UPSIDE DOWN

~ 33 ~

Sylvie

I dind't sleep, not one bit. 

Stared at the white of the ceiling, just praying that I won't be back there again. Focusing on the sound of the fan to keep me grounded. 

Andrea and the others were gonna leave today, and I don't know when I will get to see them next. I don't know what'll happen. 

I thought about Oscar, about us, but I couldn't find an answer to that. I need time. And I need space, away from him.

I wheel myself towards the gates, following the noise of people chattering. 

The sound of the jet engine roared through my ribs like thunder, but I didn't flinch. Not on the outside, at least.

I sat still in my wheelchair, parked at the edge of the tiny airstrip like a forgotten piece of luggage. The ocean glistened behind me. The sun was high and warm. A gentle wind rolled through the trees like it was trying to comfort me.

I hated it here already.

Too quiet. Too soft. Too far from everything that still hurt.

This wasn't safety. I knew exactly what this would be like. 

This was exile.

Andrea walked toward me. Of course he was. Always the one to take the responsibility. 

He crouched down in front of me, face unreadable but eyes loud with worry.

"The villa is secure. No one comes near without my word. You'll be safe here, Sylvie" He said, a tone too soft. Like, if he spoke any louder, I'd disappear. 

His hand wrapped around mine, strong and calloused, and I gripped it back even though I didn't want to. Not because I was mad at him but because if I let go, I'd scream.

"You're coming back, right?" I asked, my voice thinner than I meant it to be.

He nodded, jaw clenched like it hurt to say it. "We all are. When it's over, I'll bring you home myself."

He leaned in and kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and let myself feel it for a second.

Then he was gone.

They all gave me a smile. But it wasn't remotely close to being happy. 

"Don't get too comfortable" Luca said, a smirk on his face. The forever quirky kid of our family. 

"We'll be back before you miss us" Matteo followed, trying to sound reassuring. 

"I already do" I whispered to myself, before they got into the jet one by one. 

Fading into distance. 

And I was here, on my own. Not literally. Not completely. 

But just me and papa. 

They were gone.

I watched the jet disappear into the sky like it was taking a piece of me with it. A clean line cut through the clouds, and then nothing. Just empty blue.

I didn't cry.

Not because I didn't want to, but because I was too tired. Tired of goodbyes. Tired of pretending I was okay every time one of them looked at me with those soft, worried eyes like I was glass about to crack. Maybe I was.

Maybe I already had.

The wind picked up again, salty and soft. The kind of breeze that would've felt nice, once. Now it just made me feel small. The silence left behind when they were gone was too loud. Their voices had filled the space around me like armor, and now that they'd left.