Struggling to breathe

Old memories

We pulled up to a motel which only had two free rooms. A room with two singles and one with a double. I could see Rome glaring at Brian and I smiled at him.
"Hey Roman honey, you take the double. I'll go in the double single with Brian," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh you don't have to. It'll be awkward," he said and I shook my head.
"Don't you worry about it Roman. His beef is with my brother, my boyfriend and my boyfriend's sister," I said and he nodded.
"Well... Only if you're sure," he said and I nodded, smiling at him.
"Sure I am Roman," I said and he brought me into a hug.
"You can call me Rome," he said and pulled away. "And im gonna call you... Rory," he said and I grinned.
"Only one other person called me Rory. I hope you keep the right to call me that. He was one of the most important people in my life. Don't make that nickname a bad memory for me," I warned and walked into the room.

I was sitting in my bed reading when Brian came in.
"Oh hey Ari. I was expecting Rome," he said and I chuckled. 
"No way I'm gonna let you two stay together. He'll probably slit your throat in your sleep or something," I joked. 
"Probably," he said and I grabbed a pair of pyjamas. I walked into the bathroom, got changed and got into the bed that was next to Brian's. "Do you mind if I put on some TV?" He asked and I shook my head. 
"Course not," I smiled and my phone rang. I walked over to my bag and got my phone out. "Hello?" I said, answering the phone. 
"Hey Ari," Mias voice said on the other end of the phone. 
"Hey Mia," I said and sat on the end of the bed. Brian muted the TV and looked at me. 
"I miss you. How is Rosa?" She asked and I smiled. 
"She's good," I said and sighed. "I miss you too Mia," I said, my eyes watering. 
"Does Dom know yet?" She asked and I laughed humorouslessly. 
"I don't know where Dom is and the number I have is disconnected. So he doesn't know," I said and I heard her muttering angrily to herself. "Cálmese," I chuckled and she stopped. 
"Huh?" She said and I grinned. 
"Calm down Mia babes. Everything will happen as its supposed to," I said and she yawned on the other side of the phone. "Mia babe... Go to sleep," I smiled softly and looked over at Brian. "I'll get my angels to watch over you tonight," I said. 
"No, no... I'm not tired," she said.
"Yes you are babes. I'm working a job at the moment but the moment it finishes, I'll come see you, okay sis? I miss you and I love you," I smiled and Brian got off his bed. 
"I miss you too. I love you Ari," she said and I hung up. Brian sat beside me and put his arm around me comfortingly. I leant into his side and tears leaked from my eyes as I cried silently. 
"It'll be okay Ari," Brian said and I let out a choked sob. Brian hugged me tightly and I grabbed onto his shirt, clutching it in my hand as I sobbed. 
"Dom doesn't even know his baby girl. That's so fucked up. I miss them all so much Bri," I cried and he rubbed my shoulder. 
"Come on Ari. Your stronger than this," he said quietly and I nodded, letting go of his top, and wiping my eyes. 
"Your right," I smiled at him and kissed his forehead, getting off the bed. I went into the bathroom and washed my face and by the time I came out, Brian was in his bed watching TV again. I got into my bed and closed my eyes. Though it was hard, I finally fell asleep. Images of my loved ones ran through my mind and eventually they stopped, fixed on one image specific image. Everyone was sitting round the table for a BBQ. Everyone was there. Even people who hadn't been there at that moment in time. Tej was there, Rome was there, Vince was there, Leon was there, my baby Rosa was there in Mia's arms, Letty and Dom were there with Brian but most importantly, Jesse was there. I walked over and pulled Jesse into a fierce hug, crushing him against my chest and burying my head into his shoulder.
"Hey Rory, what's wrong?" He asked and I sniffed.
"Nothing. Your here and that's all that matters," I said and pulled away. I took his face into my hands and pressed a kiss to his forehead. I then turned to my brother and took a deep breath. He good up and hugged me and I hugged him as if I was never going to let him go. "I missed you, you fucking dork," I whispered and looked up at him. He kissed my forehead before pulling out of the hug and ruffling my hair.
"I was only gone a couple of weeks," he scoffed and I nodded.
"I know... But sometimes it's months," I said and he sat down. I sat down on Dom's lap and waved at Rosa. We all joined hands around the table, myself holding Rosa's chubby hand and Dom's hand. 
"Who's saying grace?" Dom asked and I smiled. 
"Me," I said eagerly and everyone nodded, closing their eyes and bowing their heads. I closed my eyes too and squeezed Dom's hand. "Dear Heavenly Spirit, thank you for blessing me with the amazing family that sits around me. Thank you for giving me my loving partner Dominic, thank you for our amazing baby Rosa, thank you for my sister in law Mia, the amazing cook, thank you for my older brothers Leon, Vince and Brian who are extremely protective, thank you for my badass sister Leticia who always keeps a smile on my face, thank you for my best friend Roman who is the sweetest dork ever, thank you for my best friend Tej, who keeps me and Roman in line and thank you for Jesse, my precious baby brother who I care for very deeply. Thank you for the family who keeps me safe. Thank you," I said. 
"And thank you for the amazing Aurora who always looks after us all and has never let any of us be at risk," Dom added.
"Amen," the family and I said in echo.