Someone Like You

Chapter 5

ZENIYAH

I wake up Sunday morning and lay in bed for a while staring up at the ceiling. Today is my last day off and I can already tell what I'll be spending the day doing. Yesterday's events really shook my self-esteem. I'm not quite sure why but every once in a while I fall back into this dark hole I worked so hard to dig myself out of. Todays one of those days, I lay in bed for a couple more hours until I roll over and see it's 2 pm. 

I get out of bed and pull on tights, 2 sports bras, and a hoodie, before heading out for a jog. I run while listening to music. After my playlist replays for the 3rd time, I realize it's gotten dark and check to see it's now around 7 pm. I start heading back home and arrive around 9 before doing some more sit-ups, and push-ups. The burning feeling at the base of my throat of being out of breath pushes me to keep going. 

I finally shower then head to bed around 11:30 not before setting alarms for tomorrow morning since I have work. 

Next Morning 

*Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* *Beep*

I wake up seeing it's 5 in the morning. I grab my phone and go on TikTok for a while. After showering, I put on a straight wig, and my scrubs and matching crocs. I head to the kitchen and make a strawberry smoothie before packing a lunch and grabbing my things. 

I head out the door and to the hospital. The second I clock in a get to work checking in patients and doing all the necessary work. The horrible mood I was in yesterday is slowly lifted as I work with children. By lunchtime my feet are sore, I head to the break room and grab my lunch warming it up. Some of my co-workers walk by and invite me to lunch I simply shake my head but smile saying thanks. They've asked me out every day for the past year and my answer hasn't changed, I don't know why they bother. 

I'd rather be alone than being the new person joining the group. I head to the cafeteria to eat since I know I won't get any peace in the breakroom. I put in my headphones and hop on Instagram while eating. Completely absorbed by my music and phone I don't notice someone sit by me until I felt a tap on my shoulder causing me to choke on my food. I look to my left and see Amelia. 

"Sorry for scaring you, I just wanted to thank you for sticking up for me the other day," she says smiling shyly. I don't blame her for being shy I've held a constant bitch face since I got here unless I was speaking to patients or their families. 

"It's no problem hun, anytime," I said smiling at her. 

"I'm honestly shocked to see you here today after that," she says before pausing "I thought you would have been fired or even worse, killed" she finishes baffling me. 

"Killed??" I ask shocked as to why she thought I'd be killed for sticking up for her. She looks at me quizzingly for a minute then asks, 

"How long have you been here, and how much do you know about the Russo family?"

"I've been here I little over a year, and I didn't know anything about the Russo family and I still know nothing even after spending a whole day at their house," I said shrugging. 

"WHATTTTT" Amelia yells, startling me and drawing the eyes of many other patients and workers. Some of which glare at her while others shush her. She quickly apologizes before turning back to me with wide eyes, 

"Zeniyah me and you don't know each other all that well but, please for your own sake stay far away from that family," she says practically begging. 

"I had no intention of getting any closer trust me," I say remembering the events of that night.  Me and Amelia talk a little more before it's time for me to head back to work. I end up not eating much since I'm recovering from yesterday's episode.

My 12-hour shift ends around 7:30 and by that time I'm beyond sore and tired. My stomach still empty apart from the strawberry smoothie I had for breakfast, my body feels like it's shutting down. I grab my phone out of my locker to find 4 missed calls from Alessandro and a couple of messages asking me to call him. 

This causes me to panic and I call him immediately. On the 3rd ring, he picks up. 

"Hello, Alessandro is everything ok? Is Junior ok? Has he been crying?" I ask worriedly 

"Can you please come by again," he says. I immediately want to say no, not only do I not want to step into that house again but I just want to sleep right now.

"Please, I'm begging you," He says. 

"Fine" I whisper before hanging up and heading to my car. This is exactly why I intended to stay alone when I moved here. High school taught me to be alone and University taught me I'd better get used to it. 

I yawn as I pull up into the Russo's driveway and hop out grabbing my purse before heading up to the door. I ring the doorbell and wait while yawning and soon the door is pulled open by Alexandria. She pulls me into her arms hugging me which catches me off guard.  

"I'm so sorry about what happened last time you were here, my brother's actions were inexcusable," She says while holding my shoulders and looking into my eyes. 

"It's fine," I said tiredly and not having the energy to dwell on anything. She looks at me furrowing her brows. 

"Are you ok?" she asks worried. I simply nod then gesture for us to go inside the house. We head to the living room where she says Alessandro is waiting. I'm shocked to find Junior giggling while standing on Alessandro's lap. Once he acknowledges that I'm in the room he turns and smiles. 

"Hey Zeniyah when'd you get here," he asks so casually. I simply stare at him hoping he didn't cause me to rush down here for nothing or I'd snap. 

"What. was. the. emergency," I said slowly while feeling my anger build. I dig my nails into my palms to anchor myself. 

"Um well you see there isn't an emergency per se," he says slowly as if he realizes the anger in my eyes. "I was just so hungry and I ate all the leftovers" he continues. 

I stare at him with the blankest face I could muster. I was so close to breaking but I refused to show weakness. 

"Can I please use the bathroom?"I said curtly, Alex makes her presence known by telling me to head upstairs to one of the nicer ones. I turn and begin to climb the stairs as I reach the top the fatigue truly hits like a train. I feel the tears and anger building behind my eyes threatening to fall. My hands start shaking and my ears start ringing. 

I reach for the door after door not sure which one leads to a bathroom. I open a door and find myself face to face with Giovanni who looks at me with anger about to speak before his eyes soften at the tears in my eyes. My eyes slowly close and I feel myself falling. 

Welpppp that took way too long to write cause I started my last "quadmester" today (it's a Canada thing). I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy mentally and physically. <3