VENGEANCE

silk and sacrifice

WARNING MATURE CONTENT IN THE STORY READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

* Sofia's pov*

*flashback*

the frigid wind whips my hair as I carefully scrape the dirt and leaves off the two gravestones. the rest of the graveyard is empty, barren of any bright posies and flowers that usually decorate marble graves. instead, crumbling stone graves are placed in clumps around frostbitten grass... a sad reminder that no one can be remembered forever. glancing back at the two marble gravestones, the best I could afford, I'm proud that they're much cleaner than all of the others. the bright bouquet of holly leaver, dark red barriers, and snow-white roses decorates the gravestones of Marcus and Esperanza Gracia. " I miss you, mama, papa. I hope that you're having a merry Christmas up there." I could help but let the tears from my eyes flow. I heard my name being called but I don't pay attention to it " Sofia ?! Sofia, there you are! I went to your house but I couldn't find you!" I finally turn and face Alex and say "so what? I'd be alone anyway. foster mom number twelve is as bad as the rest of them. She's probably halfway through a cheap bottle of wine right now." I shake my head bitterly, holding my arms tighter around myself in an attempt to protect myself from the icy winds or it was an excuse to comfort me. I speak sarcasm dripping from my voice " cheers to this. merry fucking Christmas, am I right?" my lips tremble and I grit my teeth, a tear managed to escape my eyes, but I quickly wipe it away. refusing to be weak in front of Alex.  suddenly I feel Alex's arms wrap around me in a tight, warm hug. I melt into his embrace and cry on his shoulders grateful for a friend like him. Alex spoke so softly as if he would raise his voice it would shatter me" it's going to be okay, Sofia. I was trying to find you to invite you to dinner at my house. we're having turkey if you want to come." I sniff a few times and wipe my eyes looking up at Alex when I feel like I can speak again. "turkey sounds better than old Chinese food from last week."  "Merry Christmas, Sofia!"  "Merry Christmas, Alex!" "I'm glad you decided to forget the swearword this time." I giggle feeling a bit gratefully and happy " oh, shut up. I hope your mom made cranberry sauce."  "you know she did. and green bean casserole too, if you can believe it" the sound of food always makes me happy and Alex's mom is a great cook while leaving the graveyard I say " I knew it! oh my god, that stuff is soo good." almost like I can taste it in my mouth. Alex pipes in " not as good as your turron..."

*end of flashback*

(back to the hospital room )

my mouth is dry and tastes like pennies, and there's a repetitive pounding in the back of my head. it feels as if someones hitting the base of my skull with a brick. ' i can't stand being cooped up in here anymore. I need to get out of this room, I can probably just sneak out. the doctor might even let me go anyway.' i slowly got up and went out of the room and immediately there was a nurse writing in a pad so I immediately turned around and started to run without any notice but was stopped dead in my tracks as the voice called out " just where do you think you're going without permission?" I turned around and saw that the nurse was coming my way now "I was, um, just going to, uh-"  "you were going to leave correct?" I look down at my shoes, sigh slightly, and resort to my last option: begging. "please? I can't stay there anymore, I need to get some fresh air." the nurse observed me and said "I understand how you feel. just let me give you a quick check over and you can go."  "really? I thought Elijah would have me under tighter ropes..."  "he does. but I think boss needs to lighten up a bit and understand that no one can stay in that room for too long without getting fidgety." I smile a bit " agreed." with silk and grace, she gently checks over my cracked ribs. she feels each bone for the break and then scribbles something down on a floral-patterned clipboard. "nice clipboard."  she laughs" thanks! I've got spiderman one in the back, but I felt that this one would brighten my day a little bit. you are free to go. but I recommend that you take it slow for a little bit, your concussion is probably still going to bother you. It's definitely lessened, but it won't be going away for another week. so no extreme physical exercises." I shrug and said " I'll try." and laugh as she face plams " how many times I've heard that here, I can't even count."  "I guess people aren't too keen on taking it slow around here ?"  " right on the nose with that one. my name is Aria by the way." as I open my mouth to reply Aria interjects. "I know yours, Sofia. I am your doctor." " right.. well, it was nice to meet you, I hope we can see each other again."  " hopefully not with you on a hospital bed, but yes, we definitely will." we both laughed as I exited that place there was like an instant connection with her I guess. I enter my assigned room. "im so tired... I will just shower and take a quick nap"