Months had passed since Alessia had fully re-entered the world. She had embraced a sense of independence, found her footing in the art world, and learned to balance her past with the present. Yet, something within her continued to stir, an undercurrent of anticipation for what was still to come.

Alessia stood at the edge of the rooftop, watching the city below. The sun had just set, casting long shadows over the streets, but the warmth of the evening still lingered. She had always loved the view from here—the city sprawling out before her, full of possibility.

Her mind, however, wasn't as calm as the view. Despite her outward progress, there was an underlying uncertainty. She had felt it more in recent weeks, as though something big was on the horizon. She wasn't sure whether it was the feeling of being ready for something new or the fear that something unexpected was going to disrupt her newfound peace.

A soft voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You've been standing here for hours, Alessia."

She turned to see Giovanni, her older brother, his face softened with concern. He had always been able to read her so easily, to see the thoughts she kept hidden. But tonight, she didn't have the answer for him. She was unsure herself.

"I know," she said, her voice low. "I just can't shake the feeling that something's coming."

Giovanni stepped closer, standing beside her. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know," she admitted, shaking her head. "It's like... I've been so focused on moving forward, but I keep thinking—what if I'm not ready? What if I need to face more before I can move on completely?"

He took her hand, squeezing it gently. "You don't have to do it alone, Alessia. Whatever comes next, we'll face it together."

She looked at him, her heart heavy with the weight of the words that had been unspoken between them for so long. There was still so much she hadn't told him, still so much that lingered in the shadows of her mind. She had been avoiding it—avoiding the truth about her deepest fears, her unresolved doubts. But now, as she stood there with him, she realized that maybe it was time to confront those fears, to let go of the last bits of hesitation.

"You've always been there for me," she said softly, her voice trembling. "But sometimes, I feel like there's something between us that we're not talking about. Something that's holding me back from fully moving forward."

Giovanni looked at her, his expression serious. "Alessia, I need you to know I'm here for you. But I also need you to know something about me. About how I feel."

Alessia's heart skipped a beat, uncertainty filling the pit of her stomach. She had always felt the depth of Giovanni's affection and protective care. But it was complicated. Their lives had been filled with trauma, and navigating that bond had never been simple.

"You've never really told me how you feel," she said, her words catching in her throat.

Giovanni sighed, his eyes full of emotion. "I've always cared about you, Alessia. You know that. But after everything you've been through, I wasn't sure if I should push you for more. I didn't want to add to your pain. But now... now I can't pretend that this is just about helping you recover. I want you to feel whole, I want you to feel like you've regained control of your life."

Alessia took a deep breath, her mind racing. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate Giovanni's feelings—she did, deeply. However, the complexities of her emotions had made it difficult to express them openly. Giovanni had been her rock, but he was also her brother and their relationship was unique, full of its own challenges and history.

"I don't know if I'm ready," she whispered, fear creeping back into her heart. "I still have so much to figure out."

Giovanni's hand rested on her shoulder, and he gave a small, understanding nod. "I'm not asking for anything now, Alessia. I just want you to know that I'm here. When you're ready."

Alessia let out a shaky breath, feeling a weight lift. It wasn't about pushing her to move faster but offering her the space she needed.