𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄|𝐃.𝐃

𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

***

𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛 my wardrobe, debating on an outfit to wear for the evening. Francesca was taking me out for a birthday meal at one of my favourite fine dining restaurants in Roma. It was a lovely gesture for my birthday, it showed she cared.  I wasn't sure what to wear, I wasn't sure whether I even wanted to go out. I appreciated the present from Damiano yet the thoughts of my seventeenth birthday party flowed back into my mind. I took a deep breath, it's irrelevant Marlena- times have changed. I finally decided on a white dress, medium length with lace at the bottom and on the puffed sleeves. (See below)

After I changed into my dress, I felt  a pair of arms wrap around my waist. A gasp escaped my lips as the hands squeezed my body. "What are you doing?" I breathed out, looking in the mirror to see Francesca smiling in the mirror. She sighed, instantly letting go of me. "You're not happy." She commented, her face quickly falling. I ran a hand through my hair, hell, maybe I wasn't happy. I went to open my mouth but nothing came out, I couldn't even explain. My thoughts and feelings all conflicted one another- what was right? What was wrong? There was an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes as Francesca rooted through her suitcase- she always did this, acted like there wasn't a problem for a few minutes only to then blow up. So I just waited for her to blow. "Things are different now." She finally said, her voice was stern and I sighed. "No..No they're not, nothing has changed." I softly said.

"I don't think it's right you're here. You should come home, to our home. I see you.. I see how close you are with them." Francesca sternly said, I knew when she said them she actually meant Damiano.  "As my manager, you should focus on my career." I calmly retorted. "I'm also your girlfriend, or have ya forgotten that?" She snapped back, I ran a hand through my hair. "Francesca come on it's my birthday." I tried to interject, I didn't have the energy to argue, I didn't want to ruin another birthday. "This conversation has needed ta happen for so long, ever since I got here it's been-" She went to continue when I cut her off. I turned around, finally facing her. "You've been here a week. A fucking week. You're being ridiculous, we're all close, that's just how it is and I won't have someone like you making me feel guilty for that." I snapped, I knew I was probably letting her get to me but after years of feeling guilt over things, I was done.