Family is Complicated

Chapter 2

30 Years Ago

Her mother had walked out of the door with baby Andrea in one hand and suitcases in the other. She had promised eight year old Carina she would visit as often as she could but Carina knew she didn't mean it. If she had she wouldn't be leaving, knowing how bad their papa could get, how abusive he was, even if Carina hadn't known at the time. Her mum was walking out the door Carina's entire childhood up to this day took place. This was the house Carina played 'hide n seek' in with her brother, this was the house her and Andrea would annoy their parents until they made their kids go to their rooms. The house where all the best things happened, but maybe her eyes and ears had deceived her, otherwise how did her parents hate each other so much yet neither of their kids even realised. It wasn't Andrea's fault, he was only two, but how did she not realise? 

Carina was a very observant girl, she always had been, everyone told her she got that from her mother. But she never once thought her parents would give up, give up on their marriage, on their life together, on their family. She had never seen the signs, but as every moment with her parents played back in her head, she soon began to realise, maybe she was so observant afterall. Carina couldn't bear the thought of her parents not being in love with each other, ever since she could remember, they loved each other even when her father was in a manic episode, their mother was always there for him. They were the reason Carina as a child had believed in true love but now the realisation of her entire childhood being a lie was too much for a eight year old, who was already fragile, knowing she wouldn't see her baby brother anymore. Carina couldn't handle watching them leave. As they were leaving, she let loose of her fathers hand and ran to her room where she locked her door and just lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. She was mad at her father, she blamed him for her mother leaving. She blamed him for everything. 

Present Time

Carina hadn't had a break for hours now, the OB department was understaffed; what a surprise! But right at this moment, no mother was in labour, she had no patients. Finally! "crap" she hadn't even eaten since this morning, it was almost 5pm, she was so busy she hadn't even realised. She walked to the cafeteria waiting in line to grab a bite, whilst waiting there, she decided to call Maya. She hadn't had a chance to talk to her today, she prayed Maya wasn't busy right now. She called Maya and surprisingly Maya picked up straight away;

Hey !

Ciao Bambina!

You missed our lunch date...

Lunch? Merda! Maya, I am so sorry, the hospital was packed and you know with Andrea and I just- I forgot, I'm sorry

It's ok, at least come home early though, I'm gonna attempt to cook and you are going to be my subject.

To make sure your food doesn't give people food poisoning? Sure!

I AM NOT THAT BAD OF A COOK!

Do you really want me to remind you of last week Maya? 

Whatever, I'm cooking and...date night, at home and you are coming 

Wouldn't miss it for the world!

Ok well I have to go now, work is calling, I love you 

Va bene, I love you bambina, ciao!

Carina hung up the phone, smiling. She had never felt like this before, sure she liked Arizona but this, this was different. Maya wasn't like the other girls or guys she'd dated. Carina cared about her and she loved her, so much that she never ever wanted to live in a world without her. She loved Maya so much she was terrified of losing her. This relationship was different, it was special, she hadn't figured out why, but she knew it was different. It felt magical, almost, the only good thing to come out of this year. Carina felt so grateful to have Maya, especially during this pandemic, through everything with her brother and her losing patients for the first time in her career, her one constant was Maya. 

Carina never thought she would say that, she never thought she would be love struck, that wasn't the type of person Carina was. Hell, she didn't even believe true love existed until she met Maya, well Carina use to believe it, but when her mother left, she didn't believe in love, she didn't believe in soulmates or fairytales or any of it. But then, one day at a bar, she had come across this beautiful woman, her blue eyes were so magical, they drew Carina in from day one and Carina hadn't stopped falling for her ever since. She hadn't even realised she was smiling thinking about Maya, as she got out of her head and into the real world, she had realised her brother from across the cafeteria. 

She so badly wanted to talk to her brother, tell him everything, about Maya and how they'd moved in together, be able to prove him wrong after he told her that she'd never been in a relationship past three months, she wanted her brother back, he didn't even know that Carina was dating someone, let alone that she had said I love you for the first time, or that she'd moved in with her girlfriend. Nope, she was not going to let her brother ruin her mood, she would finish her shift at the hospital and then get to go home to the love of her life and have a date night. That was the plan and no one, not even her brother could ruin that. 

The rest of her shift went smoothly, she delivered a few more babies and soon enough her shift was over, and she was ready to go home to the long awaited date night Maya had been planning for them. The past few weeks had been hectic, Maya and Carina hadn't really seen much of each other, since Maya's shift would start earlier than Carina's or Carina's shift would end later than Maya's, it was crazy. She searched for her keys and unlocked her car, as she started driving, she had a gut feeling, they would probably order in, since Maya's cooking wasn't going to be great. There was a reason the cooking was left to Carina in the house. 

Notes <3

Chapter 2 is done, so finally, there is some marina moments, next chapter will definitely be focussed on marina.

 Hope you guys liked it xx

~ Ashita