Between mountains and tears

She was under the hot shower, trying to organize her feelings, a wounded animal trying to stifle her moans so he wouldn't hear, and even though she was trying her best to rebuke the sounds coming from her chest, the sound of his soul tearing, the sound of despair, yet he heard it!

"Open this door, please!" I'm asking, Nina... open it.

For a second the image of him hugging the door passed through her mind, feeling sick, like the day they checked into the hospital in Rome. Nina ran all wet and opened the door.

She stared at him, her red eyes still wet with tears and bathwater.

"Is everything all right, David?" Responds! Are you okay?

- He hugged her and she tried to get away from that hug, she knew it would be her surrender. She tried to disguise it by showing that she was all wet, that she needed to finish her shower. He didn't let go. They fought gently until she gave up trying to get away from him. That's when she was quiet with her face and hair soaked with water on his chest. He closed his eyes and couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

— Let it come! Chi…” he spoke, eyes closed, as he cradled her in the warmth of his body.

It was such a resentful cry that it made her sob! Nina cried as much as the day they found they were infected with the coronavirus in their hospital bed. Both took care of each other that night. Again he took her to the bedroom, combed her hair, accommodated her and stayed close to her without saying a word. He only kissed her forehead, her face, her eyes drenched with tears. She cried herself to sleep in his arms, which were her warmth and comfort.

The next day they both got up early. He had a thousand calls to make, a thousand things to finish. That's what he had been doing so much for the past few weeks. He was already putting all his projects and plans into practice. The distance didn't stop him from working like a hurricane. Nina already knew that. But I didn't imagine it would be so hard to hear that that day was almost at the door. She packed up pretty much everything that was his that day. And acted as if she had accepted and resigned herself to this last weekend with him. While he was super busy with his chores, Nina talked to Kara and Lyon on the phone as she did every day, put on a workout outfit, walked over to him, who was talking to someone on the phone, gave him a kiss and said goodbye in gestures.

- Will leave?

“Yeah, I'm going to take a walk, climb the mountain from here and get some air, and leave you alone to work. Kara and Lyon can't go, but, I need to get away, you know…?

“I don't need you to leave me alone, Nina.

- I know. You know what I mean. I'm going to unwind, uncoil, unglue you... I'm a piece of gum, you know.

"And are you going out for the day?" Were we not going to enjoy my last days here together?

— Yes, we were. I mean, let's go. But you're too busy, I don't want to disturb you.

As Nina spoke, he was already changing his sweatshirt. He knew she wanted to run away. He knew she was sick inside, and that when she felt like that, she tried to isolate herself.

- So let's go! David said, taking her car keys.

- All right then. Let's go. she said, smiling because he always knew what was going on in her head.

She gave his lips an affectionate peck, grabbed a picnic basket, two backpacks and went to tour the sights of Bergen. Nina was his tour guide.

— There is a very well-known route, the 7 sisters! 7 mountains that connect. But this walk takes more than five hours. Lyon has already given me everything. We can climb through Stoltzen, which is an endless stairway to the top of the mountain. Stoltzekleiven is a paved, steep walking path with stairs of approximately 722 steps in Bergen to Sandviksfjellet. Stoltzekleiven is one of the most popular hiking trails here. Look here on the map, Rich. The landscapes are really worth it. Very much! It's breathtaking. - Nina explained, on the way, while David drove.

"We can park the car and walk downtown." There is an amusement park set up there, and there are electric scooters all over the city, we rent them through the phone app, there are electric bikes, and there are cable cars too. What do you prefer? Nina asked.

"Let's do them all." The day is beautiful! David said. "Let's enjoy it, agreed?"

"Yes," she replied, all satisfied. So he continued:

“I'll make a few calls between walks, but it won't get in our way. I'm still on leave until Monday.

Every time David brought up the subject of his departure, Nina's heart felt like it was taking shocks. That shadow in his eyes was inevitable. He was also sorry, but they had promised they wouldn't talk about it anymore. They had a pact! In an immediate attempt to disguise her feelings, she sought to divert his attention, continued talking about the possible routes they could choose:

— We can start with Fløyen, which is the closest area to the center of the seven mountains and the city's favorite hiking area. Fløyen is easily accessible on foot, being located opposite the centre. The climb starts at Vågsbunnen and you can choose between Tippetue, Fløysvingene and Kvamsvingene. That's what it's saying here on the city's tourist sites.

— An alternative is the Fløibanen, the electric cable car. You'll love making a video and seeing the city from the tram. I recommend! It is especially popular with tourists. Nina read the information on the phone and David listened to her.

"You're trying to avoid the walk." You want to go up by train so you don't have to go up on foot. Then David heard Nina's laughter. “Besides, we can't be around other tourists.

