be thankful about because it is simply the truth.”

“Myra!” Screamed my mother calling my attention from who knows where.

“Come on, let’s go see what my mother wants.” She was in the kitchen helping the cook prepare dinner. She loved cooking, but desserts weren’t her specialty.

“Did you guys finish your biology report?” She asks us, busy shredding a few sprigs of parsley.

“Yes, we just finished.”

“Would you like to make a dessert? You know we like your sweets and it would be a kind way to return the kindness of the doctor.” My mother said, who has always been used to taking care of the pack and making sure that everyone feels loved and considered.

“It’s fine for me, but we have a guest ...” I said referring to Nathan’s presence, but he didn’t let me finish talking.

“Oh no I want to help, I wouldn’t know how to be doing nothing while the others are working.”

“But the dessert should also be for you! To thank you for saving my life.” I told him in a voice full of emotion, it was the truth, without his intervention I probably would not have been there at that moment.

“Thank you, your thought is really kind, but I did what needed to be done and I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Don’t be modest, you’ve been a superhero, a rock star, a God of Olympus. You should take credit without being humble.”

“Exaggerations, anyway if you don’t want me to help you prepare the dessert, let me help in some other way.”

“You, you will help me, because I want to know step by step what happened at the canteen yesterday.” My mother said to Nathan, handing him a kitchen apron.

“Mom ...” I told her with a tone of reproach, she was always the usual curious one.

“What is it ?! I’m just curious!” She exclaimed to me with feigned naivety. I shrugged, it was useless to argue because Nathan began to tell the story in detail. Perhaps with too many details that it was best to leave out, knowing my mom that she was the overly apprehensive type of mom. But he didn’t know her yet!

When everything was ready, as if they were Swiss watches, Ivan and Silvia, my father Nicola and Val went into the dining room to take their seats at the table.

“Good evening everyone!” Greeted my father.

“Dinner will start in a few minutes.” My mother said like a perfect host.

“Good evening everyone, she is my daughter, Silvia”; Ivan said pointing to a little girl with blond hair and big blue eyes, thin and tall up to his chest.

“Hi Silvia, welcome! How old are you?” My curious mother asked her.

“I am twelve years old!” She answered in a small voice. After some chatter we took our places for dinner.

At the table I was sitting next to Nathan and my brother jokingly said: “Nathan, I made you the invitation for dinner and you sit next to my sister? This is not fair at all.” Nathan moved as if he were uncomfortable in his chair and was about to say something, but I anticipated him: “Nathan is more of my guest than yours! Don’t you feel like you’re acting like a kid?”

“But I made him the invitation!”

“You just anticipated me”; I retorted confidently, even if it wasn’t true, because I hadn’t thought about it, but it was what I should have done to thank my savior.

“For real?”

“For real!”

“Know this... I was just kidding!” Val said as if nothing had happened, with a hateful grin on his face and at that moment I was really angry, this was one of our quarrels.

“Val, I’ll kill you!” I said trying to get up from the chair but Nathan put a hand on my thigh under the table. Suddenly I turned my head towards him, looked into his eyes and in an instant my anger was gone.

“Guys please stop, we have guests tonight. Be respectful of them, please!” My mother said with her usual respect for labels.

“Yes mom”; we answered in chorus, Val and I like two children who had just been scolded.

“So what or who brought you here in our pack?” My father asked, looking in Ivan’s direction.

“Nobody, we needed a change of scenery. Last year my wife died, it happened during a rogues attack. For me the loss of my Mate was like dying and if it weren’t for the two of them ...“, he paused for a moment to look at his two children and trying to control his emotions. Nathan put both hands on his thighs and looked down, it was clear, looking at him, that it was still a cause of suffering even after a year. Instinctively I took his hand under the table and squeezed it gently, he raised his gaze to meet mine, that was full of understanding for his pain. I couldn’t fully understand his suffering, but I could imagine how difficult it is to lose a mother.

“I’m really sorry! Children are our strength. Even if not everyone can overcome the pain of losing their Mate, you did it and if you are here there must be a reason.” My mother said, trying to convey her admiration.

“We are happy that you have chosen us!” Val said with a smile, proud to have these people in their pack, who would someday be his own.

After that moment of sadness, the dinner continued pleasantly.

When it came time to eat the dessert my mother said: “Ivan, the next course will be the dessert and it was made by Myra to thank you for your kind visit yesterday”; my mother beamed.

“Thank you very much, Myra. As I have already told you this is my job, but I thank you for the wonderful gesture.” Ivan thanked me, reaching out to touch my hand.

“It was a pleasure, really!” That was really the simplest thing I could do to thank them.