"You broke the world record!"

~•~

The afternoon transitioned into its second half, and Beatrice was ready to head back to the pool. After the victory ceremony, she had spent some time with the team, enjoyed their congratulations, and thanked everyone who had supported her. But now that her triumph was behind her, she had another important task ahead—being there for Thomas. She changed into comfortable clothing, again in Italian colors, and felt a pleasant anticipation welling up in her chest. Thomas had promised to swim with all his might, and she couldn't miss it.

When she arrived at the pool, the atmosphere was once again charged with tension. The place that had previously been filled with her own nervous thoughts was now filled with the anticipation and energy of other athletes and fans. Beatrice made her way to the stands, trying to find a spot where she would have a good view of the lanes. Around her, many people were already seated, all intently watching the preparations for the race.

When she finally found a good spot and sat down, her heart started to beat faster. For a moment, she closed her eyes and recalled her own morning—the feeling when the whole world goes silent, and there is only that one moment where you are fully focused on your performance. But now she was on the other side, as a spectator, and she wanted to do everything in her power to support Thomas.

A hush fell over the hall as the competitors stepped onto the pool deck. Thomas was among them, tall and confident, his movements sure and focused. Beatrice watched him as he put on his swimming goggles and prepared for his race. It was a strange mix of feelings—pride, joy, but also concern for his success. She knew how much this race meant to him, and she wished for everything to go exactly as he had planned.

The competitors took their positions on the starting blocks, and the hall was filled with tense silence. Beatrice sat on the edge of her seat, fingers tightly clasped on her knees, watching Thomas's every move. As soon as the starting signal sounded, the swimmers dove into the water, their bodies churning up the surface, and the sound of their synchronized movements filled the hall.

Thomas swam with incredible speed. His movements were smooth and precise, each stroke propelling him forward. Beatrice watched as he moved through the water with incredible ease and power. Everything looked perfect, exactly as she had imagined. Thomas was determined and focused, getting closer to the finish line with every meter.

In her mind, Beatrice counted each of his strokes, crossed her fingers, and cheered him on in her head. "Come on, Tommy, you're amazing," she whispered to herself, as if she could encourage him through sheer force of will. It was the same feeling she had experienced during her own race, that constant desire to reach the finish line and know that you had given it your all.

As Thomas approached the final meters, the tension in the hall intensified. The crowd began to cheer loudly, and the atmosphere was charged with adrenaline. Beatrice couldn't take her eyes off Thomas as he neared the finish. She watched his every move, as his body swam with perfect technique and strength.

And then it happened—Thomas reached the finish and emerged from the water, his hand touching the edge of the pool. The results appeared on the screen, determining the winners. Beatrice watched the results with bated breath, and then a broad smile spread across her face. Thomas had finished in second place! He had come in second in the heat—advancing to the finals.

As the swimmers began to gather by the pool to support and congratulate each other, Beatrice continued to clap and smile at Thomas, who looked up at her from the pool. He was smiling too, his face beaming with happiness and relief. When he saw Beatrice, his smile widened even more. Beatrice blew him a kiss and gave him a thumbs-up, letting him know just how proud she was of him.

~•~

Thomas stood in the locker room, his hands trembling slightly as he prepared for his final race. It was a strange mix of nerves and determination bubbling inside him. He knew this was the moment he had been waiting for his entire life—the chance not only to win a gold medal but also to break the world record. He knew he had it in him because he had put more than enough into his training. Every cell in his body was taut, ready to burst, yet at the same time, he felt an incredible calm. He knew that tonight, he was ready. He knew he could do it.

As he began to warm up, his thoughts briefly wandered to Beatrice. He knew that somewhere out there, in the stands, she was there, ready to support him. That knowledge gave him strength, and when he remembered her smile, he felt his nerves begin to fade. Beatrice had that special gift of being able to calm him, and he swore to himself that tonight he would do everything to make her proud.

A few minutes later, Thomas stood by the starting block, and a hush fell over the arena, interrupted only by the faint murmur of the crowd. The air was thick with tension as the spectators anxiously awaited the start of the race. Thomas took in every detail around him—the cool water in the pool, the sharp lights of the spotlights, and of course, the subdued buzz from the stands.

He looked around, and his gaze settled on the spot where he knew Beatrice was sitting. As soon as he found her, their eyes met. Beatrice smiled encouragingly at him and gave him a thumbs-up, as if to show that she believed in his success. Thomas felt his heart calm, and suddenly, he was fully focused on his task.

When the referee gave the signal, Thomas stepped onto the starting block, his body tense and ready for the explosion of energy that was about to come. It was a moment of absolute concentration, where everything else faded into the background, leaving only him, the water, and the invisible goal he had to reach.

The signal sounded, and Thomas launched himself into the water with incredible power and speed. Every movement was smooth, yet filled with immense strength. He could feel his body gliding through the water, each stroke bringing him closer to the finish. Thoughts of Beatrice and her support warmed him, giving him a strength he had never felt before.

