Anaya

“Anaya!!!” Her name echoed through the house as her dad pounded up the stairs, her 4 brothers mirroring him. She had locked herself in her room not to hide from her father but to avoid the damning fate that awaited her outside those doors. “Anaya,” her father’s voice boomed once more, then the pounding on her door came. It shook violently as her father continued to bang repetitively. “Anaya, if I call your name one more time, there will be hell to pay.” Oh, she already knew she was dead, from the moment she dashed through the door to her room and locked it? Or how about how she let her father yell out her name multiple times. She knew she had incurred his wrath, but incuring his wrath was better than what he wanted her to do. A thousand times better. She was chewing on her already clipped nails when the door tore off its hinges, and her father barged in, followed by her brothers, “What do you think you are doing, girl?” his hand came down on her face, hard. With her cheeks buzzin

“I’m gonna miss you,” Luca said, smiling at me as the car boot slammed shut. “Yeah, I wish you could say the same about the others here, too.” I smiled “Oh, I’m sure they’re weeping inside right now,” we burst into laughter. “No, but seriously, I’m sure Mum’s weeping, you were always her favourite child.” “Don’t say that, she loves you too.” “Yeah, I’m sure,” he said non-committally. “God, I’m gonna miss you. You were the only one who actually loved me in this hellhole.” I smiled, “We’ll call each other, and I’m sure we’ll still see each other.” “yeah” he muttered I turned around and started the car, lifting my heavy bridal train as I walked. “Wait!” I turned around and saw Mum running down the steps. “You weren’t gonna go without saying goodbye to your mamma, right, Bambina?” I shook my head, tearing up She cupped my face. “I’m going to miss you,” she kissed my forehead, “stai al sicuro ti amo.” “Stai al sicuro, ti amo.” The drive to the Vitelli estate was long.

The weeks passed by in a flurry, between the constant stares and the incessant whispers, I couldn't wait till the days ended. I had just finished getting ready and went downstairs for breakfast, but the whole place was a hush. My family sat as if a gun was fired and they were caught in the cross fire. "What's going on?" I asked But my mum plastered on a fake smile instead "Oh Sweetheart good morning, how was your night?" "It was good thank you" I smiled " so what's for breakfast?" My dad chuckled " So...we've got pancakes, sausages, cakes, tres leches, and because we keeping it healthy fruit salad" he said mimicking a circus master It was cute and endearing, cringe, but cute and endearing. I ate heartily, though I could still feel the earlier tension, it was as if it was fizzing out, but still there in the background. I was second guessing asking this question, but now would be the perfect time, seeing as they were angry maybe they'd impulsively be honestly with me? I kno

The whispers and stares finally quietened, I guess the rumors finally died down. I was at my table in class, when a girl walked up to me."Jinny right?" She had short brown hair with purple highlights, pink full lips and a nose ring"Yeah""Hi, I'm Rebecca," smiling, she stretched out her hand"Nice to meet you" I smiled back, taking her hand"Are you new here?""Nope""How come I haven't seen you around though?""Oh I just resumed. I was on a long ass holiday""Well, it's really nice to meet you""Same here" We talked after that, we just seemed to click, it was as if I had known her for a very long time. She was funny and relatable and with her the background seemed to peel away, and it was just us.I hadn't realised how much time had passed, until I heard the bell ring "Shit, I'm gonna be late for class" I started packing my books, "I have physics right now, you?""I'm free""OK, so I'll see you later?""Yeah"I hurriedly rushed out of class when I bumped into something hard, exc