Seattle, it was an awful day, the rain was pouring hard through the open hotel window. In Seattle, the sky seemed to have an endless supply of rain. Vanessa Da Silva looked through the crystal french window, the weather seems to be matching her exquisite mood. She snorted at that. She hasn't seen her parents since that awful day 5 years ago. She did not know if it was a bad thing or a good thing, with her stuck-up mother and her overly ambitious father she seemed to have won the lottery. And what a wonderful prize she thought bitterly.
It was time to face them though, the experience she had gained traveling the world and making business had given her the tools she needed to face her past. She was smarter now, confident and beautiful.
The sweet twenty-two naïve girl who decide to marry an asshole long gone and in her place a smart, confident woman who couldn't care less. The feeling of loneliness she once felt seemed to banished and just a strange feeling of numbness took its place. Looking at herself in the mirror she saw a woman with brown eyes, the hardness behind them make it impossible to see her true feelings. The smile like smirk she wore letting all know the arrogant person she had become. It was fake though, she knew behind all that was that part of her, the one that she hated the most, the one that forgive and forget. However, she needed to see them, to show them that she didn't care anymore.
Focusing again in the mirror, she saw the red tight dress that assure the total attention. With hispanic and african ancestor her body was goddess like, it had the right curves and the perfect amount of everything. It was a perk now, but back then, when she was a teenager, boy seemed to love it and being the naïve girl she was, she thought boys were interested in her lovely personality and intelligent mind. As if!
Sighing again, she look one last time in the mirror before taking the umbrella and walking in a fast pace to the car that will lead her to hell. She was ready.
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She was late. The dinner had begin an hour ago. Her parents for sure will have her throat. It doesn't matter, she thought. They had been waiting six years now to see me. They can wait a little bit longer. With that thought she reduced the velocity. She didn't admit it to herself but she was procrastinating the inevitable. If she would be honest to herself she was not ready, she will never be ready. Tightening her hold in the steering wheel she saw the gates of the mansion she was obligated to call home when she was a kid. Painful memories were remember as the guard opened the gate. It was a long time ago but the feeling of loss was still there.Taking a deep breath and shaking her head to erase those saddening thoughts she made her way to the garage, cars were align in a straight line at either side of her and she had no other option but to park there. It was a long time ago since she used that garage, almost as long as-Focus! she told herself.
Slamming her car door shut, she took a deep breath and made her way through the small door in the garage that lead to the hall. The house was the same, the deep cream color and columns made it look like the olympus. Expensive bases and paintings were hanging and standing in the walls of the long hall that lead to the kitchen and living room. She could see the white door with golden frames of the digging room and her hands began to tremble. Her doubts and insecurities made her stop for a second.
The "what if's" were hitting her hard and she had no choice but to stop, take a deep breath and smile. She read somewhere that if you smile hard enough it will send a message to your brain saying that you are happy, eventually your brain will believe it and in consequence you will feel happiness. I can do this. I can do this. She seemed to repeat again and again. Smiling and whipping her hands in her dress, she ran her fingers through her long brown/golden hair. With a last sight she decided she was ready and opened the doors to hell.
Every person seem to stop and stare. She pretended she was not that late and smile even brighter. The long table could easily accommodate 26 persons and she couldn't stand any single one of them. She hated her life... Stopping at the end of the table besides her father, she kissed his cheek and waved to her mother.
"I hope I'm not that late" she said loudly with a smirk and a little bit of sarcasm. "Ladies, gentlemen" she bow "I apologize for my lateness."
Looking at the guest, she saw one by one. Familiar faces were through at her face like cold water, her smile never falter even when her eyes landed in the person that hurt her the most. With the brightest smile she could muster after seeing him, she made her way to the chair beside him, it was the only available one and she decide it will have to do. What a coincidence she suspected that the gods and the universe conspired against her but she didn't thought it was this serious. Looking again around the table, she made eye contact (once again) with her monster of a mother.
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