Days turned into weeks, and as Alessia began to slowly adjust to her new reality, the support of her family became the one constant she could rely on. Each day, her brothers took turns checking in on her. Francesco would come over after work to make sure she was taking care of herself, Luca would bring her flowers or small surprises, and Paolo and Matteo always knew how to make her laugh when the darkness seemed to overwhelm her.

But it wasn't just their presence that began to make a difference—it was the small moments of connection, of genuine care, that allowed Alessia to believe that maybe she could survive this.

One afternoon, Alessia was sitting in the kitchen, carefully slicing vegetables for dinner, when Paolo came in, his usual carefree smile lighting up the room.

"Need any help?" he asked, leaning against the doorframe. "I could be your sous-chef."

Alessia laughed softly, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I think I've got it," she replied, though she appreciated the offer.

Paolo stepped closer, glancing at the meal she was preparing. "You're doing great. I've been thinking—maybe we could do something fun tomorrow. You, me, and Matteo. We could go for a walk in the park, get some ice cream. Just a normal day out."

Alessia felt a flicker of hope at his words. "That sounds nice," she said, though a part of her was still unsure. She wasn't ready to push herself too hard, but the idea of being outside—having a moment of normalcy—felt like something she could grasp onto.

That evening, Giovanni came over, as he always did, and when he saw Alessia preparing dinner with her brothers, his heart swelled with gratitude. He had never imagined that their family could come together like this. He'd always been the outsider—the one who was there to support but never truly part of their tight-knit bond. But now, as he watched them laugh and tease one another, he realized that his place in her life was more than just caretaker. He was family, too.

Alessia noticed the change in Giovanni, the way he seemed to breathe a little easier when he was with her brothers. She couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for him. She had never asked him to stay, to put everything on hold for her, but he had done it anyway. And that made all the difference.

As the night wore on, the family sat around the dinner table, their conversation lighthearted despite Alessia's heavy burden. It wasn't a perfect moment, but it was enough.