𝑭𝑳𝑨𝑾𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑺 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬

𝑺 𝑰 𝑿

‎‧₊˚✧ 𝒁𝒂𝒚𝒓𝒊𝒂 ✧˚₊‧
"Loving you had consequences, consequences I didn't even know existed until I met you."

𝑨𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝑳𝒖𝒄𝒂

I'm hungry.

And I'm craving a very specific dish.

It's 02:12 am, and I cannot sleep for the life of me. I'm hungry and bored and about to lose my goddamn mind if I spend any more time in this bed. It has also been 12 days since I arrived, and I have spent every single one of those 12 days praying to God I can go home. I miss Enzo, Romeo, Isa. I miss my family.

Downright foolish memories flood through my mind of me and my family, distant ones that make me smile and others that bring a sense of sorrow. A particular memory of me and Isabella invades most of my thoughts, making me chuckle softly.

I slide the last bead onto the string carefully, cautious not to ruin it somehow. Me and Isa were making friendship bracelets like Mama suggested. I think it was a nice idea to do, especially while Mama was sick. Papa said that she isn't very well, so we need to be as gentle as possible with her so we wouldn't hurt her more.

"I'm done!" I giggle as I hold up my friendship bracelet for Isa. We made a deal that we would make each other, so it was even more special. Isa had two bracelets; she finished early, so she made one for Mama too, so we could all be matching! Isn't that so cool?

I pass the bracelet over to Isa, who ties two knots to secure all of the beads, ensuring they all stay in place. Shamefully, I haven't mastered those silly knots; every time I try, it just goes undone, ruining my precious work. My best friend seems to be more than happy doing them for me, so it's a win-win situation.

We're sitting on Mama's huge bed while she rests. She can't really do much without getting tired anymore, so we brought the fun to her instead! "They look beautiful, my girls." Mama smiles a weak smile, trying her best not to look like she's in pain. My heart shatters every time she plays 'pretend' with us because it is so clear that she's trying her absolute hardest not to scare us.

She pats the sides beside her limp body, signalling for us to sit next to her. Me and Isa shuffle over to her side, grinning with our new bracelets on our wrists. Isa slides one onto Mama's wrist, and we both do the same with our own. "Look, we are all matching now!" Isa exclaims, looking at her wrist and evaluating my work. I think I did a pretty good job, if I say so myself.

"Now we have to be friends for ever and ever and ever!" I giggle again, grabbing Isa's pinky with my own and doing the same with Mama with my other hand. "I promise!"

The memory fades away with 5-year-old me's giggles. My hand instinctively goes to touch the over a decade-old friendship bracelet on my wrist. Somehow, it has lasted through all this shit I have unfortunately put it through, which is surprising to say the least.