Chapter 8

Half a year flew by, and Nicola was on vacation once more. It had been precisely 365 days since our initial encounter.

The hostel had welcomed countless new visitors, but a few recognizable faces still popped in occasionally. Sometimes, returning guests would introduce us as the proprietors, and while I never confirmed or denied it, we gradually accepted this assumed role. Nicola was genuinely comforting, and despite my reservations, I didn't want to disappoint him. We maintained an unspoken agreement while keeping ourselves occupied with hostel duties.

As Christmas approached, I received a call from my hometown. My younger sibling was tying the knot.

It wasn't my parents who reached out, but my aunt. She informed me that they regretted their past behavior and felt they shouldn't have treated me poorly. They now wished to mend fences during the wedding celebration.