We wake up to a call on my phone—a return to reality, but now filled with new hope, strength, and love that carry us forward.
Someone is calling me, but I can't answer because we can't find the phone. We both frantically look around, panic rummaging through everything in the car. Panic washes over us like an invisible wave—the tension grows, as if every missed ring strikes the nerves, a blow to the heart. Katrin helps me, leaning forward restlessly, opening the glove compartment, searching under the seats, lifting jackets piled up on the back seat. We move through the car as if we are not just looking for a phone, but for something vital, as if our very reality depends on it.
"There it is! I found it!" Rebel Girl cries joyfully, her eyes sparkling with delight like a child who suddenly finds a long-lost toy, some small but precious treasure. Her voice carries genuine victory, and I even notice her fingers trembling—either from excitement or relief.
"Grandpa Vi is calling," she says, glancing at the screen with a hint of worry. It's clear she feels this is not a call to be ignored or called back later.
"Answer it and put it on speaker. I have nothing to hide from you," I say calmly but firmly, looking her in the eyes. I don't want her to think even for a moment that I have any secrets from her. I want to be completely open before her, like a book.
"Yes, Vi," I say when my beloved hands me the phone. She looks at me with slight worry, but her gaze also carries trust, warm and alive, silently encouraging me—hoping I can handle the conversation, myself, and whatever comes next.
"Are you out of your mind?!" the man asks sharply, his voice a mixture of concern and irritation. He worries—his way, through bluntness, through short, clipped words.
"What's up? We just couldn't find the phone for a while," I reply, trying to sound calm and steady, not letting his flare-ups get to me. The car feels tight, as if the tension between us squeezes the air.
"Where's Katrin? Have you made peace with her, or are you still tormenting her?" His voice softens, but there's still reproach, care, and pain for both of us.
"I'm here, Grandpa Vi," Katrin replies instead of me, laughing lightly. Her voice is airy, playful, as if the tension of the past weeks disappears, and the car feels a little brighter—not because of the sun, but because of her.
"So you're together there?" he asks, shocked, clearly not expecting that turn.
"Yes, and now it's forever. We've made peace," I say, tenderly kissing my girl on the cheek. Something stirs inside—my heart fills with warmth, and a quiet, happy calm spreads through my chest, as if the engine finally turns off, and the long-awaited silence arrives.
"I'm glad. Your relationship was about to drive me to a nervous breakdown," he admits, his voice showing tired but sincere joy.
"Sorry about that. It won't happen again," I apologize to both of them, feeling the weight of guilt gradually lift from my shoulders, like a stone pressed on my chest is finally gone.
My woman simply kisses my shoulder and snuggles against it. The car rocks slightly in the gentle wind, and she feels especially warm, familiar, as if the whole world shrinks to her breath beside me, to her hand in mine. Since last night, I am the happiest man in the world—and now I want to make my beloved just as happy.
"All right then," Vi says with a sigh, releasing all the accumulated tension and worry. "Max, we have to go in a week," he reminds me. I remember well—it's important, looming ahead like headlights in the night.
"Where to?" Katrin asks nervously, squeezing my hand tighter. I feel her worry sliding under my skin. Her fingers are slightly cold, but her grip is firm. She doesn't want to let go of me, just as I don't want to let go of her.
"Darling, I already told you—we go with Vi roughly once a month to the market for parts," I explain, speaking gently, almost whispering, as if afraid to disturb her fragile calm.
"Can I come with you?" Rebel Girl asks, hugging me. Her voice is full of tenderness, full of the desire to be near me, even in the smallest things. You can see her shrinking inside at the very thought of being without me.
"Why do you need to come with us?" Grandpa asks with a laugh, but there's no mockery—just warmth, the kind of warmth from an old man genuinely happy that the family is together again.
"Darling, we leave late in the evening and return the next day. If you're worried about us—you don't need to be. We're not doing anything illegal," I try to reassure her, stroking her back, holding her hand tighter to keep her close.
"It's not that. I just don't want to be apart from you, even for a day," my beauty admits, pressing closer. Her words are simple, but they carry such a power of love that everything inside me trembles. Her fear of losing me is real.
"Darling, it's only for a short while. Do you want us to drop you off at your grandmother's or my mother's first? I think it would be better for you. They'll keep you occupied while I'm gone," I suggest, hoping at least this will ease her waiting a little.
"I'll think about it. When are you leaving?" Katrin asks, looking me straight in the eyes. Her eyes shine with worry, love, and that honesty that makes the heart beat faster.
"The twentieth, Katrin," Vi replies.
It's less than ten days away. And already I feel that every single one of these days will be special. Because we are together again. And this time—for real.
"Until then, we'll be together all the time," I tell her, trying to reassure her, feeling her shoulders relax slightly in my arms.
It's important to give her confidence that these moments are not a coincidence, but our reality, that we are truly together, and nothing and no one can separate us. My heart beats steadily and confidently, promising protection and warmth.
"All right. I wanted to come to you too, Vi. Mary wanted to show Vera some drawing," she says quietly, with a faint hope in her voice, as if anticipating a warm meeting and the simple joys that come with connecting with loved ones. Her words carry tenderness and the desire to keep this connection alive, not to break the thread that binds their families.
"We'll be happy to see all three of you. All right, I have to run, so I'll go. Bye," he hangs up, leaving a light sense of emptiness in the car. The silence, like a pause in our shared mood, makes everything around feel more fragile and at the same time more precious.
"We also need to head back," Rebel Girl reminds me, gently squeezing my hand.
In her gaze, there is tenderness and a slight sadness—we both don't want to leave this private moment, when it feels like the whole world shrinks to the size of our love alone.
"All right," I say, but hugging her shoulders, I pull us fully back onto the seats. My heart beats faster from the closeness, from being together again, and that's the most important thing right now—the feeling of warmth and safety that comes from being near each other.
"So, what do we do now?" Katrin asks playfully, her eyes sparkling, a hint of challenge in her voice. Behind her words hides not just playfulness but a desire to keep the fire alive in our relationship, to not let routine extinguish our passion.
"Nothing can separate us now, so don't overthink it, my love," I tell her, trying to put all the confidence and love I carry in my soul into my words. It's important that she feels safe with me, no matter what happens.
"Yes, you're right," she says, kissing me, and that kiss feels like a promise, a reminder that we are together no matter what. Its warmth dissolves all fears and doubts, like a strong thread connecting two hearts.
"Maybe we should make love one more time before that? What do you say, my Rebel Boy?" she whispers, her eyes full of passion and tenderness. In her voice there is both a call and trust, a desire to melt into this moment with me.
I feel so glad that Rebel Girl I knew so many years ago has returned to me. Honestly, I feel alive next to her—like I'm eighteen again, not twenty-two. This feeling fills me with energy, lightness, and hope, as if the world is gaining new colors and meanings.
"With you, I'm always ready for that," I answer her with a smile, feeling the spark between us ignite—a spark that will never fade. Our eyes meet, and in them there is everything—from tenderness to unrestrained desire.
When we are together, it feels as if those years apart never existed. Our eyes sparkle from the attraction between us. My little girl gives herself to me completely, as I do to her. Our connection is restored, and I plan to keep it at all costs. We both suffered during our time apart, and now it's time to heal our wounds and forget them forever. There's no use holding onto them—it only makes it more painful. Every touch and glance reminds us of the strength of our love and our readiness to move forward, no matter what.