Amber and Nathalies world

The world was waking up, but inside me it felt as if I had already fully arrived. I remembered the moment when Mario had opened the door to our house. Sitting there with Amber, feeling the cool night air on my skin and not knowing what was going to happen. My heart had been beating so hard that I was afraid Mario would hear it. I looked at Amber, her uncertainty mirroring my own. And then Mario picked me up, carried me out of the house to a seat inside the motorhome in front of it, got out again and left me alone in the darkness inside.

I wanted to call for Amber, I didn’t want to leave her behind, but my voice failed me. A short time later, he came back. He carried Amber in his arms and sat her down next to me. Then he left the camper van again. So now we sat together in the dark in silence, not knowing what to expect.

Then came the moment when Mario climbed into the driver’s seat and the engine came to life. I could feel the vibration under my feet, the gentle jolt as we set off. Slowly at first, then faster and faster, we drove away from the house that had defined our lives. The thought was frightening, but inexplicably liberating at the same time.

Then came the first stop. I didn’t know why we had stopped. My heart was pounding as Mario stood up, walked to the side door of the camper van and opened it. A cold shiver ran down my spine as he wordlessly lifted Amber up. I watched as her body stiffened and her eyes widened in panic.

“Mario… what are you doing?” Her voice trembled, her fingers clutched at him as if she was afraid he was going to take her somewhere she didn’t want to be. I could see the terror in her eyes and it hurt to see her like this.

But Mario remained calm. “You don’t need to be afraid, Amber. Trust me.” His voice was gentle but firm.

I held my breath as he carried her out of the motorhome. Where was he taking her? What would happen? The seconds stretched into infinity as I stayed behind in the silence of the RV. Then, after a moment, I saw him put Amber in the passenger seat and buckle her in. Only then did I realize what he was doing. It wasn’t about taking her away. He wanted her to sit in the front… to have a place by his side.

Just as I was processing this thought, Mario turned to us. His smile was calm, full of warmth and confidence. Then he spoke the words that would change our lives forever:

“We’re going on vacation.”

I felt my heart stop for a moment. Vacation? My thoughts stumbled over each other, trying to cling to the concept of that word. Vacation was something people did. People who were free, who could decide where they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. And now Mario was saying that we would do the same?

Amber gasped softly next to me. Her hand went to her mouth, and pure disbelief flashed in her eyes. “Mario… Really?” Her voice was just a breath, as if she was afraid this was all just a dream that would shatter if she got too excited.

Mario nodded. “Yes. We’re going to Italy together. To Lake Garda.” He paused for a moment and looked at us both lovingly. “I want to sit on the beach with you and watch the sunset. Watch the starry sky with you, completely free and dreaming!”

The world around me blurred. I could no longer hear my own breathing, only the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. I felt my chest rise and fall as the words slowly entered my heart. I wanted to say something, but no words seemed to do this moment justice.

Then the first tears ran down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t want to either. In front of me in the passenger seat, Amber also began to cry, silently, while she kept glancing back and forth between Mario and me.

This wasn’t a dream. It was real. And it was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened.

Amber’s shoulders relaxed and a smile flitted across her face. I could feel my own tension slowly easing. It wasn’t the unknown that we had to be afraid of. It was the change that brought us something new.

And then, as the darkness gradually receded, it happened. The sunrise over the mountains had been the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Golden rays had bathed the peaks in a soft light that reflected in Amber’s shining eyes as we sank into tears of joy together.

I had spent my whole life in a house, in rooms that were familiar to me, in a world that was safe but limited. But this journey, this moment - it was as if I had only now really begun to exist. And Mario had shown us this world. He had not only led us out of the house, but into a life that seemed limitless.

I looked over at him as he drove calmly. His expression was focused, but there was something soft and contented in his eyes. I knew he knew what it all meant for us. And I knew I could never thank him enough for it.

Morning had long since broken and the sun was already high in the sky when Mario steered into a small, quiet parking lot again. The engine stopped and for a moment there was an almost solemn silence.

Then the driver’s door opened and Mario got out. I heard him walk around to the other side of the motorhome, open the door and then unlock the passenger door. He leaned down to Amber and undid her seatbelt.

