FOREWORD - CHAPTER 19 — The Breath of Freedom

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The afternoon at university feels exactly the same as always.

We’re sitting in our usual spot in the hallway—me, Maddie, and the others.

They talk about classes, exams, professors who change schedules at the last minute.

I listen halfway, my mind drifting somewhere else.

Then—ding.

My phone lights up.

I look at the screen.

The name I read is the one I shouldn’t have been waiting for…

and yet, deep down, I’ve been waiting for it for hours.

Kai.

For a moment, I freeze.

I take a few steps away from the group, pretending to look for signal, but the truth is I’m afraid someone might read what’s happening in my eyes.

I open the message.

“I can still smell your perfume on me.”

Heat rises to my cheeks.

I press the phone to my chest.

For a second, I feel like I’m sixteen again.

I don’t reply.

I don’t know what to say without sounding too involved.

The phone vibrates again.

“Meet me outside the university. I’m coming to get you. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

I stop breathing.

Coming to get me?

I look around, as if someone could guess what’s going on.

I should think about it.

I should at least pretend to be rational, to keep some distance.

Instead, I feel something simple, immediate, almost childish:

I want to see him.

My fingers tremble slightly as I type only:

“Okay.”

A short answer that hides all my excitement, all my fear, all my urge to run outside right now.

I slip the phone back into my pocket and walk toward the others.

I approach Maddie, trying to look normal.

“Hey, Maddie… something came up. I have to go. Can you send me the notes?”

She looks at me with a suspicious smirk.

“What kind of something?”

I don’t even have time to invent a lie before she adds:

“Does this something happen to be named Kai?”

“Maddie, don’t shout,” I whisper.

I kiss her cheek quickly, trying to hide the smile that escapes me.

“I’ll tell you later,” I say.

“Fine… but you better tell me everything.”

“Promise.”

I wave goodbye and leave before anyone else can ask questions.

As I’m about to step outside, there it is again—that feeling in my stomach that hits me every time I see him.

It’s strange, a mix of anxiety and desire I’ve never felt with anyone else.

I don’t even make it fully out the door before I see him.

He’s there.

Leaning against his car.

Casual pants, an oversized shirt, a leather jacket, sunglasses.

Even through the lenses, I can feel his eyes on me.

When I get closer, he pushes off the car and smiles.

“You got here faster than I did,” he says.

“You were quick,” I manage to reply, my voice barely steady.

Every time I see him, my brain short-circuits.

“I didn’t want to make you wait,” he says.

Then he leans in, his voice low near my ear.

“And I didn’t want to wait to see you.”

I look away, because I don’t know how to handle what he makes me feel.

He doesn’t look away from me.

He opens the passenger door and gestures.

“After you.”

I get in.

My mind starts racing.

Outside, everything passes by quickly, but inside, everything slows down.

I think about what people say about him.

The rumors, the judgments, the stories.

How they paint him as cold, dangerous, untouchable.

But with me… he isn’t any of that.

With me, he’s gentle.

Attentive.

Different.

“Where are we going?” I ask, watching the road ahead.

“You’ll see,” he says, offering nothing more.

The drive is quiet, but not uncomfortable.

After a while, the car slows down.

We enter a huge property surrounded by trees, fields, fences.

A place that feels like another world.

His world.

We get out, and a man in his fifties walks toward us, hat on his head, hands worn from work.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Kai,” he says respectfully.

“Afternoon, Artur,” Kai replies.

“Good afternoon, miss.”

“Hi,” I say with a smile.

“Come,” Kai says.

He takes my hand.

A simple gesture, but it sends a warm shock through me.

He leads me toward the stables.

The smell of hay, the sound of hooves, the creaking wood—everything feels strangely comforting.

He stops in front of a stall.

Inside stands a dark horse, elegant, sharp-eyed.

“This is Orion,” he says.

“He’s beautiful,” I whisper, stepping closer.

“I love horses. My mom used to take me riding when I was little. How did you know?”

“I didn’t,” he says.

Then he looks at me.

“Maybe we’re more alike than you think.”

We move to the next stall.

Inside is a lighter horse, younger, curious.

“And this is the new one,” he says.

“Hi, sweetheart,” I say, stroking her head.

A huge smile spreads across my face.

“What’s her name?” I ask.

“You’ll choose it.”

“Me?”

My voice jumps a little.

“Of course. You’ll be riding her.”

“Riding?” I repeat, surprised.

“Yes. That’s why we’re here.”

My eyes sting.

I don’t cry, but I’m close.

Why does he do this for me?

Why does he look at me like that?

Why does he make me feel… important?

Maybe… maybe he’s starting to feel something too.

“So?” he asks. “The name?”

“I’ll think about it,” I say, still petting her.

“Alright,” he smiles. “Later.”

He turns to the caretaker.

“Artur, get the horses ready. Thanks.”

“Right away, sir.”

A few minutes later, the horses are saddled.

“It’s been a long time since I rode,” I admit, a little tense.

“Don’t worry. I’m with you. We’ll go slow.”

He helps me mount.

His hands on my waist make me lose balance for a second, but he steadies me instantly.

Then he mounts his horse.

We start moving, slow and steady.

“How long have you had this place?” I ask.

