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It took three years for him to come to that conclusion, even with all his redoubled efforts and aptitude...
Even the greatest warrior must accept defeat with dignity and sanity, ¿Who am I to force him to love me?, It was plain and simple stupid, he was like that, but in the deepest recesses of his psyche as irrational as it seemed, Starling thought that with living together and endless nights of pleasure maybe... On second thought it made no sense to devise such an absurd sentiment, it would be almost crude to believe that at the end between gasps she would whisper...
Only onomatopoeias of dreams remained, he would wake up from vain illusions only to find the disillusionment that the sheets on the left side were as cold as his heart...
And so day after day, months that converge into years... Her tears now lay dry, resignation was the best option she came to the conclusion, but neither would she continue to deny that she wanted more than admiration and respect from the man to whom she gave her devotion, for better or for worse here she was, the years make us wise.
In love to the core, empty... *¡Believe me you don't want Hannibal Lecter inside your head!*.
¡Ah damn the hour she let him into her mind, heart and soul!, ¿Or maybe she was insufficient?... *You are not my prisoner Clarice, you may leave at any time you please*, this time she would take him at his word.
She went down the stairs with a single suitcase and her purse, she thought about continuing to the front door, but it wouldn't be so rude... Dr. Lecter deserved a last goodbye, she walked to the living room where Lecter was resting by the fireplace, immersed in his book, without turning around she said hello.
- Hello dear, ¿How was your day?.
- Fine... It was a day of many choices- Hannibal laughed.
- ¿Any difficult dresses or garments to choose from?.
- I didn't mean that kind of choice, you know... I've been thinking a lot about my time here with you.
- ¿And?- she turned over a new leaf.
- I think it's time for me to take my own flight- the doctor's senses automatically shut down and the book fell to the floor.
- ¿How?- his gaze focused not only on her but also on her suitcase- ¿Clarice, what are you doing?.
- I'm taking my flight, literally- he smiled- I have to be at the airport in thirty minutes, but I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye and thanking you for everything you have given me and taught me, since the first time Crawford recruited me to talk to you, I knew you would change my life and you were right, some of our stars are the same, But not all of them- her voice was starting to crack- anyway... I hope you have a good life, take care of yourself- without being able to contain it she put down her suitcase and hugged him- I love you... Goodbye Dr. Lecter.
- ¿Why now my dear?- her embrace was like a cage- I thought we were fine.
- We are fine- she pulled away slightly- I just find I don't have everything I want.
- Tell me what it is- his eyes pierced hers.
- It doesn't make sense now.
- ¡I won't let you leave without telling me where I failed!.
The facets of Hannibal Lecter were many, endless and mean, throughout these two years Clarice Starling thought that no one had known him so well, now she knew she was wrong again, thanks to his broken voice and tearful look she knew he suffered.
- You didn't fail, I failed for thinking you could fall in love with me- the sobbing was uncontrollable.
- Darling- he caressed her cheek.
- It doesn't matter now- he pulled away- goodbye.
He turned and took the suitcase, ¡it would have been better just to leave!.
The cold touch of the doorknob of a door he would never enter again was replaced by the warmth that her confession flooded him.
- Clarice... I love you.