“So, my sweetie”, he said with a gentle smile, “now Nathalie can sit in the front too.”

Amber looked at him with wide eyes, then beamed. “Oh yes! Of course!” she exclaimed happily and immediately raised her arms so that Mario could pick her up. I watched as he carefully lifted her out of the seat as if she were the most precious thing in the world. He set her down next to me at the back of the motorhome and Amber happily slumped against the back of the seat, still overwhelmed by everything we had experienced so far. And I suddenly realized that this was just the beginning of our vacation together.

Then Mario turned to me. My heart beat faster - but not out of fear. I already knew what was about to happen and I could hardly wait. I stretched my arms out towards him, full of anticipation.

“Come here, Nathalie”, he murmured gently before lifting me up. My body felt weightless in his arms, but my thoughts floated even higher. I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

“I already know where I’m going”, I whispered happily as he carried me to the passenger seat and carefully put me down. The seatbelt clicked into place and Mario looked at me briefly. “Ready?” he asked with that familiar wink.

“More than ready”, I replied, my eyes shining.

The journey continued. I let my gaze wander through the windshield, taking in every detail of the passing world. But it wasn’t long before I noticed something. The people in the cars next to us. Some looked at us with astonishment, others with a smile - but then there were also those whose gaze made me shiver. Scornful looks, disapproving expressions, people frowning or even shaking their heads.

I felt a knot forming in my chest. I turned slightly to Amber, who was sitting behind me. “Amber… did you see that too?”

She looked at me and nodded slowly. “Yes, Nathalie. I’ve seen it.” Her gaze became gentle but serious. “These people don’t understand us. They only see what they want to see. They think we don’t belong. But Mario…” - she paused for a moment - “Mario shows them that it’s not their decision. He doesn’t hide us. He tells the world: ‘You belong with me’. And that makes him brave.”

I looked outside again. The cars drove on, the views disappeared into the distance. But the feeling remained. “It makes me sad that some people think like that”, I said quietly.

Mario gave me a quick glance as he drove. “Let them think what they want, my angel. All that matters is how we feel about each other.”

I swallowed. My heart was full of emotion. I didn’t know how to put it all into words. So I just said what my heart was telling me. “Mario… I love you. I’m so grateful that I get to share my life with you and Amber.”

He smiled, a warm, gentle smile that told me he already knew.

The road continued to wind its way through the landscape and suddenly the scenery changed. The rugged peaks of the Dolomites rose majestically into the sky. My breath caught in my throat. The world was so much bigger, so much more diverse than I could ever have imagined. The mountains seemed to stretch into infinity and I couldn’t help but marvel at them in awe.

Then, after a while, it happened. My gaze wandered forward, and suddenly…

“Mario! What’s that?” I shouted excitedly and could no longer contain my enthusiasm.

I could hardly believe it. An expanse stretched out before us that I had never seen before. Endless, glittering water that stretched to the horizon. The sunlight was reflected in the surface, causing small waves to flash and dance like sparkling diamonds.

Mario laughed softly. “That, my beauty, is Lake Garda.”

I couldn’t stop marveling. Amber leaned forward to catch a glimpse too. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened slightly in amazement. Together, we watched as the sun was reflected in the water, bathing the world in a palette of gold and blue.

“Mario… is this really real?” I whispered in disbelief. “Or am I dreaming? This is more beautiful than any dream I’ve ever had.”

He gave me a look full of love, full of happiness. “It’s real, Nathalie. And it’s going to get even better.”

Mario noticed my enthusiasm and, without saying a word, he took his foot off the accelerator. The motorhome slowed down and suddenly I had the feeling that the world was opening up even more. The rustling trees at the side of the road, the majestic cliffs of the mountains behind us, the expansive meadows beside us - everything was now passing us by at a leisurely pace as we drew ever closer to the magical sparkle and glitter of the water, as if Mario wanted to give us every opportunity to take in this world.

I felt Amber lean forward in the back of the motorhome, her eyes just as wide as mine. We looked at each other and both had to smile. It was as if Mario had slowed down not only the pace of the drive, but also the pace of time, so that we could really feel this moment.

My heart beat faster, but not with fear this time. But with pure, unadulterated joy. I was here. I was free. And in front of me was a world waiting to be discovered.