“No. It's not that. We get on and off by cable car if there's no people in line, we don't touch anything, we wear our disinfectant gel and our masks, then we go up the mountain again on foot, how's that? I'll read here for you what Lyon sent me:

Fløibanen lower station is located near Bryggen and Fisketorget. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance in good weather. — In this case, today. But I hope there are few people due to the pandemic. At the top of Fløyen, at the highest station in Fløibanen, we will find a panoramic plateau with a beautiful view of the city center and Byfjorden. 'If we get hungry there's a kiosk upstairs, a cafe and a restaurant with a beer hall and a terrace. But I brought our food! - She said smiling.

David and Nina took pictures of the most beautiful landscapes along their walk, the two stopped to have a "pic-nic" in the fresh air, only with nature as their witness. The two of them crouched by a tree, set up a swing net, spread a towel on the lawn, and made themselves at home. Nina leaning against the tree, her back against the tree trunk, while David was lying on Nina on his back at the level of her belly. The two listened to music with headphones on the same playlist. They ate, read a few chapters of a book, argued about that chapter, and started walking again. They spent the whole day out in the open, contemplating the beauty that Mother Nature offered them for free. Everything looked better at the end of the walk. They breathed better, improved their mood even more,

Soon night fell and the two were still descending the mountains. They stopped in front of Fløyen, the cable car station that took tourists to the top of Fløyfjellet Mountain. They walked to a well-known little street where people used to buy hot dogs and homemade sausages, handmade, and other ready-to-eat foods on the street after parties.

David drew attention wherever he went. He kept his cap, mask, and hood on, which she insisted on always adjusting, yet people turned to look. That tall man walking down the street, showing off his defined muscles in that sweaty sportswear... he was even bigger next to Nina, as she was only 1.63 tall, had long hair down to her bottom and a beautiful body. , despite never having attended gyms.

Nina wanted to go home, but David didn't. He wanted to sit in the outdoor bars, wanted to prolong the night while they were gone. He knew that at home it was inevitable to think they would be apart after two days. The two got used to each other. They slept together for months, not a day they hadn't made love since they got better from covid-19 symptoms in Italy. They ate together, played online games, played cards, dominoes and whatever else they could come up with, to pass the time without getting bored during the quarantine. David had even adopted Kara and Lyon as friends . . . each was the shadow of the other. And soon the shadows would be parted.

David was recovered. He hadn't been taking any medication since he arrived in Norway, there was no need. He managed to rest his body and soul, that's what he answered when Nina asked. I haven't done that for decades! He was more than ready to resume his acting life, although there were still restrictions in terms of crowding and social distance, many countries monitored the record of pandemic cases and already relaxed the rules.

They sat outside the most popular bars on Bryggen, the main street in the center of Bergen, and there they stayed for hours talking, enjoying the night. David told about his projects, about everything he was going to do in the next few months. In September he already had a movie release that would start his new era by playing a new character in theaters.

“You, stranger. What are you going to do?

- Me? I'll be quiet in my corner. I'll work Monday through Friday, and one weekend a month. I'm going to give dance lessons to foreign women again, in a social inclusion project, when the training centers reopen, of course! One day when all this passes, I will travel and see the most amazing places in the world. And I'm definitely going to find a husband and get married as soon as possible.

David narrowed his eyes, looking at her seriously. She couldn't hold back a loud, mocking laugh.

- Do not worry. I will not send the invitation. Nina said, laughing at his serious expression.

- For! It's not funny!

- He is well. I already stopped. she said, immediately stopping the banter.

- I have a purpose for you. Now let's get serious. "He proposed."

- Is good. Nina said, demonstrating that she was all ears for him.

“We can keep talking on the phone, on video calls, and whenever I have a day off you can come stay with me. Whatever or wherever. We can keep it that way for years Nina. It doesn't have to be the end.

“No. My answer is no.

David leaned back in his chair and folded his hands. I wasn't buying that refusal.

“I want to continue living after you're gone. What you want? That I go into depression, lock myself in a dark room, and get sick every time you or I leave?

David even leaned in his chair to get closer to her.

— I will probably cry, yes, I will cry for a few days, after all, it was very good to be with you, everything we experienced was very good, I will never forget. And I want to thank you for these wonderful moments! You were a real gentleman, a real pervert, naughty, and very affectionate. And above all, very human... super humble. You are really fantastic! Incredible! And for these reasons I will miss you...

...But I will survive, David. I'm going to go on with my life, and I'm going to go on well! That's why I beg you, listen to me carefully, don't feel guilty, don't let yourself down, don't get carried away by worries. Are you listening to me? You gave me the world! I'll be fine. Go there and shine! Conquer everything you still have to conquer and live life! Don't let society oppress you or dictate what you can or cannot do. Don't get sick again, fight!

- Without you? Won't you tell me you'll always be here if I need you? he asked uneasily.

“No. It's too cliché. Everything about us is too cliché. I will be here yes. I'm not going anywhere, but I'll be here for me!

After a while in silence, the two kept looking at each other...

- I want to ask you something.

