Blood vs. Water

Burning

She tossed and turned as the night went on. The pills weren't doing their stupid job and her heart ached along with her head. She didn't like this new feelings that were taking over. She didn't understand why she cried downstairs in front of him.

She looked over at Stella and Rocco. They were both asleep and Rocco was having a rather quiet night.

She carefully moved the covers so she could get up and take a walk. The air was cold and nipping at her legs. She only had a t-shirt on and socks.

She walked past his office and saw nothing of the guilty man. Her heart did a little drop when she thought he had already left, but when she saw the light of his room reflecting on the wall, she felt at ease.

She stood in the doorway and looked at him. He instantly looked back at her. He was sitting under the covers, the bedlamp still with his head in his hands.

There was complete silence. They both were awake at four in the morning, nothing too assuming.

"My pills aren't working." Daphne spoke up breaking the silent staring game they had on.

He opened up the covers and waited for her to round the bed and get in. When she did, she snuggled into the bed and with her back to him. He turned off the light and the bed dipped. She felt his arm snake around her waist and pull her closer to him. He held her against him and gave her a kiss on the head before pulling her more into him.

She felt herself tear up. "Please don't go."

"I have to, amore mio." He said and his voice was deep and sombre.
She felt a tear roll down her cheek and she sniffed.

He held tighter like she would slip away at any second. She held onto his arm as well.

"What's wrong?" Daphne asked him turning around in his arms to face him. The darkness made it hard to see him, but she wanted to be closer to him.

"My father and I were never on the best of terms." He admitted to her pulling her lip from her teeth with his thumb.

"Dad's are asshole's." She said smiling at him. She could make out a smile of his own.

Then she whispered to him. "Promise me, you'll hurry back."

"I promise." He said and with that she fell into a deep slumber.

-

The next morning the bed was cold and empty. She opened her eyes and felt the heartache in her blossom. She didn't like this at all and not knowing how long he'll be gone made everything worse.

She looked around the room and sat up rubbing her eyes. Then they widened. The room was filled with royal blue coloured roses. The never even knew there was roses of these colours. She got up and smelled them all. They all smelled like him. Like Aurelio. Somehow. Did he spray something on them?

She just knew one thing for sure. She had never been happier.

—

That night the forecast said they should expect a storm. There was one and it lasted three days.

On the second day of the storm Daphne only stayed in her bed with Stella Rocco and watched some movies.

She heard her phone ping as a message came through. It was her brother.

*Mom said you were disrespectful toward her.*

She rolled her eyes and continued watching. Another ping came.

*Don't think yourself all better than us now that you're married to a rich man.*

She ignored it again. Another ping sounded and she groaned out loud.