CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN - THREADS OF HOPE

"Oh my god," he wheezed, tears streaming down his face. "Your face when you fell... priceless!" Amelia tried to maintain a dignified expression, but the absurdity of the situation soon got to her. She started giggling, then laughing outright, splashing water at Alessandro. "You could at least help me up, you know," she chuckled, holding out her hand. Still chuckling, Alessandro reached down to pull her up. However, he underestimated the slipperiness of the rocks. As he tugged on Amelia's arm, his own feet slid out from under him, sending them both tumbling back into the stream in a tangle of limbs. Now it was Amelia's turn to laugh uncontrollably. "Who's graceful now?" she teased, poking Alessandro in the ribs. He retaliated by splashing her, and soon they were engaged in a full-blown water fight, their laughter echoing through the forest. Eventually, they managed to extricate themselves from the stream, both soaking wet but still grinning like fools. "Well," Alessandro said, wr