Chapter Text
It was night time in Rome, the city was dark and the streets were empty. The only thing you could hear were the crickets and the wind. Except for one man named Ermal Meta. He had a lot of things on his mind and couldn't sleep, so a walk would do him good, he thought. He was wandering through the streets of Rome and didn't pay attention around him, he was lost in his thoughts. All of a sudden he felt arms around him pushing him into the ground with loud screams. He managed to turn around and saw a man with a black hoodie. The man was screaming things at him, but Ermal was
scared stiff and could not respond. The man started punching and hitting him in the face.
"GIVE ME YOUR WALLET NOW! AND ANYTHING YOU HAVE WITH YOU!" DO YOU HEAR ME! NOW!" "I don't have a wallet! Please, I don't have anything let me go!" "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! COME ON! NOW! DO YOU HEAR ME? OR I WILL BEAT YOU TO DEATH!" Ermal started sobbing and hyperventilating. The man had now his hands around his throat and was kicking his knees into Ermal's stomach. "This is It." Ermal thought. "This is how I'm gonna die." He saw his life flashing by but out of nowhere he heard another scream. "HEY! LET HIM GO!"
He saw a pair of hands with tattoos on the man's shoulders trying to pull him of Ermal. Suddenly the man flew off him and was held back by another man. Ermal tried to get up but he couldn't, everything hurts. He looked in front of him and saw the two men wrestling. The tattood hand belonged to a dark haired man. He had a lot of other tattoos on his arms and a beard. He looked strong but unfortunately he couldn't hold the thief back. The blackhooded man pushed him off and ran away. Before the tattood man could stand up the thief was already gone. Ermal was still laying on the ground trying to progress everything that just happend. He looked up at the starry sky when he was face to face with the tattood man. He had the most beautiful light brown eyes Ermal has ever seen. They looked each other in the eyes for a few seconds when the man said something. "Are you alright? Can you move?"
Ermal was still trying to catch his breath and calm down before he could talk. "It's okay, it's alright. Try and calm down first. Is it alright if I help you up?" Ermal nodded his head and the man grabbed him by his shoulders and sat him up. The man then sat next to him and kept his arm around Ermal, so he wouldn't fall back. It was silent for a bit and Ermal's breathing slowed down. "I'm Fabrizio, can you tell me your name?" "Ermal." "Now listen to me Ermal, I don't want you to get worried but you don't look that good. I really think you need to get cleaned up. Do you have a phone with you so I can call an ambulance?" "No I don't." "Okay plan B: I live round the corner in a flat. Maybe you would like to come with me and I'll try my best to clean you up?" Ermal didn't trust people often, especially strangers. But Fabrizio did rescue him and he seems really caring. He also couldn't get up and nobody else was around. "Okay then, can you help me walk though, my ankle really hurts I think it from the pushing down." "Yes of course. Here, put your arms around my neck." Ermal puts his arms around Fabrizio's neck and Fabrizio picked him up like a feather. Ermal expected that Fabrizio would held him up while walking, but he didn't expect Fabrizio to carry him. Not that he is complaining, because it does really hurt. After a minute of carrying Ermal they arrived at Fabrizio's flat, luckily he only lived on the second floor so they would have to stand in the lift for so long. Fabrizio unlocked his front door and told Ermal to sit in the chair while he gets his first aid kit. Ermal looks at the mirror next to him and was shocked to see himself.
His whole face was bruised and swollen. That was when the realisation kicked in and he started to break down in tears. "Ermal, I found my first aid kit!" Fabrizio came walking in. "Hey Ermal, are you ok?" Fabrizio looked worried at him. "No I don't think so actually." Ermal said with a sad smile and cried even more. Fabrizio's heart broke and the only thing he wanted to do now was hug Ermal.
He wrapped his arms around Ermal's neck and was softly stroking his back. Ermal cried into Fabrizio's
shoulder and held him like the world would end . The hug was really warm and comfortable. Somehow their bodies just fit perfectly together. Like two pieces of a puzzle. Ermal felt safe in Fabrizio's arms, even though he only just met him. It felt like a piece of his soul was missing and he just found the right one that fits, as if it belongs together. "Shhh it's okay, let it all out. If I can do anything for you, just say." "I'm sorry it's just, ....there is so much going on in my head and then the attack on top of that. It was just too much to handle. I'm sorry for breaking down." "You don't have to apologise. If you wanna talk about It, I'm a good listener." ‘’Well, it’s a long story.’’ ‘’I don’t mind, but I will clean you up though.’’
‘’Okay, uhm…so it all starts in Fier, Albania. I’m Albanian but I had to leave the country with my mom and siblings.’’ Fabrizio listens carefully while dabbing Ermal’s face with some cotton. Ermal tells him his whole backstory about the relationship with his father, he hasn’t talked about it with someone for so long. All these feelings and emotions were build up, so to let everything out feels very liberating. Fabrizio stays quiet, taking care of his face but looking and listening with much attention.
‘’So that was why I was out tonight, to try and take my mind of things.’’ He had red and puffy eyes from all the crying and looked up at Fabrizio with hurt and tiredness in his eyes. Fabrizio slowly puts his hand on Ermal face and strokes his cheek with his thumb. ‘’I’m so sorry to hear that Ermal, It must have been such a relief when you came here to Italy. And I think you are very brave.’’ Ermal felt himself blushing at the compliment and looked down again. ‘’I think you could do with some rest now, you can stay in my bed and I’ll take the couch. Or I could bring you home… I mean I get it if you don’t want to stay here.’’ ‘’ I think you and me are both too tired to go anywhere, so yes I would like to stay. But you don’t have to give up your bed for me, the couch is fine.’’ ‘’No Ermal, I said I’d take care of you, so I will. Come!’’ Fabrizio put out his hand for Ermal to help and stand up and together they walked to Fabrizio’s bedroom. Ermal sat down on the bed and got his shoes off. ‘’If you need anything, just come and wake me up yeah?’’ Ermal smiled back at him. ‘’Goodnight Ermal.’’ ‘’Goodnight. Oh and Fabrizio? Thank you for everything’’ Ermal gave Fabrizio a hug and felt this peace coming over him, just like earlier. ‘’No problem, I hope you get some rest!’’
Fabrizio puts the lights out and got out of the room. Ermal laid down and closed his eyes. He started to think about what all just happened:
Fabrizio rescued me. He helped me and listened to me. It is weird though, I would never go to a strangers house nor tell them my story. That hug was also really nice, it felt so good. I never felt that with anyone when I hugged them. What does this mean?
Not soon after Ermal finally fell asleep.