17 | Searching for Comfort
Leonardo:
I called for Arià as she ran off and began racing up the steps to talk to her but I felt arms dragging me back. I fought back, wrestling Daniel who kept me caged in his arms.
She was so close yet so far.
She could be hurt. She could be in pain, maybe she stepped on a piece of glass when she ran away. My mind raced to a point where I couldn't think straight and holding me back was aggravating me in that moment rather than grounding me.
"I'll check on her. You should go home and cool off, we'll continue our mini sleuthing tomorrow." I heard Daniel say.
No. I can't leave yet. Not so soon.
"Go home Leonardo."
It wasn't a request this time. It was a command and I knew that I had to give up. I had to leave her alone and 'cool off' but how would I do that? I wasn't in the right mood to read or paint. Cooking takes patience, something I don't have right now. Without doing any of those things, I don't know what cooling off is.
Maybe I'm supposed to distract myself from all of this but those were my distractions so what do I do? I don't find comfort in things other than those, nor do I find comfort in people.
I couldn't go to mom because she was too blind to see Diego's fault in this. I didn't want to stress Elia out with this plus, she has no control over her hands and who she hits so I'd rather not bail my sister out of jail. I'm not close with my dad at all. Ever since I was small, he's always been sort of absent and he consistently blamed it on his out of town business trips.
So in short, people are unreliable to me. I could never try and rest in their being because that tranquility I find them may shift the next second, minute or hour.
Eventually I gave in. I took up my phone, the bouquet with the card and silently left. I don't think I have the energy anymore so whenever she's ready to talk to me, I'll be there.
I'll be there in a heartbeat.
Until then, I'll respect her silent wishes and keep my distance because as much as she's hurting over something I'm not sure of, it'll hurt me as well to keep pushing her as well as myself.
Everything was a blur: getting into the car; driving back home; taking a shower and sitting on the couch aimlessly.
I couldn't be bothered to finish the sketch, much less look at it right now. I wasn't in the mood to do anything at all after all that happened but I knew Elia would rush me about eating properly then she runs her mouth and my predicament reaches mom's ears which would be even more of a nag to deal with.
I prepared instant ramen and went back to my spot on the couch to eat in defeatism. When I was done, I washed up any dishes I had used and went straight to my bedroom. I decided to spend the rest of the day reading a book in bed.
I don't do much on a daily basis compared to other people my age and my life is pretty average so with all of this drama with the Woods siblings and my painting that's missing, I guess I could say I'm no longer 'average'.
Coincidentally, my phone was right beside the book I wanted to read. I grabbed the book and my phone and settled myself under the beige sheets of my bed. As I grabbed the book, a ping came from my phone.
A new message. A new message that I definitely didn't feel like answering.
I decided to ignore it and focused my attention back to the book. It was quiet for a while and I just started the first chapter until another ping came from my phone and then it started ringing.
Without looking at who it was, I answered, beginning to get annoyed.
'Well, I'm surprised you answered my call.'
"What do you want Diego?" If my mood was bad before, him calling definitely made it worse.
'I just wanted to find out if you liked my little present.' He said and I could just feel the nasty grin that was more than likely on his face.
"Go to hell."
'That's not kind to say to your cousin Leonardo. Suppose I go and tell aunty.'
"I don't give a shit. How the hell did you know where I was?" I demanded. Diego is a lot of things and none of those things are nice in my book but him being a stalker would be a new stretch. How far is he going with this nonsense?
'Don't worry about that. I just called to let you know that there's someone or something at the door for you.'
And as soon as those words reached my ears, there was a series of knocks at my door.
'Toodles.' And with that, the call ended but the knocks continued.
YOU ARE READING
(discontinued )
Romance❝Til death, we do art ❞ Leonardo comes from a family full of artists, him being one himself. He loves his own company most of the time, he's quiet and finds comfort in books and art. An old painting that was passed down from generation to generation...
