Page 37 of The Tourist

Today, I have something important to share with Chloe. I walk over to the sofa and hand her a piece of paper filled with my thoughts.

“Chloe, I wrote something for you. I want you to read it.”

She looks up at me, her eyes wide with curiosity. She takes the paper from my hand, and I sit down next to her as she begins to read.

Dear Chloe,

I’m so proud of you. When I first rescued you, I wasn’t sure you would survive. You were in such a bad state from the drugs, lack of food, and abuse. But watching you heal and flourish has given me hope for humanity in a world that is so often dark.

When I saw you for the first time, collapsed in that white room, barely clinging to life, I felt an overwhelming sense of despair. You were so fragile, so broken. The drugs had ravaged your body, and the abuse had left you with scars that I feared would never heal. I didn’t know if you would make it through the night, let alone recover. But against all odds, you did.

Every day since then, I’ve watched you grow stronger. I’ve seen you reclaim pieces of yourself that I thought had been lost forever. You’ve faced your demons head-on, and you’ve done it with a courage that leaves me in awe. You’ve reminded me that there is good in this world, even when it seems overshadowed by darkness.

Rescuing the victims of Richard Armstrong and helping Eaton to destroy his father’s evil legacy has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. The horrors I’ve seen haunt me. But you give me the strength to keep going. Your courage reminds me why we keep fighting, and when everything seems hopeless, I always think of you and the progress you’ve made. You give me the strength to keep going.

One day, I will find my sister. We will bring Serena home. It’s my greatest hope. I dream of the day when we can put all of this behind us and start anew. When Serena is back where she belongs, we can begin to build a future free from the shadows of the past.

Thank you for being the light in my darkness. Thank you for showing me that even in the bleakest of times, there is always a reason to hope.

Diego

When she finishes reading, she looks up at me, tears welling in her eyes. “This is beautiful. Thank you, Diego.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I meant every word. You’ve been through so much, and yet you continue to inspire me every day.”

She wipes away a tear and smiles. “You’ve given me so much hope. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”

I feel a lump in my throat, the emotion of the moment almost overwhelming. “I’m glad I could help. You’re an incredible person. Never forget that.”

We sit in silence for a few moments before Chloe looks up at me and smiles.

“Can we do something normal together?” she asks. “Can we go on a date to a restaurant?”

“I’d love that,” I reply. “Let’s go now.”

I drive us to a cozy Thai restaurant on the outskirts of Las Vegas. The place is known for its authentic dishes and warm atmosphere. It’s in a very discreet location so there’s no need for me to bring security, which makes us both feel even more like a normal couple.

When we step inside, the rich aromas of spices and herbs hit me, instantly making my mouth water.

We’re shown to a table near the window. “This place is beautiful,” Chloe says as we sit down. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

We browse the menu, and after a few minutes of deliberation, we make our choices. Chloe orders pad thai with shrimp, while I go for the green curry with chicken. We also decide to share a plate of fresh spring rolls as an appetizer.

“Tell me five random facts about yourself that I don’t know,” Chloe says, a playful glint in her eye.

“Okay, let’s see. One, I’m terrified of heights. Two, I used to play the guitar in a band when I was in high school. Three, I have a scar on my knee from a bike accident when I was ten. Four, my favorite movie is ‘The Godfather’… when I’m not watchingMarvelmovies, of course. And five, I’m allergic to strawberries.”

Chloe laughs. “Those are five good ones. I wouldn’t have guessed some of them. I remember you playing in the band, though. Your music was terrible.”

“Hey, we weren’t that bad!” I snort, leaning back in my chair. “You’re turn. Tell me five random facts about you.”

“All right. One, I can’t swim, because I’m too scared. Two, I have a small star tattoo on my ankle. Three, I’ve always wanted to go skydiving. Four, I have a collection of vintage postcards. And five, I’ve never owned a pet.”

“You want to do something scary like skydiving,” I raise an eyebrow, “but your too afraid to swim?”

She laughs. “I know it’s weird. I guess I like the idea of flying through the air, but water terrifies me.”

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