David

XXX

  He was leaning against the doorframe looking at me with something that was supposed to be a smile on his lips. His hair was messy and he had huge dark circles under his eyes. His face looked sunken. Damiano wore a black and red leather jacket with a white tank top underneath. You could see the tattoos on his chest. He held a half-burnt cigarette in his right hand.
  I was in disbelief. Damiano David stood in my small country, and even smaller city, in front of my own house. It looked surreal. I've never imagined something like this could happen. It looked funny - the world-famous rockstar on the doorstep of an English language translator.
  After the initial shock, I started coming back to my senses. This was a man who hurt me, who broke me, who once loved me, and showed me how exciting life can be. I was speechless. My brain was not cooperating with my mouth. I couldn't produce a sound. So many questions and thoughts were swarming inside my head. Why did he come? How? When? What was happening? Was I dreaming?

"Hey, B!", I heard another familiar voice. It was Ethan. He was walking toward my front porch where Damiano and I stood.

"Ethan!", I finally said and walked past Damiano to embrace Ethan.

"How are you? Did you miss me?", he smiled spinning me around.

"Of course I did!", I said hugging him tightly.

"I'm sorry we came. I know it's probably not the best timing but I had to bring him to you. B, he's a mess. He is losing control. We are worried about him. Victoria is going mad. Everyone is affected by his behavior.", he half-whispered so that Damiano couldn't hear him while we were still hugging.

"It's okay, E. I am not mad at you. How bad is it?", I said quietly while watching Damiano lighting another cigarette.

"Very. He's been drinking nonstop. And... I don't know how to say this and not make you worry... But we think he's on something more than just alcohol most of the time, B. I am sorry.", he said and I felt my heart dropping. The fear struck me like lightning.

"Wh-what?", I said feeling physically sick.

"I don't know what to say. This thing between the two of you really hit him like crazy. And I know it's goddamn immature of him. He's acting like a teenager.", he said.

"Oh, God!", I said, tears streaming down my face which I quickly buried into Ethan's chest.

"Shh! We will help him.", he tried to comfort me.

  In that moment I realized how much I still loved Damiano and how much I cared for him, despite everything he'd done.

"Let's get in.", I said and the 3 of us entered my house.

"Mom, Dad, Sonya, these are Ehtan and Damiano.", I said in my mother tongue.

"Ethan, Damiano, these are my parents Marina and Nicola, and my sister Sonya.", I said in English.
I kept switching languages throughout the day so they could communicate. Damiano didn't say much. I didn't think he even could. Ethan was very talkative and my parents loved him instantly. I occasionally glanced at Damiano who had a blank stare. He was not good.

"Mom, Dad, we are going to head out now!", I said.

"We are?", Ethan asked.

"Yes.", I said and gestured to Damiano with my head.

  Ethan nodded. I changed and Ethan did too and we were soon on our way to the city. I lived in the suburbs. I took the car and drive us to a park. I wanted to be somewhere where not many people were so I could talk with them.

"Why the fuck does everyone acts like I am ill?", Damiano said leaning back to the bench.

"Because you are not good, Dam.", Ethan said and Damiano gave him a death stare.