3. Cuddle with Massimo

Transcript

Hey stranger, I've got something for you today. Can you guess what it is? God, you're beautiful.

It's another story. I'll tell it to you in a moment, but first, you have to go somewhere cozy and quiet. Lie down someplace that's comfy and close your eyes.

Everything else can wait. God, you're beautiful. Did I say that already? Are you comfortable yet? Good.

Now, take a deep, soft breath, as slow as you can, and part your lips to let the air out. One more time, breathe soft and deep, and let it out. Feel the tension unhinge itself from your outstretched body, from your limbs, from your chest, from your heart, from your mind.

Feel it lift and float away like a helium balloon. There's nothing left but me beside you. I'll be here till you fade away.

Relax completely, utterly, let go. My words will take you far, far away. Now listen close, gorgeous girl.

Listen. Our story begins where it ends, in a beautiful field lush with green grass and a sea of golden daffodils spread out in every direction as far as the eye can see. Underneath a cloudless sky, blue as forget-me-nots, looking down on everything beneath it like a great, big, watchful eye.

It was a peaceful morning. A silent, palpable calm seemed to hang over everything. Not much stirred, save the swaying daffodils themselves and the butterflies that hovered, wings aflutter, here and there, about their petals, with kaleidoscope wings, black and purple, orange, yellow, marmalade wings.

The wind barely dared to raise its voice above a whisper. Its voice could be heard amid the distant calls of birds in flight, making their way home or in search of a morsel, or tending their nests. The entire world was a field of daffodils in that moment, poignant and serene.

She lay in the soft, pleasant grass, placed to the sky, arms spread out beside her. The warm morning sun made its way across her face, slowly claiming the shadows, inch by inch. She could have sworn she heard a butterfly's wings beating a moment ago, but maybe she imagined it.

She did that a lot. She imagined things. It was why she was there.

She often came here, to this spot in this field, where the grass was softest, she thought. Or perhaps that was her imagination. She often came here to close her eyes, take deep, pure breaths made of golden summer, run her soft hands through the daffodils, lay back in the lush grass, and imagine.

That was all. That was her why. And what an imagination it was.

There was no stone her mind would leave unturned when she set off on one of these journeys into bliss. Yesterday, when she closed her eyes, she lived in a castle made from the smoothest, whitest marble, a hundred leagues above the ground, in the country of the clouds, a stone's throw from nearby stars. Today's daydream was a familiar one.

He, the man she often dreamed of, had ridden a thousand miles and faced a thousand perils to find her. She knew exactly what she wanted him to look like. His eyes were kind and held her gaze.

He touched her face and smiled at her, leaned in and whispered in her ear, I came to get you. I couldn't breathe while you were gone. She touched her palm to his chest and looked away, but he gently turned her face back towards him and looked into her eyes, right through them, right through her.

Then he lifted her onto the saddle of his white horse and they rode away together, her hair trailing in the wind. She never knew where they were going, but wherever it was, she was safe. As long as she held on, she was safe.

He would never let her fall. She couldn't be lost for long. Even if she wanted to, he would find her.

He would come for her. He loved her from his soul. It was the kind of thing she couldn't escape, and she didn't want to anyway.

She opened her eyes. It was difficult to say which was better, the daydream or the daffodils. The butterfly again, black and orange wings.

Such gorgeous creatures, butterflies. How long had she been lying there? An hour? Three? She didn't know.

She didn't care. She could feel the breeze caress her bare shoulders and chart its course beneath her neck. This was bliss, her bliss.

Her time to unwind, to forget about everything and just breathe in the summer air. Her time to just be, just because. This looks nice.

Mind if I join in? She heard the voice. It came out of nowhere, but oddly enough, she wasn't startled at all.

It felt completely natural. It was almost as if she was expecting it, as though it came right on cue. Like it was scripted, it felt right.

She smiled vaguely and let out the merest breath, letting her lips part ever so slightly. She was aware of the path the warm air traced as it left her mouth. Everything seemed to happen a little slower, or maybe she just noticed more today.

She closed her eyes again and tried to hide the smile that was creeping up the corners of her mouth. If you want to, she said in a voice as soft as a butterfly's beating wing. The grass rustled beneath his feet, right next to her ears.

He was going to lie beside her. She couldn't wait, but she didn't show it. She pulled her arms in and folded them across her chest, face still pressed against the sky.

He got down and lay on his back beside her, close enough to hear her breathe. He stared at the sky for a while and then spoke. My name is… No names, she said.

Don't tell me your name. Okay, he said. I want to know something much more important than your name.

Her eyes were still closed. He turned to look at her and propped himself up under one arm, resting his cheek against his palm. What is it? It's an easy question.

If you get it wrong, then you have to leave. But if you're right… She opened her eyes at this point. If you're right, then you have to kiss me.

The wind whispered softly. She turned to look at him. Her heart skipped a little.

It was him. It was definitely him. The man from her dream.

His eyes saw right through her. She could hear him breathe. They all could.

She and all those daffodils swaying in the wind. They stared at each other for a while and then she turned to face the sky again. Deal? She said.

Deal, he said, with a wry smile. Okay, here's the question. You've been riding for days, faced countless perils, risked life and limb, and finally made your way through the woods to this very spot.

You get down from your white horse and walk over to me. What do you say to me? He looked at her.

The question didn't seem to faze him at all. There was no flinching, no hesitation, no bemusement. I came to get you.

Everything stopped for a moment. Even the daffodils didn't dare sway. She sat up and looked at him, his perfect face still nestled in his palm.

What did you just say to me? He sat up and faced her. They were only inches away from each other.

I came to get you. I couldn't breathe while you were gone. The peaceful blue eye of the sky grew wider.

The wind stopped to take a breath. She stared at him. Then slowly, very slowly, she picked up his hand and touched it to her face.

It's you, she whispered. It was you. Yes, it was.

I told you I'd find you. I told you I'd keep you safe. She put his hand down beside her.

Then she tilted her head to one side and said softly, playing with a daffodil, Well, it looks like you have to kiss me now. There's a chance you're right. He leaned in.

She closed her eyes. Magic! When she opened her eyes again, he was gone.

The daffodils were gone. There was no wind. There were no butterflies.

She turned over in her bed and there he was. He wasn't gone after all. He said he came to get her and that's exactly what he'd done all those years ago.

Later that day, they would take a long walk through a sea of golden daffodils, birds singing in the distance, wind whistling in the trees. A walk to the place where he'd found her, to that very same spot where clouds and stars were neighbors and they'd lie on their backs and watch the setting sun. Now it's my turn to lie beside you, and you can be my setting sun.

I want to watch you fade away, watch you breathing lost in sleep, let go of everything this moment. There's nothing left to weigh you down. You're floating in a golden field.

I'm staring at your perfect lips. I'm here to hold you while you sleep and keep you safe and far from harm. I came to get you.

I rode a thousand miles to find you. So rest your pretty head. I'm not going anywhere.

Dream away.