Bruno said, getting up from the armchair where he had been sitting. Perhaps it was the strength of the liquor that allowed him to react. He looked out the window, and Nicole was still out on the terrace. He approached her and embraced her, and they stood there, silently holding each other.

They were interrupted by Mara and René, who arrived shortly after. Nicole's parents also arrived, and they all gathered in the living room, simply looking at each other.

"What can we do? I feel like I'm wasting time here. I'm leaving for Italy right now. I didn't want to leave Nicole; I wanted to be by her side...