Lissy Romano

24| Favorite season.

Lissy Romano

I walked into my room, my mind racing with fear as bad memories resurfaced. I tried to push them away, but Miguel's face haunted me. I didn't want to think about him, but I couldn't stop.

"You stupid bitch. Why are you acting like a fucking slut?" Miguel's words rang in my head.

"I didn't do anything, I promise," I cried.

"Jose is my best friend's son, and your attitude is fucking ridiculous. My friends will think I raised a whore!" His voice was like venom, and then, the slap came.

"I'm sorry. We were just hanging out... I promise, dad," I sobbed, desperate to make it stop.

"Don't call me that. You're a failure. I should've left you, just like your mother did!" he yelled, and then the punch landed. I crumpled to the ground.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," I begged him, knowing the beating wouldn't stop until I lost consciousness. The alcohol on his breath made him even worse. Since then, I couldn't stand drunk people—they were uncontrollable and ruthless.

My heart raced, my body trembling. I sat on the floor, trying to steady my breathing. It was just a bad memory. Just a bad memory. But the tears fell, and I didn't even care to wipe them away. I sat there, small, vulnerable, like a child afraid of a thunderstorm. All I wanted was to forget my past.

"Lissy, what happened?" Enzo's voice startled me as he entered my room without knocking.

"Nothing," I whispered, unable to look at him.

"Lissy, what is it? Talk to me," Enzo insisted, sitting down beside me.

"I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled, my gaze fixed on the floor.

"Lissy, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong," Enzo said gently. He took my hand, his touch comforting, and squeezed it.

"Miguel... I remembered something bad..." I let out a few quiet sobs.

"Why, baby?" Enzo asked, pulling me into his arms.

"Matteo, his breath... he was drunk... and when Miguel was drunk, he was even more aggressive... I was scared..." I whispered, clinging to Enzo as he held me.

"Lissy, I understand. I'm so sorry you feel this way, but Matteo loves you. He may act tough, but deep down, he's worried. It broke him to know you've been through so much. He would never hurt you," Enzo said, his fingers gently stroking my hair.

"But his face... why was it bruised?" I asked, worried.

"Don't worry about it. He's okay," Enzo reassured me, squeezing my hand again.

We sat there for a moment, the silence wrapping around us like a blanket. Then Enzo spoke again. "Vincenzo wants to talk to you."

"What did you tell him?" I asked, sighing. I was sure Vincenzo would be upset with me.

"Everything he needed to know. But don't worry, he's not mad. He just wants to talk," Enzo said, pulling out his phone. He called Vincenzo and handed it to me.