Alexis

Riaccendi

Rekindle

-

I woke up to someone opening my door. I didn't know how I woke up to that but I did. I turned to see who came in. It was Dante. He had a plate of food in his hand. We made eye contact but he didn't say anything until he put the plate on my nightstand.

"Beatrice made you breakfast. Eat," he said before he left.

That was short.

Because he hates you as much as Frediano does.

And Vincent.

Vincent doesn't hate me.

Uff– yes!

That's why he's having a baby with someone else–

That doesn't mean he hates me–

You annoy the shit out of him. How many times has he called you a child?

I frowned, sat up, and ate what was on the plate. Once I was finished I got ready for the day. I took the plate downstairs once I finished. My head felt better. I had a little bit more energy but not enough to actually do things. As I walked into the kitchen and washed off my plate, I also filled up a tumbler with water although I had one upstairs.

Dante and his fiancee were in the kitchen. They were smiling and laughing with each other. I frowned on the inside. Dante didn't seem happy when he dropped off the food in my bedroom. Did I bother him that much?

Did I lose one of my limited friends?

Yes.

You don't have any.

I kept my emotions in as I made my way back to my room. I walked into my bathroom to start my makeup. My makeup made me feel confident. When I wore makeup it wasn't long until I winded up in someone's bed. I needed to keep it up. It was how Conor fucked me. It was how the guy last night fucked me.

Once that was done, I picked a skimpy shirt and jean shorts. I needed to broaden my options. If I kept going to clubs then I'd keep finding the same people. And, those didn't open until later. I needed something now.

Daddy wouldn't approve of this behavior. He'd hold his daughter and give her advice and–

I needed someone now. I needed to stop thinking. I couldn't keep thinking about it.

I grabbed a hat and glasses before I made my way downstairs. I walked out through the front door. There were fewer guards. Honestly, I just needed to walk past them. It wasn't anything troublesome. They were just men. Nothing more, nothing less.

People were too hung up on the concept of a person. Men are too powerful. All women are empowered. Men are better than women. Women are better than men. None of that was true. Men aren't powerful and women aren't empowered. They all just liked the idea of being better than someone they knew. People are simply beings. No one is better than the other. No one is less than another.

I could walk past these people because all they are are people.

That's what I did. I walked right past them. For a second, they paused but then one came up.

"Marie! You're not allowed to leave!" One called. I ignored them and walked quicker. He grabbed my arm. "Please! Just get back inside before this gets worse!" he pleaded.

I yanked my arm out of his grip, sprinting away.

Track star!

I could've lettered if I wasn't pulled out of high school. I could've even gotten a scholarship! Go to college and make dad proud!