Fired Up

Valeria's POV

The waves crashed gently against the shore, a rhythmic sound that should have soothed me, but my thoughts were too loud. I sat on the balcony, my knees pulled to my chest, staring out at the vast, dark sea. Inside, Mateo was curled up in bed, sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the storm in my mind.

I had made my decision. I was going through with the restrictive measures against Alejandro. It was the only way to protect myself, to protect Mateo. But even though I knew it was the right choice, there was a part of me that still felt uneasy.

The sound of the sliding door opening behind me made me turn my head slightly. A moment later, Lewis stepped onto the balcony, his presence instantly grounding me. Without a word, he sat down beside me, draping an arm around my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice filled with concern.

I let out a quiet sigh, leaning into him. "I need to tell you something."

Lewis gave me a small smile. "You know I don't understand when you start in Spanish."

A tiny chuckle escaped me, but it quickly faded. I looked down at my hands, twisting my fingers together. "I've decided to move forward with the restrictive measures against Alejandro."

Lewis tensed slightly beside me, but he didn't interrupt. His hand moved in slow, comforting circles on my back. "Are you sure?"

I nodded. "I have to. I can't keep living in fear, waiting to see what he'll do next."

Lewis let out a slow breath, his grip on me tightening slightly. "I support you in everything, but I just want to make sure you're okay with this."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I know that if I don't do this, I'll regret it."

Lewis turned to face me fully, his warm brown eyes searching mine. "Then you won't do it alone."

A tear slipped down my cheek, and he caught it with his thumb, cupping my face gently.

"You don't have to thank me, cariño," he murmured. "This is what love means."

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting his words settle deep in my heart. Because for the first time in a long time, I wasn't fighting this battle alone.

____

The next morning, the sunlight felt different. Softer. As if the sky itself had been waiting for me to find a little peace.

I woke up early, the soft whispers of the ocean calling me to the beach. Mateo was still asleep, his little body curled up next to the bed, and the silence in the room felt comforting. I couldn't help but smile at how peaceful he looked, unaware of the weight that had been hovering over me.

I stood up and quietly slipped on a sundress, the cool morning air brushing against my skin. Walking to the beach, I felt a little lighter, a little freer. The sand, still cool from the night, slipped beneath my bare feet as I made my way toward the water.

I didn't expect to see Lewis out there so early, but as I walked closer, I spotted him, standing by the shoreline, his back to me as he looked out at the horizon. The way the light hit his face, it was like he was already part of the scenery, part of the peace I was craving.

He turned when he heard my footsteps, a smile creeping onto his face when he saw me.

"Morning," he said, his voice full of warmth.

"Morning," I replied softly, walking up to him. I felt my chest tighten slightly, but in a good way. Everything seemed clearer in these moments.

Lewis held out his hand to me, and without a second thought, I took it. He led me closer to the water, the cool waves kissing our feet as we stood side by side.

"I've been thinking about yesterday," he said, his tone serious but kind. "You're doing the right thing, Valeria. But don't forget to take care of yourself through all of this. You deserve peace, too."

I looked out at the water, watching as the waves came and went, feeling the calmness of the ocean seep into my soul. "I just want to protect Mateo, and I want to feel safe again. But you're right."

Lewis squeezed my hand gently. "You're not alone in this. We're in it together."

I nodded, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and love. The weight wasn't entirely gone, but standing there beside him, I felt a little stronger. We didn't have all the answers yet, but maybe we didn't need them. Not right now.

The sound of the waves was soothing, and for the first time in a long while, I let myself just breathe.

The morning light was still soft, and for a moment, I was lost in the serenity of it all. But that peace didn't last long.

From behind me, I heard the unmistakable sound of tiny feet rushing toward us. Before I could even turn around, Mateo was there, running across the sand with the excitement only a child could have. His face lit up when he saw me, and I couldn't help but laugh softly as he sprinted toward us, his small legs moving fast.

"Mama!" he shouted, his voice full of joy.

I bent down to scoop him into my arms, his little body fitting perfectly against me as he clung to me tightly. He had that energy, that pure, uninhibited joy that made everything else seem far away.

Lewis smiled at the sight, crouching down next to us. "Looks like we've got a morning wake-up call," he said, his voice full of affection.

"Yes," I laughed softly, kissing Mateo's cheek. "We do."

Mateo wiggled in my arms, looking from me to Lewis, his curiosity evident in his bright eyes. "Are we going to the beach, Mama?" he asked, his small voice full of excitement.

"We're already here, baby," I said, smiling. "But if you want, we can go for a walk along the water."

"Yes, please!" he squealed, nearly jumping out of my arms.

I set him down on the sand, holding his hand tightly as we began to walk along the shoreline, the water gently lapping at our feet. Lewis followed beside us, his presence like a reassuring calm.

"Can I hold your hand, too?" Lewis asked, his eyes warm as he looked at me.

I nodded, smiling as I reached for his hand. We walked together, the three of us, feeling a sense of peace settle around us. There were still challenges to face, still decisions to be made, but in this moment, everything felt right.

As Mateo ran ahead, giggling with excitement, I squeezed Lewis's hand. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice full of gratitude. "For being here with me. For everything."

Lewis squeezed my hand back, his voice soft but steady. "Always."