On the 14th of February, 1911, at the Drevolre Manor.

Today is my birthday.

Enzo and I have come to our familiar spot, an unnamed hill with lush green grasses and vibrant wildflowers. On the edge of the hill, atop a boulder, we stack pebbles, each stone representing each encounter. This morning, I placed the eighty-eighth stone. Eighty-eight secret rendezvous, and today, we no longer need to keep quiet. I wish we could add two more stones to make it a round number. But after today, everything is set in stone.

"You know... We can still wait until it reaches a hundred," Enzo says as I lie on his shoulder, with his hand gently stroking through my hair. I quickly sit up at his words. We both carry a heavy heart, looking at each other with tearful eyes. But Enzo always wants to be a sturdy support for me. He knows our situation, with my family's declining fortunes, making our love tremble like walking on the tightrope. However, his face always shows positivity, a smile full of reassurance, and his arms always ready to embrace me. Oh Lord, how can I bear a thought of betraying such a perfect man and entering the church with someone else?

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Enzo smiles to calm me down, his gentle hand caressing my hair to one side. He remains lying on the lush grass, gazing at me for a while. His soft lips, along with his warm and steady voice, have saved me from falling into the abyss many times. Calmly, he says, "I don't want our relationship to become a burden on your family at this time. I can wait. But no matter what, please remember Fiona, I will never leave you."

I say nothing. Tears precede my words. I sink into his embrace, weeping much and loudly. Enzo, as usual, holds me tight, trying to soothe the woman he loves most in the world. His embrace is very warm and makes me feel an incredibly precious sense of safety. In this very moment, I know I will never be able to leave Enzo's arms. Oh God, please never take him away from my life. I am begging You!