“A few years. I love nature. And horses. When I ride… I feel free. It’s a feeling you don’t get often.”

I look at him.

I listen.

And I understand he’s not just talking about horses.

“Then let’s feel that freedom,” I say.

“How?” he asks, confused.

I give him a smile that should explain everything.

He understands.

And shakes his head.

“No, Vale. I know what you’re about to do. You could get lost. You don’t know the place.”

I don’t let him finish.

I nudge the horse.

She takes off.

Slow at first, then faster.

“Vale!” he shouts behind me.

Then I hear it—

his laugh.

A real one.

And he takes off too.

The wind cuts across my face.

My heart races.

Adrenaline surges through me like electricity.

I turn to see where he is.

He’s right beside me.

We look at each other.

And in that look, there’s everything—challenge, freedom, life.

I open my arms as I ride, letting the air rush through me.

I feel alive—more alive than ever.

I take the reins again, breathing deeply.

Around us, the trees sway, the leaves trembling as if cheering us on.

Kai gets closer, close enough to touch.

He reaches out his hand.

I reach mine.

Our fingers meet.

And the feeling is stronger than the wind.

We slow down.

Laughing.

Then stop, facing each other.

Above us, the trees form a natural dome, a circle of branches.

In the center, an opening lets a soft golden light fall right on us.

We stay there.

Still.

Just us.

Our eyes speaking more than words ever could.

It feels like the world is spinning around us, but we’re frozen in place.

Suspended in a moment I can’t explain.

Then something breaks the spell.

My horse steps back suddenly.

Too far.

I feel the ground give way under her hoof—a hole.

She panics, rears up.

I lose control.

“Vale, watch out!” Kai shouts.

I can’t steady her.

She rears again.

And I fall.

A sharp impact.

My head hits the ground.

Everything goes dark.

When I open my eyes, I don’t know where I am.

The light is warm, dim.

I’m lying on a couch in a room that smells like wood.

“What… what are we doing here?” I whisper.

Kai is beside me.

He touches my face with a trembling hand.

“Vale… how do you feel?”

“I remember falling… then nothing.”

“I was scared,” he says quietly.

“Here, drink some water.”

I take a sip.

He leans closer—too close.

He looks at me like he almost lost something he didn’t know he needed.

“I was afraid something happened to you,” he murmurs.

I look at him too.

We lean in.

It happens without thinking.

Our lips are about to touch—

“Ow…” I whisper.

Kai freezes.

“What is it?”

“My ankle…”

“Your ankle?”

He kneels, gently taking it in his hands.

“It’s swollen… but not broken.”

Outside, the sky shifts.

A thunderclap breaks the silence.

We both look toward the large window.

“Oh no…” I say. “A storm’s coming.”

“Yeah,” he replies.

“We should stay here tonight.”

“I… I can’t,” I stammer.

“Vale, you need to rest. You took a bad fall. And with this storm, it’s pointless to leave.”

I stay quiet.

He’s right.

“Okay,” I say softly.

“I’ll tell my mom I’m staying at a friend’s.”

Kai moves closer again, still tense.

“I’ll take you upstairs,” he says. “There are clothes there. You can shower.”

He’s about to lift me.

I tense up, embarrassed.

“No… really, I can walk.”

“No way,” he says firmly.

“There are stairs. I’ll help you.”

He’s about to pick me up, and his eyes lock onto mine again—

that magnetic look that pulls me in.

“Hold on to me,” he says. “Arms around my neck.”

I hesitate.

Then I do it.

He lifts me easily.

We go up the stairs slowly, his steps steady.

We reach a bright, tidy room with a large bed.

He sets me down gently, then opens the wardrobe, a little awkward.

“There are clothes here… take whatever you want.”

“Thanks,” I say.

Then, with a small smile:

“I can manage now. The stairs were the hard part… and my ankle’s already better.”

He nods.

“Alright. I’ll go make dinner.”

He leaves and closes the door.

I lie back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling.

Everything feels surreal.

Me.

Here.

With him.

In a situation I never imagined.

My phone buzzes.

A message from my mom.

Okay sweetheart, goodnight. See you tomorrow.

I get up, limping slightly.

I shower quickly—the warm water easing the tension.

Back in the room, I look for something to wear.

I find a simple white dress, soft and light.

Not too short.

It falls on me perfectly.

I walk downstairs slowly, barefoot, careful with my ankle.

The house is dimly lit.

The fireplace glows softly.

The crackling fills the silence.

Kai is in the kitchen, back turned, cooking.

When he turns and sees me, he stops.

I touch a strand of hair, embarrassed.

“Um… I found this dress…”

He freezes for a second, then smiles—

a shy smile I never expected from him.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

I look around.

He’s set a blanket on the floor, with cushions.

A low table.

Two plates.

Everything arranged in front of the fire.

“Come,” he says, holding two glasses of wine.

“I thought you might be cold… so I set everything here.”

“This is perfect,” I say, sitting down.

There’s a quiet tension between us—

the good kind.

The kind that happens when two people are alone for the first time,

with a storm outside

and a fire inside.

A situation I didn’t plan.

But maybe that’s the beauty of life:

the unexpected.

It arrives when you least expect it.

And it’s what makes everything feel more natural,

more real,

more beautiful.

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