THE GIRL I KNEW

58. NINETY DAYS OF REHAB.

GABRIELLA'S POV:

"How come you're so cheery this morning?" Marianne waltz towards my bed. She scrutinized what I was doing with an arched brow that complimented her inquisitiveness. "You're making your bed?" She almost laughed as she placed my drugs on the counter.

"Why shouldn't I be cheery and make my bed?" I smiled at her, simultaneously puffing my pillow for the nth time.

"For the past three months you've been here, you've never once made your bed. Why did you choose to do so on the day that you're leaving us, Miss Gabriella?"

"Well, like you always say, 'It's a good day the Lord has made' after all...why not rejoice and be glad in it?" I beamed and dropped the pillow in it's rightful position.

"It nice to hear you speak of scriptures, I'm just sad you're finally doing it on the day of your departure. There must be a particular reason." She brought my pills and handed them to me along with a room temperature glass of water.

"I am happy, Marianne. Today marks six years that God blessed me with my ray of sunshine — my daughter. Can't believe she's six, she's all grown up now." I chuckled bitterly as I thought of how I'm not with her right now.

"Please don't go sad. You know you'll see her today." Marianne place a hand on my right shoulder.

"It's not just even that." My head bent low. "What if....she doesn't want to see me? What if she hates me and doesn't consider me her mother anymore." Tears brimmed my eyes as I thought of the shameful act that I caused EXACTLY ninety days ago.

"That's nonsense talk. Your daughter loves you UNCONDITIONALLY. I could bet my life that she misses you so much and is looking forward to seeing you tonight. You're her mother..." She wiped my fallen tears off my cheeks. "....no matter how much anger we feel towards our parents, we could never hate them."

I sniffled. "I remember how much I hated my father, took me years to forgive him. I-I just fear God is trying to punish me for my former wrath."

"Your sins are forgiven and casted out into the sea of forgetfulness, remember that. Now, stop crying and get ready for tonight, Miss Gabriella. I am going to miss you terribly. Promise me you'll visit one day." She smiled at me.

~~~~

**Later On**

"There she is!"

"It's Gabriella Dalmonte!"

"Gabriella! How does it feel to be back from rehab?"

"Mind disclosing to us on what the name of the facility you went to?!"

"Private or Public?"

"Will you be attending Tequila Lombardi's birthday party tonight?"

And that's when my head snapped. I paused in my tracks.

"What did that press guy just say?" I turned to Rose. Tequila what?

I heaved a deep breath and continued walking towards the car. Ninety days in rehab wasn't in vain. I have learnt self-control.

~~~~

"Have my family already gone?" I asked one of my bodyguards. I was currently getting my makeup and hair done for the party.

"Yes Miss Dalmonte." He nodded.

"So no one bothered picking me up huh? Are they ashamed of me?" I asked rhetorically with a sarcastic smile. "Not even Camilla or Luciana. How lovely."

After a long while, I was finally ready to go. I checked the time on my iPad — it was 02:54pm. The party started by twelve and pictures of guests were already up on the internet by a quarter to one. I skimmed my way through the comments online with an anonymous account. Everyone was asking where I was or if I'd show up.