It had been three months since Alessia's last seizure. She hadn't had another episode, but the lingering fear still gripped her like a vice. She woke up every day wondering if today would be the day it would happen again. Despite the medication, despite the therapies, her life had become consumed by anticipation—anticipation of when it would all fall apart again.

Her routine had settled into a new normal. She woke up early, took her medication, eating breakfast alone, as her brothers had all returned to their daily lives. Giovanni still checked on her daily, but the weight of his concern had started to feel like a burden to her. She could see it in his eyes—he was struggling to keep his own life in balance while trying to help her.

Today was different, though. As Alessia sat on the porch, sipping her coffee in the quiet of the morning, she felt a small flicker of something in her chest—hope. It was a strange, foreign feeling. Something that had been dormant for so long. Was it possible? Was it possible that things could change, that she could begin to live again without being consumed by fear?

Alessia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing the morning air to fill her lungs. The cool breeze was soothing. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel trapped. She could feel the sunlight warming her skin, and for a moment, she allowed herself to believe that things could improve.

A knock at the door broke her reverie. She didn't need to ask who it was. Giovanni's presence had become constant in her life. When he entered, she didn't look up immediately, too lost in her thoughts to acknowledge him.

"Good morning," Giovanni greeted her, his voice as warm as ever.

"Morning," she replied softly, still staring at the horizon.

Giovanni pulled up a chair beside her. "How are you feeling today?"

Alessia glanced at him, her face giving away nothing. "Same as usual. Just... tired."

Giovanni studied her for a moment before reaching out and touching her arm gently. "I know it's hard, Alessia, but I want you to know I'm here for you. Every step of the way."

Alessia pulled away slightly, a knot forming in her stomach. She didn't want to keep burdening him, but she also couldn't let go of the support he offered. She knew she needed to face the reality of her condition, but she wasn't ready to admit that her struggle was bigger than she wanted to acknowledge.

"Maybe I'm just tired of being scared," she said quietly, almost as if to herself. "Tired of living like this—waiting for the next thing to happen."

Giovanni's face softened, and he reached out to hold her hand. "I get it. But you can't live in fear, Alessia. You've already been through so much. And I know you're stronger than you think. You can keep fighting."

Alessia looked into his eyes, searching for some hint of truth in his words. "What if I'm not strong anymore?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Giovanni squeezed her hand tighter, his eyes locking with hers. "Then we'll be strong together. I'm not going anywhere."

The weight of his words hung in the air, but Alessia couldn't shake the feeling that her life was drifting further from the shore with each passing day. She was afraid to lean too much on him, afraid that she was becoming a burden. How could she be the person she once was when the fear of the seizures had become her constant companion?