Big Love • Alcina Dimitrescu

7.

After our kiss of sorts last night, Alcina and I enjoyed a quiet meal together and read for a while in front of the fireplace in the grand hall before going to our bedrooms for the night. Although the bed I lay upon was one of the softest, comfiest things I've ever touched, I couldn't sleep. I just couldn't stop thinking about Alcina and how she kissed me. I'm sure that it was just a friendly peck on the forehead, and yet it felt so much more powerful. 

I spent the evening thinking about how I was going to be able to see Alcina and not swoon at her feet. My silly little crush had grown into such devotion that I was practically drooling over a painting of the countess that was hung in one of the many rooms. I need to sort my head out.

Alcina insisted on walking me back home after breakfast. I was drowning in her scent right now, my clothes from yesterday weren't dry by the time I was ready to leave so I had to borrow Alcina's clothes again. I'm wearing a pair of black dress pants and a white long sleeved top underneath a black leather jacket with a fur neck lining. I also couldn't help but laugh at the fact that all the clothes Alcina has that aren't her regular white dresses are stored in a separate wardrobe in a completely different room from everything else. 

We mostly walked in silence, just enjoying the other's company, as we walked down the narrow dirt road leading back home. We ducked through the cave entrance leading to Beneviento Manor only to see the front doors swung wide open. I looked at the front yard, but Donna wasn't there. If Donna ever leaves the house, which is very rare, she never wanders far from the front porch, 

"Donna?" I left Lady Dimitrescu's side, ran up the drive and lept up the front steps, it took me less than 5 minutes to search the entire house only for Donna to not be here at all. Alcina followed me as I opened the iron gates at the side of the house and entered the small back garden, I pushed aside all the weeds that had grown to my hips from years and years of neglect. After Claudia died nobody could bear to wander into the garden where she used to play, Father even blocked off the door leading to the small space.

Alcina and I made it to a small clearing to see Donna with her back to us pushing something on Claudia's old swing set. The old swing, which used to be a pale blue colour, is now brown from rust, with every push the rusty iron lets out a loud squeal, the old thing looks like it could fall apart at any second.

"Donna?" I made myself known in a shaky voice, I watched my sister bend down toward the swing seat before turning to me and Alcina. Her headdress had been removed, revealing her face to us, and in her arms was a doll. It was a porcelain doll donned in a tattered, dusty white wedding dress and matching veil. I remember that doll, it was one of many that my father made for Donna when we were kids, she used to claim that the doll would soothe her when she would have anxiety attacks, she named it Angie. When Donna first received Angie her wedding dress was in pristine condition and she didn't have cracks on her face, "Where did you get Angie from?" I remember Donna losing her when we were 17, our whole family tore the house apart looking for the doll but nobody could find her, now 18 years later it magically turns up.

"I was in a box in the basement," a shrill voice spoke, I could've sworn I saw Angie's mouth move. I looked over to Alcina and she had the same puzzled expression on her face as I had on mine,

"Did that doll just talk?" Alcina asked,

"I'm alive," Angie said, doing a small dance in Donna's arms,

"Donna?" I looked to my sister wanting answers. I looked at Donna's face carefully, she kept her eyes on the glass doll in her arms, Donna hadn't looked this calm in over a decade. She slowly runs her hand over the doll's head and brushes its veil. Donna smiles brightly as Angie nestles deeper into Donna's embrace,

"I've found a way to share my cadou. And all I can remember from being a child was just wanting Angie to come alive," Donna answered me, hugging Angie close to her chest, "Now I'll never have to lose her again,"

As fucked as this situation is, and as confused as I am, Donna hasn't shown her face to anyone outside of the family. If living with this screechy doll is what it takes for my sister to feel more confident in herself, then I'll live with it,

"As long as you're happy," I smiled down at my sister,

"I am, truly," Donna smiled, tickling Angie and making her laugh,

"I'm going to leave you two," Alcina announced,

"I'll walk you out," I responded, leaving my sister alone with her long lost friend, "Thank you, for the clothes and for letting me stay the night yesterday,"

"Not at all," She stopped and smiled at me when we reached the front gates, "I loved having you. You can stay whenever you want,"

"Thank you very much. Same here if you ever want to." We gave each other a tight hug and then Alcina was on her way. With every step Alcina took away from me, my heart grew heavier. I fought back every instinct to go and chase after her, instead, I walked back into the manor and sunk to the floor in the entryway.

I am so in love with that woman. I have a serious problem right now.

[Rewritten]