Ziya

N I N E

CALEB

After my conversation with Ziya this morning, I decided to take her over to the house so she can hang out with us all day. I don't want her all by herself today, especially after she cried herself to sleep and sounded like she was in so much pain. My heart clenches painfully at remembering her confession and how gut wrenching her cries were as she blamed herself.

"Caleb, is everything okay?" Marco's voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Marco, it's so fucking bad. She's been through so much. She's in so much pain and it's killing me knowing how much pain she's suffering" I break. I came to Marco's office that is near the sunroom where I have a direct view of Ziya sat with Mateen and Jae, laughing her head off.

"What happened? What are you talking about?" Marco seats himself next to me and squeezes my shoulder.

What Ziya told me is something that I won't tell anyone else. That's her story to tell. But that doesn't mean it doesn't pain me to know how much she's gone through.

"It's worse than we thought. It really isn't my place to say what has happened to her, I know she'll tell you but you need to tell dad that we need to tell her who we are to her. This bullshit of staying close but not telling her we're her family isn't cutting it. She's in pain and she needs our support. Please. I need you to trust me on this. She needs us so badly." I finish my rant, breathing heavily.

Marco is silent for a couple minutes as he processes my words and then springs into action. Within 10 minutes he's called dad down and has explained what I've just told him. Dad took one look at my red eyes and the heartbreak that must be written on my face for him to agree.

I guess Ziya is officially being told that she's home.

ZIYA

Jae and Mateen are so funny. Caleb told me he needed to quickly check on his art and that he'd be back. While he's been gone, I've watched Mateen nearly beat Jae up multiple times whenever Jae calls me pretty or tries to hold my hand. They're too funny.

Around 30 minutes after Caleb left, he's returned with his parents and the rest of his brothers. I move my attention to Caleb with a smile on my face but that fades when I notice how red his eyes are and how sad he looks. My heart breaks for him and before I know it, I'm standing making my way to him to see if he's okay.

"Lebby, why were you crying? Are you okay? Do you need a hug?" I panic and begin to wrap my arms around him. He steps closer to me and bear hugs me to his chest, constantly pressing kisses to the top of my head as if I'll disappear from his vicinity.

Mateen and Jae notice the tense atmosphere in the room as they stand from the sofa. What is going on?

Pulling back from Caleb, he leads me to the sofa to sit down while he sits next to me and grasps my fingers tightly.

"Ziya, there's something we need to tell you. I want you to know, that we're here for you no matter what." Caleb starts, stroking the back of my hand with his thumb. His action is providing me with so much comfort but his words confuse me.

As if sensing my confusion, Mr Romano clears his throat pulling my attention to him. "Ziya, sweetheart. What we're about to tell you will have you confused and we are here to answer all your questions." He starts as he makes his way to sit near me with Mrs Romano with him. Turning my body toward them, I nod for them to continue.

"12 Years ago, our family was hit by a tragedy. We had a 6 year old daughter. Our youngest child who was quite literally the light of our lives. She was a massive part of us. But one evening, she was taken from us. During the night, someone came into our home and took her from us. We've spent 12 long years in agony and trying to find her and we have finally found her. Ziya, sweetheart, you are the one we've been looking for. Baby, you're home." Mr Romano chokes out, tears streaming down his face. Mrs Romano is sat next to him muffling her sobs with her hand. 

Shock.

That is what I feel.

How is that possible? This has to be a dream because there is no way that this is real.

"W-what... What a-are you talking about? How d-do you know? What i-if I'm not?" I stutter out.

"Show us your birthmark baby. The one on your left elbow. The one shaped like a heart." Marco whispers from in front of me.

No. No. It can't be true.

Tears are streaming down my face as I slowly push up my left sleeve of my cardigan to reveal my birthmark. My very unique heart shaped birthmark. This must be a coincidence.

Noticing the absolute shock on my face, Marco crouches in front of my and grabs my hand not occupied by Caleb. He pulls the sleeve of his dress shirt up showing me the other half of my birthmark. Positioned in the same place. The same colour. The exact same. Wiping underneath my eyes, he whispers ever so softly "If you still don't believe us mia piccola farfalle, then we will take a DNA test to prove it. Anything for you to believe us because trust us baby, we know you are our sister." 

My heart is beating so loudly that I have no clue what to do.

My family. People I thought I never had. Turns out I do. And I was taken from them. My heart breaks and I sob. I fall into Marco's arms, sobs wracking my whole body as I let go of the pain of being alone. I have a family.

I have a family.