All Mattia saw was a shadow moving toward him. He instinctively closed his eyes and then felt Alice’s hot mouth on his, her tears on his cheek, or maybe they weren’t hers, and finally her hands, so light, holding his head still and catching all his thoughts and imprisoning them there, in the space that no longer existed between them.

She hadn't chosen him over all the others. The truth was that she hadn't even thought about anyone else.

She tried to open the bottle, but the top slipped through her fingers without moving. He took the bottle from her hand and opened it with his thumb and index finger. There was nothing special in the gesture and yet she found it strangely fascinating like a small heroic feat performed specially for her.

She found herself thinking of how it would feel to be safely trapped in his arms, with no more possibility to choose.

Mattia thought that he and Alice were like that, twin primes, alone and lost, close but not close enough to really touch each other.

All Mattia saw was a shadow moving toward him. He instinctively closed his eyes and then felt Alice’s hot mouth on his, her tears on his cheek, or maybe they weren’t hers, and finally her hands, so light, holding his head still and catching all his thoughts and imprisoning them there, in the space that no longer existed between them.

Why did you choose to stay here?" (...) "I don't know," he said. "It's as if there's more oxygen here.