Chapter twenty

By the next hour, I am already regretting throwing away the food Luciano had brought. I limp down with so much pain in every move to find the family in celebration.

Zia and James ignore me as if I am nothing, and it hurts me as I walk back to my room. By the middle of the night. I can’t take it.

When Zia walks to lock the door to my room, I plead with her to feed me any leftovers of food and she laughs out loud.

James, who I did not know was standing behind the door, walked into my room. Holding a portion of everything we cooked. He makes me sing him a happy birthday song and makes me eat the cake.

It is fun and I like it. We then walk downstairs, turn on the music, and dance to celebrate James. We dance, eat, and drink until it is too late.

I want to continue, but Zia says it’s time for bed, and I promise myself another time like this tomorrow. With days like this, I might survive the fourteen days that Luciano promised me, and I might go home.

And if Luciano is truthful. Aft