Ethan Hernandez - December, 2005Sofia and I kissed in the fountain two hours ago and I was in my bed, bathed too anxious to get to sleep. The next time we talked I was going to declare myself. I was going to tell her all about my feelings. She was 18 now, there was nothing wrong with how I felt anymore, and if she wanted me to, I would ask her to be my girlfriend. Hell, I could see myself marrying that girl.I heard knocking at the door and imagined it was Nick's drunk ass coming to disturb me. He was a big crybaby when he was drinking.I opened the door and was surprised to see Sofia in her pajamas and wet hair looking embarrassed. I arched an eyebrow, knowing how much that gesture annoyed her.“I couldn't sleep” she said dullly. I smiled at that. I opened the door, making room for her to enter. Sofia settled down on my bed between the sheets cross-legged and pulled the pillow to her face. Was she smelling it?Sofia seemed to notice me watching her and pulled the pillow down with a b

Sofia Adams - March, 2012I was at an impasse. I promised Anne I wouldn't drink, but just thinking about facing this sober I was starting to break out in a cold sweat. How would I do that?I stopped in the lobby of the hotel, not sure what to do. I could turn right and take the corridor towards the bar or I could go to the front desk and ask for Ethan's number.I had erased it from my cell phone and my memory the last time I expected him to show up and he didn't come.I looked once more down the hall to the right taking a step in that direction. I hadn't promised pinkie, but I knew how disappointed Anne would be if she knew I had lied to her.It was that thought that made me step back and head for the reception desk. For today, I would do things the hard way, but the right way.“Excuse me, could you give me Ethan Hernandez's number? He is working on the renovation of this hotel," I informed the blonde in front of me with my best imploring smile.She stared at me for a second before si

Ethan Hernandez - March, 2012I watched the woman before me crumble.Sofia was normal, or as normal as she could be considering our situation... But it was only the mention of Nick and that night that in a few seconds she started crying non-stop and rubbing her arms and hands hard compulsively, I wasn't understanding anything.I tried to get close and get her attention but her eyes were blank and she seemed too far away to hear me. She was lost... drowning in a sea of memories that I didn't know. Could someone save her?“Sofia, stop” I asked, holding her hands gently and trying to calm her down.I pulled her out of her seat and carried her away before her state drew unwanted attention.I carried her up the stairs, my initial plan was to take her to her room, but the outbreak seemed to get worse by the second and my room was closer so I pulled her into it as soon as we reached the second floor.Sofia walked in and seemed to be blindly reaching for something, tripping over her own feet.

Sofia Adams – March, 2012I was having a great time with Mick... So much so that I didn't even notice the time passing. We were just talking and drinking. Mick knew details of my life that I had never dared to share with a stranger, but he had this aura about him. This easygoing temperament that made you trust and open up."Hm, Sofia?" Mick called out in the middle of my story about how I tripped and fell on the dance floor in Vegas the last time I was here."Yes?" I questioned, my voice sounding much more slurred than I intended. How many shots had I taken again?"I think you were supposed to meet your friend half an hour ago," he reminded me with a sheepish smile.I furrowed my brow in confusion at his words and checked the clock on the bar wall.Damn, he was right."Alright, smarty pants, I'll call her," I said.I checked my phone, and indeed, there were several missed calls and some messages from Anne wondering where I was. I made the call and waited for her to answer, which didn'

Sofia Adams - March, 2012The sun was setting on the horizon of the city of sin, but it still made me sweat. I could almost feel myself getting sick.I spent the day with Mick, and hearing him talk about his sister made me think of my husband... I spent the day trying to forget, but it only took a moment of weakness for the memories to come back with full force.I wanted to say that I only remembered the blood and the countless days in the hospital, but it was worse... I remembered his perfect red hair. I remembered when he would do a clown voice to make me laugh and how he always talked to animals as if there was a real dialogue going on.Sometimes, when I was almost waking up in the morning, for a split second before opening my eyes, I could swear I heard his peaceful breathing as he slept. For a moment, everything seemed normal. But then I would open my eyes, and reality would hit me. I was alone, sleeping on the couch in our house, unable to lie in the bed we shared.That's why it