A New Life (Roger Daltrey)

Chapter 11

*Luca's Point of View*

It's been a couple months since my papa's passing. The notion that I wouldn't be able to see him or hear him ever again was ingrained into my brain. After his funeral, I cut myself off from everyone, including Lena, il mio mondo, my world. Of course I felt bad for doing that, but I had lost my dad. My hero. And then, after my papa's passing, my sister was in a terrible car wreck, but she survived with little to no injuries. I like to think that my dad was watching after her on that day.

When we'd gotten back to Arizona, Lena was constantly being hounded by her manager about doing press for her new album. She did interview after interview, and I was getting tired of it all. Sure, I did my share when I was with the Who, but I never liked any of that shit. Sometimes, the interviewers would come over to our home to interview Lee here. I hated it, but I didn't want to be any fuss so I just told Lee that I'd be up in our room until they left. She knew of my hatred for these people, and told her manager numerous times to quit letting them into our house for my sake, but her manager brushed it off and thought of it as nothing. So she got a new, better manager.

Lena's always worried about me now, because as she says, I haven't been acting the same ever since Papa died. I try to reassure her to the best of my ability that I'm alright, when I, myself, am not even sure of that. I mean, I've been smoking more lately (I'm up to three packs a day now). That's got to mean that something's up, right? Which is why I scheduled a meeting with some shrink down the road.

Lena's out in Hollywood at some singer's house party. I didn't go with her, which now that I'm thinking about it, I'm starting to regret because I just let her go by herself. She probably wanted me to go with her. I should've gone with her. Just to be with her and see her around her friends. See her laugh at funny remarks. Her laugh has to have been sent directly from the gods. God, I miss her. I think I'll replace one of the drivers and pick her up from the airport tomorrow myself, cause I've just got to see her.

•

"Well, my upbringing was great—perfect, in fact. My parents were always there for me when I needed them. Now that my Papa's gone...I don't know. It's like a switch has been turned off in my head, you know?"

"It's common for people to feel oddly after one of their parents has past on. Especially after having such a good childhood, as you said. But you have got to look beyond your father's death, Mr. de Francesco. How have you been coping? Any negative habits of yours that you've been doing more than usual?"

"Call me Luca, please. I've just been smoking more. I think that's my only vice. I'm up to three packs a day now."

"Is there anything else that you smoke, Luca?"

A moment of silence passes. I shift around on the couch some.

"I smoke a little grass, ecstasy, and coke on the side. I do it a lot, especially when my girlfriend's not home. God, that is when I really go wild." A wave of guilt rushes over me as I practically rat myself out. I know I shouldn't be doing that stuff, but it just makes me feel better when I'm feeling blue. "A friend of mine, Bobby, he turned me on to the stuff. I had no idea I would become so addicted to the shit. Honest."

"Mr. de Fran– uh, Luca. Your spirit has been rocked in a way that it has never known. Your father's death is the obvious cause of that. There is an empty spot inside yourself where your father once remained, that you've now filled with nothing but those awful drugs you're taking. You put negativity into a place that used to be positive. What you need to do is get off those drugs and add some more positivity into your soul. I may sound hard but believe me, you are not the first patient I've had who has gone through what you're going through right now."

This shrink really knows their shit. I'm not a big crier, but damn, my waterworks burst when she said, "You put negativity into a place that used to be positive." Boy. I couldn't agree with her more.

"Thanks, doc. Your words have really struck a cord in me. I want to get clean now. Not just for me, but my dad. H-He would be so ashamed to see me right now. And my girlfriend, oh God, I don't even want to think about what she's gonna say when I tell her. I don't know what I was thinking when I took that joint from Bobby."

"I'm glad to hear that you'd like to change your ways, Luca. I know of an absolutely fantastic rehab center down in Tucson. You are going to get all the help you need and then some. I'll set you up with them." I stood up and got ready to leave. "Thanks for everything, doc. You've really helped me in these last two hours. When can I begin going to rehab? I'd like to start as soon as possible, if that's alright." "How about the day after tomorrow?" I nod, and shake the shrink's hand. "Thank you so much. Hopefully my news of going to rehab will soften the blow a little once I tell my girlfriend that I'm a drug addict. Thanks again, doc."

•

*Lena's Point of View*

I hitched a ride in a taxi back to my hotel. I did some serious thinking on Roger had said to me before we parted. I, too, believed that we would be together again. The thought made me ecstatic, yet worrisome. What about Luca? I love him so much, I can't just leave him. He'd be a complete wreck. Plus, he's still grieving over his father. He needs me now more than ever at this time.

I dug into my pocket and took my room key out. As soon as I got inside, I went directly to my bed and flopped down tiredly. Suddenly, I felt sick. I ran to the bathroom and began puking my guts out into the toilet. "What the hell did I eat?" I say to myself. I cleaned myself up and went back to bed. I didn't want to do a thing but sleep. So I slept.

When I awoke the next morning, the same feeling of sickness came upon me. Once again, I was at the toilet, doing what I did last night. The thought of being pregnant ran through my mind. I mean, Luca and I have always wanted kids, but I get a feeling that right now just isn't the time.

I went out to the nearest mini mart and picked up a pregnancy test, went back to the hotel, took the test, and sure enough, I am pregnant. God. Me, pregnant. This doesn't seem real. But it is, and I just hope Luca will be excited when I share the news with him.

•

merry christmas everyone. I wanted to make this chapter longer but I thought it wouldn't turn out right. so I found a good stopping point and now, here I am once again typing out this little author's note. I hope you all had a fantastic holiday and also hope that you enjoyed this chapter. What did you all think of Luca's POV? Should I do more of his POV or no?

till next time...