"Hi beautiful! What a pretty little dress you're wearing today. It's red because Christmas is coming, isn't it?'
"Yes!".
"Have you been a good girl this year?" I asked, smiling.
"Sometimes I threw a tantrum."
"Who knows what presents Santa Claus will bring, then."
William knew that I hadn't been very well because of the therapy, so he decided to bring the little princess who I loved more every day to my home.
"Want to watch a Disney movie? Maybe... Cinderella?», I asked her smiling.
"Yes!".
"So, let's go upstairs, put the three of us under a blanket together and look at it. All right?". Her blue eyes sparkled with happiness.
I was starting to have the first bad symptoms of the therapy. Headache, nausea and leg pain.
"How was training?", I said to Will in a low voice so as not to disturb Bella who was between us watching the movie.
"Well. I'm a little anxious about the championship. You told me you made friends. Is nice?".
"Who says she's a girl?" I cackled.
"Are you a boy?" She petrified.
"Yes, but don't worry, he's gay."
"Everyone says so." I gave him a little slap on his arm.
"Ouch!"
«He IS nice and you will have to make him go well. I will most likely spend more time with him than with you.' Perhaps, I had gone a little too far with words.
"And why?".
"Because I have to go to the hospital practically every day to have that needle stuck in my veins." He was silent, a little puzzled, perhaps. After seeing the scene of Cinderella losing her slipper, he decides to talk again.
«Will you be able to come and see at least the first match on Saturday? I care about it".
"I know, I care too. I'll do my best to come but I can't promise that. You know, if I were to feel bad...». I stopped at those words. I did not continue the sentence because William had expressly told me that if I suffered, he suffered too. His pain drove him into alcohol and it was the last thing I needed right now.
«How do you feel now?», He asks me stroking my arm.
"Good," I tried to lie.
"It does not seem".
"I've just got a little headache and I didn't sleep very well last night. But don't worry." It was nice that he was interested in my health, but for him, for us, it was a double-edged sword.
«He I'm going to the pub tonight with my friends». The blood froze in my veins.
"Will you drink?" I asked immediately.
"No".
"William..."
"I won't drink. I promise you. Don't wait up for me though. I'll write you a message when I get home.' Obviously, I would have waited up for him. I would have watched him from the window and understood if he had been drinking or not. I wanted to see if the promises he made were real.
"All right".
"It's finished!" Bella exclaimed.
"Do you want to see another one? We can put Beauty and the Beast. What do you say?".
«His name is like me, so, yes!».
"Oh no, please. It's a torture. We can't watch an action movie or something. I beg you". William buried his face in the pillow and started pretending to cry. Bella and I laughed.
"We're two against one. So, we decide. High five, Bella!». His small hand met mine.
I was happy, but at the same time I was worried about William. The pub was no place for him and his employment.