The water swirled around him as he pushed forward. Every stroke, every kick, every second was tuned to perfection. Thomas knew this was the moment he could win it all. His heart beat in rhythm with his movements, as if it had synchronized with the water that carried him. He felt the water embracing him, and he floated in it as if it were his natural element.

As he approached the final meters, adrenaline surged through his body. The crowd began to roar, their voices blending into a single sound that drove Thomas further and further. For a brief moment, everything quieted as he focused on the final stroke, the last moment before the finish.

And then it happened—Thomas broke the surface, and his hand touched the edge of the pool. The numbers on the screen above him were unbelievable. Thomas had not only achieved his goal but had also broken the world record.

The arena erupted in cheers, the crowd rose to its feet, but Thomas barely noticed the sound. He stood there, water dripping down his face, his breath heavy and ragged as he tried to grasp what had just happened. Everything felt like a dream—the moment he realized he had accomplished something extraordinary.

He looked towards the stands, searching for the one person he wanted to see at that moment. And then he found her—Beatrice was standing amidst the crowd, her eyes full of tears, clapping enthusiastically. Her joy was contagious, and Thomas felt a smile spreading across his face that he couldn't contain. It was a smile of victory but also of gratitude that Beatrice was there for him.

As he emerged from the water amidst thunderous applause, his heart pounded with joy and relief. When his team came to hug and congratulate him, he felt only their joy and support, but his thoughts were still on Beatrice. Once the ceremony was over, Thomas walked out of the building, where Beatrice was already waiting for him. She stood there, beaming like the sun, and as soon as their eyes met, she ran towards him.

"You did it!" she exclaimed as she reached him, immediately wrapping him in a tight embrace. "You broke the world record! I'm so proud of you, Tommy."

Thomas smiled gratefully at her and hugged her back, as if he didn't want that moment to end. "I couldn't have done it without you, Birdie," he replied softly. "I knew that with you here, I could overcome anything."

Beatrice gently pulled back and looked into his eyes. "You did it," she said tenderly. "I was just here to cheer you on. But you're incredible. You deserve this."

Thomas laughed and shrugged. "Maybe," he admitted. "But knowing you were there gave me strength. And now that I've done it, I want to celebrate this success with you."

Beatrice smiled brightly at him. "That sounds like a perfect plan," she replied. "We'll celebrate properly."

Thomas nodded and hugged her lightly again. "But before that," he said as he pulled away, "I should probably call my family. They'd never forgive me if I didn't let them know first."

Beatrice laughed and nodded. "I understand. And then? After that, we could go for a walk. We both deserve a proper celebration, but we still need to stay prepared because we're still in training. So how about just a walk in the park this evening?"

"That sounds great," Thomas agreed, while pulling out his phone to call his family. His voice was filled with joy as he spoke with his parents and siblings, who were thrilled and full of pride. Beatrice stood beside him, smiling, and felt her own heart overflowing with joy.

When Thomas finished the call, he turned back to Beatrice. "Done," he said with a smile. "Now it's time to celebrate with someone who was here today."

Thomas first headed straight to the Italian House, a place where athletes who had won medals met with fans to celebrate their achievements. The building was decorated in national colors, and from afar, the sounds of music and laughter could be heard. When Thomas walked in, he was greeted with a thunderous applause and joyful cheers from his colleagues and coaches. His gold medal glittered on his chest as everyone gathered around him to congratulate him.

"Thomas! You did it!" shouted one of his coaches, hugging him tightly. "We are incredibly proud of you."

Thomas was grinning from ear to ear, accepting congratulations and savoring the moment of glory. It was something truly special for him—to share his success with the people who had supported him throughout his career. Some of his colleagues patted him on the back, while others toasted to his health. The atmosphere was filled with joy and pride over Italy's additional gold medal.

Meanwhile, Beatrice had returned to her room in the Olympic Village. She was still brimming with emotions from Thomas's success and was looking forward to their evening celebration. She opened her wardrobe and began considering what to wear for their walk in the park. She wanted to look elegant yet comfortable.

In the end, she chose a light summer dress in a royal blue shade that flattered her and was comfortable to wear. She paired it with comfortable sandals and wore a delicate silver chain with a small heart-shaped pendant around her neck. She left her long brown hair loose, simply brushing it to look neat.

She took one last look at herself in the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She felt good and was excited about the evening ahead. She grabbed a small handbag with the essentials and left her room to meet Thomas.

As she walked, she reflected on the moment she saw him break the world record. She was incredibly proud of him and knew this evening would be special for both of them. When she arrived at the meeting spot, she found that Thomas was already waiting for her.

He was standing there in an elegant light blue shirt and dark pants, his gold medal no longer gleaming around his neck.

~•~