Downhill

Two weeks dragged by and then followed by two more. Alessi still hasn't come back from his business since there was a mishap that required his attention. Luckily, Dria has visited a few times and I've become very close to the chefs. Alejandro and Maria are an older couple who have taken me under their wing since Alessi left. They have taught me how to cook and bake. I've been very grateful for their company especially since this big house gets very lonely.

I started back running and using the gym everyday. I think I'm in better shape now than when I got here. I've had a lot of time on my hands causing me to miss Alessi even more than necessary. We haven't been in contact a whole lot and I don't even know where he is. It makes me super worried, but there isn't much I can do.

I'm in the middle of baking cookies. Today has been a long day since I gave Alejandro and Maria the day off. Today is their 50th wedding anniversary. Maybe one day, that'll be Alessi and me. I'm brought out of my thoughts as I hear the front door slam. I grab a knife before peering out of the kitchen. I see Alessi storming up the stairs with Vince right behind him. That's odd. I would figure he would've been ready to see me. Something bad must have happened. I decide to give him some time and wait for my cookies to finish baking. I put several on a plate before heading to Alessi's office. I figure that's where they have been since I saw them head upstairs.

Reaching the door, I see that's it cracked open. I gently push it open finding an empty room. I go to his desk and sit down the plate. Before I head off, a folder on his desk catches my attention. I see my last name on the tab causing me to reach out an open it. My blood runs cold as I look at the pictures in it. They are of my parents in their car from all different angles. The one head on shows their lifeless gaze and slumped posture. There are several zoomed in pictures showing them holding hands and their matching bullet holes in their foreheads. I feel like there isn't any oxygen in the room. My parents are dead. How did this happen?? Why did it happen? I look closer at the folder and see the date from when the pictures were taken. They were from two weeks ago. He knew for two weeks and didn't tell me. Suddenly the sorrow is replaced with anger. I pick up the plate and hurl it towards the wall. I barely hear the plate shatter as I storm out the office and head towards my room. I throw all of my clothes into my bag not bothering with folding. Grabbing my stuff, I head towards the stairs and see Vince looking at me worried. The broken plate is in his hands.

"Call Dria. I'm not staying here."

He sighs.

"Emilia. Just wait. Let him..."

"I said call her."

I snap at him not bothering to hear what he has to say. I hear him making a call so I make my way downstairs and sit outside waiting for Dria to come get me. Luckily, she had business nearby so twenty minutes later she pulls up on two wheels. She looks distraught as she helps me with my bag. I hear someone coming out the front door as I load into the car.

"Rose. We need to talk."

He looks like he has been crying. I don't care though. He has taken too much from me. He broke me again.

"We are done with whatever this is."

I gesture in between us before continuing.

"I don't want to see you again. You've taken too much from me. I can't forgive you."

I slam the door shut and signal for Dria to drive. She takes off not once looking back at her brother. I'm thankful to have her with me. I don't think I can do this alone. I don't think I can go through this again.

A few hours later, we pull into Dria's house. It's not as big as Alessi's, but it's even more extravagant. There are stone pillars on the outside and dark hardwood floors through the inside. I don't bother looking around as I follow Dria to the room I will be staying in. It's a nice room with a queen bed. The walls are white and everything about the room seems to be too bright. I thank her before making my way under the covers. I don't bother sleeping. I know the nightmares will come and I won't have Alessi to help keep them away. I feel the tears fall one by one, but I don't bother to wipe them away. I don't know how long I lay there until my old friend comes for me comforting me. Darkness soon consumes me.

Alessi POV

It's been a three days since she left. I can't sleep knowing she doesn't ever want to see me. I can't seem to eat either.

"Alessandrio, you have to get yourself together. Have you even tried talking to her?"

I look up from the glass of whiskey in my hand to see Vince in the doorway.

"She doesn't want to see me. If someone else hurt her as much as I have, I would have killed them by now."

I finish off my glass before pouring more in.

"I want to put someone on guard at Dria's to make sure she is okay though."

Vince nods his head at me.

"I'll take first shift. I'll get Marco to cover tomorrow and then figure out a rotation."

I watch him leave and make sure he is far gone before I let the tears fall.

Emilia POV

I don't think I can do this. Dria comes in three times a day to bring me food, but I can't eat. Every time I sleep, new nightmares terrorize me. I'm so tired. I don't want to do this anymore.

I get up from the bed and head into the attached bathroom. I pull out my meds from my bag and count my pills. I haven't taken them in a while so I should have plenty. I empty the entire bottle into my hand. I just have to swallow them and it'll be over. I don't get a chance to lift them to my mouth before I feel bile coming up. I haven't eaten in a few days so I dry heave into the toilet until my stomach settles. I sit back against the wall and slow my breathing. I rarely get sick so this round of depression must really be getting to me. My hand goes to flush the toilet, but pauses as I see the box of tampons on the toilet. I can't remember my last period. It used to be very irregular until I got on my medicine. I know I've been sexually active recently, but we always used protection. Didn't we? My thoughts flicker back to that drunken night. It was over two months ago, and I can't remember what happened much less if we used protection. I feel tears threatening to spill, but I don't have time for this. I make my way out of my room since I know Dria is at work. I remember her mentioning that Alessi was sending guards. I will bribe one of them to go get a test. I peek my head outside and see a black car parked on the side of the street. I know they notice me when I see the car door open. Vince makes his way to me. I silently curse knowing he will tell Alessi. He can't know. I don't want him to.

"You okay, Emilia?"

Vince is standing in front of me looking concerned. I know I look awful. I haven't showered or brushed my hair in three days.

"Does everything I say to you get back to Alessi?"

"Only if it concerns your safety."

I nod at him as the worry on his face deepens.

"I need you to do me a favor, and Alessi can't know."

He looks like he is having an internal battle. I know he has never kept anything from him before, but I know he will do this for me.

"Please, Vince. I need you."

As soon the words leave my mouth, he nods his head encouraging me to continue. I pull out Alessi's credit card that he gave me before he left and some cash.

"Take the card and pick up some tampons. But I need you to use the cash to pick up a pregnancy test."

My voices gives out at the end and I feel more tears threatening to spill. I see Vince's face pale before he pulls me into his chest. I can't hold anything back anymore as I sob into his chest. He holds me up until all my tears are gone. He gives me a kiss on my head and tells me everything will be okay, but I can't seem to get any words out.

It takes Vince fifteen minutes and forty three seconds to get back. I barely acknowledge him as I grab the bag and head to my bathroom. I pee on the stick and sit it on the counter. I can't bare to look at it so I let my eyes wander around the bathroom. My pills are still spilled out on the counter. I was so close to finding rest, but now I'm pulled back into my reality where things seem to constantly go downhill. Gathering all the strength I have, I make my way back to the test and look down at it. Immediately, I feel my stomach heave. I hunch over the toilet even though there is nothing that can come out. I close my eyes, but no matter how tight I shut them, I still see those two pink lines staring back at me.