My steps slowed as I neared the lawn where Vivo was curled up, his eyes following me with a sad gaze. Poor dog. He endured their arguments too, always quiet, waiting for things to getbetter.
Sadly, nothing had changed. I pulled my hoodie over my head, trying to make myself smaller as I moved past neighbors on their porches and driveways, gossiping. I wanted nothing more than to disappear, to be invisible to the prying eyes that followed me like shadows.
Vivo let out a soft whine as I slipped past him, a sound so mournful, it bruised.
A taxi pulled up just in time, and I slid into the backseat, the cool leather of the seat greeting me like a silent refuge. I sank back, grateful for the brief breath from the chaos. Billie Eilish’s voice poured into my ears through my earphones, a somber yet comforting soundtrack for my escape. The driver asked for my address, and I gave Carina’s address.
As the taxi sped down the street, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to Marco, telling him I was going to Carina’s place. Seconds rolled by, and my thoughts drifted. My mind replayed the moments before everything changed.
What happened to the family we used to be? The one where laughter and warmth were as common as the smell of fresh bread baking in the kitchen? Where did it all go wrong?
The drive seemed to stretch on forever. My thoughts grew heavier with each passing block. I could almost see the images of my parents as they once were. They would laugh over a glass of wine, sharing romantic moments in the kitchen. It felt like another life, like something that had been stolen from us. As we drove past the neighborhood church, I almost asked the driver to stop so I could go in and pray for my parents. I’d grown up near it but never stepped inside. So I just stayed quiet, shut my eyes, and let the music calm me.
The car’s sudden stop jolted me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes to find we’d reached Carina’s house. I paid the driver, grabbed my bag, and walked up to the front door.
Isabella, Carina’s little sister, answered the door with her usual enthusiasm. She was grinning up at me, her wild curls bouncing with every step. Without hesitation, I reached out to ruffle her hair, but she ducked away with a mock scowl, batting my hand away.
“I’m not a baby,” she huffed, but the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.
I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling the tension of the day loosen a little. “You’re not, but you’re still my favourite target,” I teased as I stepped inside, making my way upstairs to Carina’s room.
Her house had become my second home. I could walk through it blindfolded without bumping into anything. It was where I could breathe, where the noise of my life at home faded into the background.
I entered Carina’s room, a cozy space with soft pink walls and a stack of books piled high on the bedside table. She sat on the bed, her laptop open in front of her, typing away at something with intense focus. When she saw me, her eyes widened, and she closed her laptop, her expression shifting to concern.
“Again?” she asked.
Carina was the first to notice the cracks in my facade. I gave a half-hearted shrug, sinking on the bed beside her.
“Yep. Same old, same old.”
She frowned and reached for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You should’ve called me to pick you up.”
“No. I want them to realise I’m gone,” I admitted, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.
It was the truth. If I were gone long enough, they might realize I was more than an afterthought.
Carina rubbed my shoulder like she always did when words weren’t enough. The kind of comfort that didn’t need to be spoken. After a long pause, she said, her voice softer this time. “I’m sorry, Sia.”
I let out a shaky breath, wishing things were different. “I wish I could disappear, you know? Maybe then they would remember that I matter.”
Carina flopped back onto the bed beside me, hands tucked behind her head as we stared up at the ceiling.
“Unless you run away with Marco, there’s nowhere you can go, sweetheart,” she said. “But you have an interview on Monday?”
Oh yes, I could finally get a job and quit working at the cafe. After months of applying for several accounting jobs, I finally landed an interview. I groaned. “Great. Well, at least I’ve got that to keep me grounded.” I slapped her thigh playfully. “And now we can get down to business.”
She chuckled, sitting up to face me. “Business? What business?”
“Marco’s birthday dinner,” I said as nerves crept into my stomach. The thought of it still made my heart race. “I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m so overwhelmed.”
Her eyes danced with mischief, and she grinned. “Should we repeat the kissing lesson?”
I shot her a look of disbelief, though I couldn’t help but laugh. My face warmed. I couldn’t help but remember the ridiculous evening when Carina dragged me to the couch. She insisted I practice before this date. “No, Rina. I’m ready. I mean, I have to be, right?”
“You’re ready. Trust me.” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around my neck, her face inches from mine. “Kissing isn’t the hard part. The tough part is everything that comes after. The first time can be painful.”
“Shut up,” I muttered, slapping a hand over her mouth. “Can we please not talk like we’re writing one of your steamy chapters?”