leonardo-fontanaâ:
Leo could melt upon hearing the softness of her tone as she responded to his trivial â but true â praise. Even after all the uncertainty he had put her through, she still had kindness in her heart. He thought how amazing that was; and how terrible heâd been; and how he knew she was the only one. It broke his heart how much she was crying in that moment. He imagined how many nights she had spent shedding tears for him while he was away. His eye lids fluttered shut as he stood there with Flor in his arms, sniffling and silently weeping against his chest. When he felt her pull away from him, he could have sworn she was about to either hold forth or fulminate. He opened his eyes to meet her gaze. Her brows were furrowed, indicating her unpleasant reaction. Leo inhaled sharply, bracing himself for what was to come. Instead what transpired was her show of genuine concern for him. Leoâs eyebrows shot upwards as she interrogated him in worry. He almost chuckled as she inspected his appearance; but he didnât. He shook his head and cupped her cheeks once more, wiping her tears with his thumbs. âI was, but not in the way that you think.â He answered but did not expound because he wasnât at Florâs doorstep to rant. He wasnât there to talk about his problems, or to give her excuses for the way he acted. He was there to apologise. He was there for her, not for himself.
Leo quickly brought his hands up to catch her wrists but he wasnât fast enough. He wanted her arms around him for longer but he was also aware that he wasnât in the position to choose how long she wanted to embrace him. He held on tightly as her hands found his. He held them as if she would slip away at any time. When she exhaled, her teary eyes staring up at him, he felt a pang of guilt. She had sad eyes. âIâm sorry.â He repeated. Before he could speak again, she asked him to come inside. Surprised, however unable to decline, Leo nodded in response. He released one of her hands to gather his belongings.Â
He allowed her to lead the way, letting go of her grip. He carried his bags inside but left them by the side of the front door. He closed the door behind him and turned the lock before taking a brief look of his surroundings. Itâs been a while since his last visit. He wondered if he still had things lying around somewhere. Florâs abode was cosy, and warm; it filled him with love, and pleasant memories. He approached the sofa with a weary smile and sat on the cushion she was patting. âIt hasnât been long since I returned and youâre already bossing me around.â He teased before taking a deep breath. âIt doesnât really matter right now because Iâm not here to burden you with my problems or make feeble excuses for leaving you like that.â He acknowledge with a shrug. âIâm here to tell you Iâm sorry, and to let you know that you didnât deserve it.â He added, almost in a firm manner. âIf you want to punish me, I understand. I accept that. I just want to say that Iâm genuinely sorry, Flor.â He said, tone become softer. He reached over and tucked her hair behind one ear. âAnd that I love you.â He stammered.
everything was happening all at once and too quickly for her brain to catch up to her heart, and florentina was having a hard enough time trying to make sense of it all. but the reality of it was, she knew above all else that she was very much in love with the man whose arms were wound around her. whose hands shifted to rest against her cheeks, thumbs brushing away her fallen tears with nothing but sheer tenderness in his gaze as she took in a shuddering breath. her own rich hues met his with a true vulnerability, like she was opening this part of herself back up that had been dormant for as many months as leonardo had been gone from her life. but it was his response that had her cocking her head slightly, palm chasing his touch still but a slightly pained confusion to her expression. âbut you were hurt?â florentina asked, her hold on him a little more firm, and while she wanted him to elaborate, maybe he needed a little more time. maybe they both did. so she held onto his hands desperately as he took hers in his, shaking her head at his profuse apologies. âdonât amore,â her voice was quiet, just barely above a whisper as she began sniffling, âitâs okay.â
florentina had spent so much of her time missing, and longing, and waiting for this very moment. she had been angry, and scared, and lonely. confused, even, as to what had whisked the love of her life away on that fateful day that he had told her heâd be leaving. certainly she knew his family was in america, but she always had to wonder what it was that pulled him back home .. had tore him away from her. whatever it was, though, it had to have been for good cause, and florentina could see that written all over his face. she didnât need his apologies, although they were nice to hear and maybe sheâd ask for a few more before the night was out, but truly, she just needed him. so she pulled him into her home, and there was a part of her that was more than glad that he brought his bags in along with him. it had been awhile since she had last welcomed him into her space, but it felt like second nature, and there wasnât a single ounce of hesitance in her voice as she called for him to sit across from her on the couch.
âthereâs nothing wrong with me wanting you closer or asking for a few answers ...â she nearly felt nervous for admitting that outloud, only scared for a second that leonardo would look at her as a weak woman. instead of yelling in his face and getting angered over not hearing from him in so long, she just wanted to pull him back in and be with him again. but then he was speaking up, and his words were enough to split her heart wide open. her knees knocked against his as she edged closer to the end of the coffee table, yet again searching for his hands so she had some part of him to hold onto as she slotted herself between his legs. âleo, i ... i donât want to punish you,â she started, breath catching in her throat as her brows were pulled together in worry, âi was upset. and angry, mostly confused, when you left but ... leo, i just missed you. there wasnât a day that went by where i didnât think of you. wonder about what was going on with you .. being in the shop was hard enough some days, i mean, shit leo being here without you was ...â she couldnât even finish, flor just shook her head as she inhaled, âwhatever made you leave, amore, i know it had to have been important. and the fact that youâre here now ... baby, itâs okay.â letting go of one of his hands, she brought her palm up to rest against his cheek now, her touch gentle and soft. âi love you ... so much,â she breathed, other hand coming to rest against his neck as she leaned forward to press a kiss against the corner of his mouth before her forehead met his. there was that familiar urge to cry, either out of relief or concern or some other conflicting emotion. but instead she just focused on leonardo, and having him back, and whatever that came with. âjust talk to me, leo, please. itâs not a burden on me. i want to hear it all.â













