Chapter 68 Rocco

• It felt like the world had stood still. Hearing her yell like that had been a shock. Aria had broken down, not only telling me how she felt, but all those involved in her care. It was truly heartbreaking to hear what she was going through. And, everything she said was right, we did not know what it was like, because we were not the ones experiencing it. And, the thing was, I doubted even if we did, would it be the same for us. This was something unique, and none of us knew the best way to help Aria. We had tried, and it seemed we had failed. Miserably. Never had it occurred to me that was how she was feeling. And I was supposed to be able to pick up on her feelings. I felt like a failure.
• Some of her thoughts made sense, but others, I do not think I could have ever have thought of. And it broke my heart she had gone through them alone. Never speaking out until now. Until she felt pushed into a corner. I fear because she was scared about coming to live with me. Was that idea truly so horrifying?
• I had hoped the fact we had been so close only days ago that the thought of coming to stay with me may offer some appeal, but instead it seemed to fill Aria with dread. Terrify her. Even staying at the hospital she hated so much seemed a better option in her mind, and that was kick to the gut, I cannot lie. I wanted to make things work for us. I had even hoped the time we may share when we lived together may help in bringing us closer. Even bringing back some of those lost memories that it pains me are gone. Time together, alone, could only have been a good thing, couldn't it? Ciro would grow stronger. Perhaps Aria would too? But, I did not want to force this upon her...