“Yes. Anything.

“Forgive me for what I'm going to say now, but I don't want you to come to me. David's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want you to call me, not even as a friend." I don't want my name mentioned wherever you go.

"Are you breaking up with me for good?" he asked with a very sad expression on his face.

“No. We can't finish what we've got! We will never finish. We'll just walk away. I want this love to be eternalized. I want to remember what we have like this, as long as it hasn't been broken, as long as we could do anything, just because we're together! What we've had so far will be what I'll take with me forever!

— but... but we can do anything! We can be together! Don't you see that what we live is one in a million chances?

“Yeah, and you're going to be special for the rest of my life, Dave. But I just want to be quiet here, I want to be busy day and night, I want to let time pass. And if you call me, if I call you, if there's even the slightest chance of us meeting even once a year, do you know what's going to happen to me?

David held both of her hands on the table.

“I'm going to be a ghost living in your shadows. I don't want this for me! I can never really meet someone if I have the hope that we'll see each other. I will waste years of my life dedicated to you. Until the day that you, by text message or phone, will tell me that it is no longer possible. And I need to ensure my sanity. I have it now, and I intend to keep it. I'd rather live now all the pain I have to live at once when you're gone. Choosing to live waiting for you is like killing me every day little by little for long years… I choose me!

"It wouldn't be like that." he said, wiping away a tear.

- And how would it be? Like Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin? - She said continuing.

"You don't need to explain anything anymore... I don't want to hear your reasons anymore... That's enough!" Don't say anything anymore because when you say it, it hurts! he snapped.

- Look. You are offering me far more than anyone in the world would want from you. Like I said, you are amazing! I don't even have the words to tell you how special you are as a person. But I'm already resigned, I'm happy and satisfied with what I've had so far. After you leave at dawn from Sunday to Monday, you have to swear to me with your word of honor that you'll let me go on. Swear it, David!

"No. I don't swear anything!" "I won't let you do this to us!"

"It's not fair to me!" Look at me! What will become of me if you manage to disarm me? I'll turn into a bark, a leaf in the wind, if that doesn't work. I know how it will all end. It's always you who end your relationships and women are devastated. Forget male pride!

“I made mistakes, yes. I'm just a man!

'Look at me, David. Now I'm in the position to refuse you, because I'm fine, I've prepared myself all these months for this farewell. And if you come now, don't take that oath or don't keep it, I won't be so strong later when you've disarmed me, and if you suddenly come to the conclusion that the distance has cooled your feelings, or that you've met someone in your footage or in thousands of other events…It will break me into thousands of pieces! Is not fair! I am prepared for that outcome now!

David shook his head, clearly expressing that he didn't agree with any of this. And he released a:

— "BULLSHIT!"

'Accept it, Richard! Swear! Don't be selfish with me! I do not deserve!

"You're being cowardly!"

“Yes. I admit it, I am.

Said Nina, as the two wiped the river of tears that was running down their faces.

— Swear! Nina reached out to him.

He removed his closed hand from his mouth and took her hand.

'Speak the words, David. It's a promise of honor. And neither of us can ever go back, no matter what. You go back to your world and I go back to mine. I won't feel safe until you swear it.

— How childish! How old are you now? David snapped, outraged at her actions.

“It's not childishness, but honoring a promise.

Nina explained her feelings in an attempt to get him to swear and continued:

- Speak! I swear. I swear I won't bother you. I swear I'll let you be happy, leave you alone, let you move on. I'll never call you or look for you. Just say: I swear. Only that.

"I swear it too!" David said, clearly irritated. — Okay, everything you said. I swear.

- He is well. That's better!

It took a few minutes for them to compose themselves.

"Shall we go to the house now?"

- Let's go! - He said with a very serious expression on his face, getting up immediately.

When she got home, Nina was soon ready for bed. They were very tired, having completed the clichéd tour list for this Friday. They took all the pictures they could take together all day. Pictures of the “pic-nic” in the mountains, isolated, instead of going to the restaurants in Bergen that had been working for some time, as well as the discos too, although you couldn't dance, and every few people had to have a group. your reserved tables.

The number of people in each location was restricted, and the rules of social distancing had to be kept at least one meter apart, using alcohol gel on the hands, etc.

"Aren't you coming to sleep, David?" It's already midnight.

- I am not sleepy. I will play until dawn.

He barely looked at her. She knew he was upset.

“Then that's right. Do you want a drink? I can prepare one. she said without getting an answer.

She went into the kitchen and made him some appetizers, put them on a very nice tray and put them beside him in the living room. He served his favorite Brazilian “drinks” and kissed him good night on the forehead. And as he turned to march towards his room, he pulled her by the arm and sat her on his lap, trying desperately to kiss her. It was a kiss with many feelings involved: anger, confusion, frustration, helplessness, and a little disappointment. At the same time, he felt a very strong affection for her, admiration and a lot, a lot of excitement.