LORRAINE: I stand in front of my mother's door, contemplating whether to enter or not. It's been days since she got discharged but she hasn't call or anything, expected but she's my mother. I knock slightly but the door opens, I walk in on high alret, looking around to see if anyone else was in her house asides her. “Jesus Lorraine" my mother breathes out and walks past me with a basket in her hand, “what are you doing here?” “I came to check on you, you haven't been responding to my text” I fold my hands and drop my bag. “Yes, as you can see I'm alive, I'm well, you can leave” her eyes shifting from one end of the room to the other. “Are…are you expecting someone?” “What am I 25?” She scoffs, “can't a woman just want to have peace and quiet in her own house?” “It's our house” I enunciate on the ‘our’, “plus, you've had enough peace and quiet don't you think so?” I walk to the kitchen. “Lorraine…I'm seriously not in the mood for your snarky comments” she sighs. “You're kind
MATTEO:My phone beeps with a message, a message from Dexter, I read it over and over again trying to understand why he wants to see me and how he even has my number. I groan and pick up my car keys. I was going to give him a piece of my mind. Annoyingly I knock on Dexter's door, I hear him groan. “Come in” I open the door, step in and see him..swollen eyes, messy office with files everywhere and it reeked of alcohol, “De..what the hell happened?” I look around trying to understand what happened.He chuckles a little, “if it isn't my dear cousin, welcome welcome” he staggers to his feet, “sit please” he sniffles and pours himself another drink, “to what do I owe this pleasure?”His shoulders drop in defeat, his eyes were swollen like he hadn't slept in days, “when…how long have you been here?”He takes a deep breath in and falls into his chair, “just the night” he chuckles, “don't tell anyone” he shushes me.I sigh, “come on I'm taking you home, you look like shit” I stand up. “You
LORRAINE: I go through another set of files, trying to see who was left to get signatures, trying to set up meetings, phone calls and signing emails. My head was banging with exhaustion, so was my heart…I needed to sleep. “Someone's admirer has balls,” Ava walks into my office with a bouquet of flowers, “they are pretty”I smile and collect them from her, “where'd you get this from?” “Your assistant was about bringing it in” she sighs and sits down, “from Matteo?”I look at the card, “you're the part of me that makes me whole” I internally jump, “yea” I set them down and sit down, looking at her worriedly.She sighs, raising both hands, “I am not going to say anything, don't worry” she hands me a file, “I have come with good news” she smiles. “Please tell me this is what I think it is” I open the file and a squeal escapes my throat, “ho…how?” “My dad prefers you as his daughter, so” she chuckles, “in there you have full access to the land rights, contacts, information, accounts…
DEXTER: I drive in anger back to my house, my hands gripping the wheel, turning my knuckles white. Of course I would do anything for Lorraine, what bubble is he talking about? **Flashback**I didn't sleep a wink, I stayed up all night researching, cutting out pictures, my eyes were dropping with sleep but I stare at my presentation on cancer awareness, everything well detailed to the end. From medicines, to research, to drug usage to chemo, Lorraine would love this, I feel so fulfilled. I walk into class, everyone holding their presentations, mine was well tucked by my side, I turn and I see Lorraine by the end of the class, hair in a neat bun..she never let her hair down it was her signature hairstyle, legs folded up on her chair, quiet, lost in thoughts, with her small bag by her side, I walk slowly to her and sit in front of her, she takes off her ear pods and stares at me dead in my eyes. “If you're here to piss me off I really advise you to leave now” she fold her arms. “C
MATTEO: “You don't get to fall apart with me…” Ava’s voice played in my head as I took another photo of the model, I haven't been able to think or do anything for the past two days, “get her a change of outfit and remove the sparkles close to her eyes, it's contrasting with the background” I tell my assistant and stand up to change my camera lens. “Hello cousin” I see Dexter and also stumble on my feet, “you have been avoiding me” he smirks and sits on my chair. “Jesus Christ Dexter” I groan and change my camera lens, “I'm working, what do you want?” “We need to talk” I close my door, “you have ten minutes” “How's Ava?” he smiles annoyingly, “Is that what you want us to talk about?” my face and tone already scrunching up in anger.He laughs a little, “you're too serious for a photographer gosh” he sits upright, “did your mum talk to you about anything?” “Anything like what?” I sit opposite him and drop my camera.He sighs, "I know we've never seen eye to eye but I think your
LORRAINE: My heart beating extremely fast as I run another mile down the road, I try to keep my breath as calm as possible and my thoughts in check, but questions keep bombarding my head even with Celine Dion playing loudly in my head. What was the connection between Ava and Matteo that she couldn't even tell me? She kept avoiding the question and ever since she's been acting so mysterious. I stop in my tracks and fall to the floor, my legs were already giving out…I needed to catch my breath. Slowly I walked into my apartment, sweat trickling down my skin, my breathing still uneven. I fall into my couch and just like muscle memory I touch my necklace again, I miss my father too damn much. A knock on my door draws out a groan from me, “Coming” I take off my shoes and open the door, “come in” I say softly with a smile on my face. “I'm surprised you don't have a gym in your house honestly” Dexter says as he enters my house with two shopping bags, “breakfast and brunch, you're wel