*The song for this chapter is Chase Atlantic - Paranoid.*
*TRIGGER WARNING: this chapter includes violence and mentions drugs. Please do not read if these themes trigger you & stay safe!*
Celeste
Sometimes I like to pretend that I'm floating.
Floating up to the highest point in the universe, my soul leaving my body and transcending way beyond the known ability that the human consciousness can allow.
I could feel the softness of the clouds as I levitated beyond the realm of planet Earth.
I could feel my body rise above the insignificance of humans.
My body felt as light as a feather; my brain was truly filled with nothingness.
In those moments I truly felt free. Free from all of the burdens and troubles of my human life. To be able to disconnect from my body and mind in such a way was truly the only moment of peace I ever felt.
Then I landed back on the earth and my safe reverie shattered around me like shards of broken glass.
"Miss Delgado? Your Papa requests you in his office."
I opened my eyes and looked at Ludmilla standing in my doorway from the serenity of my bed. I groaned audibly from under my covers, stretching my body out as I slid my way out of the protection of my bed.
"Very well. Thank-you, Ludmilla," I acknowledged as she nodded her head and closed my door behind her.
My feet hit the cold flooring of my bedroom, causing a little shiver to run through my body before I padded my way over to my mirror. I grimaced at the reflection that greeted me; my hair was in a messy bun on top of my head, my eyes had dark circles underneath them and my body was covered in a black tank top and black pajama shorts. I couldn't bear the sight of myself a second longer so I quickly turned away and grabbed my black silk robe off the back of my bedroom door. Shrugging it onto my shoulders, I exited my bedroom and began the dreaded descent to Papa's home office. I let out a sigh as I rubbed the side of my temples in mental preparation for what was to come. Ludmilla came up beside me with a steaming hot cup of coffee before I reached the large doors of Papa's office, to which I gratefully accepted with a sad attempt of a smile.
"Would you like me to draw you a bath for when the meeting is over, Miss Delgado?" Ludmilla asked, smoothing out her work clothes as she stood and waited for my response.
I shook my head as I smiled at her gently, "That won't be necessary Ludmilla, thank-you. Why don't you take the rest of the day off and catch up on your gardening? The bushes are looking beautiful."
A wide smile broke out across her face as she responded with a happy, "Thank-you, Miss Delgado. Have a wonderful remainder of your day."
I returned the pleasantries before pushing open Papa's office door and stopping dead in my tracks.
"What the fuck is he doing here?"
