UPSIDE DOWN

~ 41 ~

Andrea

Her hand is still on my cheek, warm and grounding, when I finally manage to draw in a breath that doesn't burn. My chest feels like it's caving in, like every heartbeat is dragging shards of glass through my ribs.

"I thought I lost you," I whisper, because my voice won't go louder. "Not just in the woods... or in that warehouse. I thought I lost you the second I saw you in that hospital bed after they brought you back. You weren't looking at us, Sylvie. You were looking somewhere else, and I've been terrified ever since that I'll never get my sister back from wherever they took you."

Her eyes glisten, but she doesn't say anything yet.

"I keep trying to play the big brother, strong, untouchable, the one who can keep everyone safe, but I can't keep you safe from what's already happened. And I can't, I can't erase the look you had that day." My voice cracks. "It kills me. Every single day, it kills me."

She swallows hard, and for a second I think she's going to look away. But instead she stays there, eyes locked on mine, shoulders trembling.

"I've been angry," she says finally, her voice raw. "And not at you. Not at any of you. I've been angry at myself. For freezing when I should've fought back. For not being able to run. For... letting it happen." She shakes her head like the words themselves are poison. "I know it wasn't my fault, but I've been carrying it like it was."

"Don't," I say instantly, harsher than I meant, and I grab her hand. "Don't ever think-"

"I know," she cuts in, her voice breaking. "But the truth is, I'm scared, Andrea. I'm scared every time a door opens too fast, every time someone raises their voice, every time I close my eyes."

"I don't want to be scared anymore. If that means helping, learning how to protect myself, being involved... then I'll do it. Because I'd rather fight than ever end up on that table again."

The words hit me like a blow to the chest. Not because I want her anywhere near danger, but because I understand exactly what she means.

Something inside me just unravels. And before I can stop it, I pull her into me and hold on like she's the only thing keeping me standing. We're both shaking, both crying, two people who've been broken in different ways, but somehow shattered in the same place.

For the first time in a long time, I don't try to be the unbreakable one. I just let myself be her brother.

Aurelio 

The house feels different after that.

Too quiet. Too still. Like the walls themselves are holding their breath.

I'm sitting on the edge of the sofa, elbows digging into my knees, staring at the carpet like maybe it'll explain how the hell we got here. It doesn't. It just stares back.

I can still hear her voice in my head, Sylvie's, raw, cracked, and shaking. I remember the way she looked at us. 

God, I hate that look. It's the same one she had when Andrea carried her out of that warehouse, her eyes unfocused like she was stuck somewhere no one could reach.

And then there's Andrea. Sylvie took him upstairs, away from the eyes of our family.  

I've seen my brother bleed, I've seen him bruised, I've seen him walk into hell without a flinch, but I've never seen him crumble like that. Not until today.

Luca's pacing like he's ready to punch a hole in the wall. 

Matteo's pretending to scroll on his phone but hasn't moved in ten minutes.