Helen’s face, tense with worry, didn’t escape her husband, Adam. With a tender gesture, he took her hand and met her eyes, searching for what her words weren’t saying.
“Your face tells me it’s been a rough day,” he said softly, though his voice carried concern. “What’s troubling you, honey? Did something new happen with Leyla?”
Helen let out a weary sigh, the weight of the day etched in her gaze. “I can’t say exactly. Nothing specific happened, but ever since I told her about the cause of her paralysis, about the bracelet and everything else, it feels like she’s been slipping deeper into herself with each passing day. Her torment is eating away at both of us. Leyla isn’t like the other girls. She’s strong, determined to walk again, but I’m afraid she won’t easily surrender to this new life. She’s restless to get out, furious she’s still not allowed. She keeps saying only prisoners are locked away.”
Adam furrowed his brow, his expression darkened. “Have you brought this up with your superiors? I just don’t get why they’re keeping her confined. She’s got every right to feel that way, because she is! What are they still afraid of? Haven’t they done enough by leaving her like that?”
A lump formed in Helen’s throat; tears threatened to spill. “Adam! How can you say that? I’ve tried, but I get nowhere. They keep saying they can’t risk unrest in the city and that, before they introduce her to the others, she has to prove she’s more compliant and follow the rules. But they don’t understand that locking her away could make things worse.”
Adam studied her with a look that mixed compassion and firmness. “Part of this, whether you mean to or not, comes from what you tell them. They only know what you report. For once, set duty aside and actually listen to Leyla,” he murmured, running his fingers slowly through her hair in a calming gesture.
Helen dropped her gaze, sorrowful. He didn’t relent. “Maybe there are fragments of her old life stuck somewhere in her memory. Like what happened with the Red twins… or others we know nothing about.”
Helen clasped her hands together as if in prayer, her voice trembling with fear. “Adam, please! I know what you mean by ‘memories.’ I beg you, don’t keep pushing these theories. You know what would happen if the wrong people heard you. The very thought terrifies me. Promise me you won’t say a word to Leyla. She’s already suffered enough.”
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Adam kissed the top of her head and pulled her close, but he wouldn’t let go of his convictions. “I’m sorry, love, but we both know we can’t blindly trust everything they tell us. And I can’t keep tolerating the brutal ways they punish anyone who breaks the rules. Don’t you see? They’re just trying to force their version of reality on us.”
“And what proof do you have that there’s another reality?” she shot back, her frustration spilling out.
"Non sono l'unica a pensarla così. La gente ha paura, preferisce stare in silenzio e nascondersi dietro un velo che fa sembrare tutto più facile. Proprio come te. Se tieni davvero a quella ragazza, assicurati che capisca le regole prima di lasciare quella stanza, altrimenti potrebbe mettersi nei guai. Ho lavorato con i bambini per tutta la vita. In biblioteca, ascolto, osservo, capisco. E proprio come con i gemelli Rossi, credo che ci siano altri tra noi che ricordano pezzi delle loro vite precedenti. E quei ricordi... fanno a pezzi tutto ciò che ci è stato detto dal giorno in cui siamo arrivati ??a Edenlost."
Adam, di qualche anno più grande di Helen, aveva circa sessantacinque anni. Un uomo dall'aspetto modesto, ma discretamente carismatico: capelli sale e pepe, occhi castani, alto e spalle larghe, ma comunque atletico. Indossava abiti semplici ma curati, completati da accessori come una cintura, un orologio e a volte occhiali da sole.
Era stato strappato alla sua vita precedente a tredici anni e messo a lavorare come bibliotecario. I libri gli davano protezione e conforto. Non aveva mai accettato del tutto la vita a Edenlost e per anni aveva confidato in silenzio i suoi dubbi alla moglie, sebbene lei si rifiutasse persino di prenderli in considerazione.
Si erano sposati intorno ai trent'anni e da allora erano stati inseparabili: veri compagni in tutti i sensi.
Quella notte, Helen rimase sveglia a lungo dopo che Adam si era coricato. Ogni volta che chiudeva gli occhi, vedeva lo sguardo di Leyla: acuto, intenso e impaziente. In quel silenzio inquieto, comprese una verità semplice ma potente: non poteva più limitarsi a obbedire.
Era giunto il momento di rompere gli schemi.
????? ?????????? ?????
?? La storia non finisce qui.
Se state seguendo il viaggio di Leyla, grazie per averne fatto parte. Ogni lettura, ogni ritorno, è davvero importante.
Edenlost – La città senza confini è un romanzo completo, disponibile su Amazon per i lettori che desiderano vivere la storia completa senza attendere, dalla prima domanda alla rivelazione finale.
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