All That's Left

Chapter 16 | Vania

Present

2023

Seventeen years old

The house was deathly quiet as I stood in front of my closet, staring at the close hanging there as if they held all the answers.

What I wouldn't give to hear the television playing downstairs or the sound of kitchenware being used to create one or other sweat treat.

What I wouldn't give to have Dad around.

I pulled out a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt and got dressed, pulling on a pair of sneakers. I didn't really want to go to Eliana's party tonight, but I also didn't want to let Dorian down. I knew the Lowe's were all counting on me to get better, and I didn't want them to worry about me.

I stopped at the bottom of the staircase, grabbing my phone and Avery's car keys on the small table. ''Heading out, Dad,'' I said softly, knowing there wouldn't be a response. Once upon a time, it would come so easily, a simple, "Be safe," shouted back by Dad, but now there was only silence.

That was my life now - an empty house to come back to every day, void of any life or love.

It's your fault. Everything that happened is your fault.

When I arrived at Eliana's house, the party was already in full swing. Music blared from the speakers, and groups of people were scattered throughout the house, laughing and talking. I recognized most of them, having shared classes with them since kindergarten.

A few of them greeted me as I walked past them, while others just stared, most likely thinking of what happened two years ago. I had gotten used to it by now, because every time I went somewhere in town, people stared.

Ignoring them, I scanned the room, spotting Dorian almost instantly. He was standing with Eliana, who was draped on his arm, looking as if she wasn't planning on letting go.

The moment Dorian saw me, his eyes lit up, and he disentangled himself from Eliana's embrace, making a beeline straight for me. Eliana's expression soured as she watched him walk away from her, and her gaze turned hateful as it landed on me.

"You came," Dorian said, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Hey," I replied, trying to ignore the weight of Eliana's gaze from across the room.

A voice called out Dorian's name, and we turned to see Max, who I now knew was Eliana's stepbrother. He was tall with a friendly smile, and he seemed genuinely pleased to see us.

''Hey, Max," Dorian greeted him with a handshake. "This is Vania."

"Nice to meet you, Vania," Max said warmly.

The three of us chatted for a while, but I could still feel Eliana's eyes on me. I didn't like people looking at me. It reminded me too much of the days leading up to Dad's death.

Eliana made no effort to hide her disdain, and it was clear she wasn't happy with the attention Dorian was giving me. Eventually, Dorian got pulled into conversation with some of his soccer teammates, leaving Max and me alone.

"Come on, let's get something to drink," Max said, noticing how I was starting to get uncomfortable with all these people looking at me. We made our way through the crowd towards the kitchen, and I noticed how Eliana immediately made her way over to Dorian, latching onto him once more.

I wasn't one to judge, but how desperate could you be?

"Do you like living in Penasco?" I asked Max, attempting to strike up a conversation.