Pieces

11. Maps

a/n: Certainly not my best! Sorry for not having updated for so long, though I did warn you all. I have my boards coming up in 12 days. So I don't think I'll be updating for at least the next three weeks. 

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We found her staring at the opposite wall. The sparkle in her eyes, now replaced by dullness. It was heartbreaking to see her like that. It's harder when you see the strongest ones crumble under the weight of the world. You lose the little hope you had. You think if they can't make it, how will you?

She didn't look up when Antonio called her name. I stood frozen, by the door, to afraid to say anything. Too afraid, because I was scared that if I said something I shouldn't, she'd break completely. She'd cry her soul out and I couldn't bear to see her like that. I couldn't bear the idea of seeing her break, watching her while she suffered. 

And the thing about Rita, she'd been through too much. Too many stones had already made certain cracks. And it was easy to see how hard it was to keep from falling apart. And I knew, that she'd kept it all in for so long, that if she let it go now, she'd lose it. She'd lose herself in the depths of her despair and there would be no one to save her. And there'd be no one to drag her back ashore. 

"Rita, look what we brought for you! Anne's special!" It was hard not to notice the quiver in Antonio's voice. It was hard for him too. But right then it wasn't about how he felt. Or how I felt. It was about how she felt. 

He sat beside her on the bed, and after setting the box on the table nearby, he put an arm around her and pulled her to his chest. She was on the verge of crying. Breaking. Falling apart.

I couldn't just stand there and do nothing while she broke. While she whithered away. 

I walked up to the two of them, and then sat on her other side. "Rita," I said softly, not knowing the right words to say. At first she didn't look at me, but when I didn't say anything, she did, waiting for the words to come and the desperation in her eyes. The pain. The hurt. At that moment, all I knew was I wanted it gone.

"It's like really late and though I had some nice dinner with Mrs. Lachowski here, I'd really really like it if you just accepted our treat or rather let me accept it because that is one cupcake I would like to devour." I smiled at her, trying to lighten up the mood a bit. I hadn't expected it to work, but it did.

She threw me a weak smile and nodded. "What flavour did you bring?" She asked, as her eyes fell on the box on the table.

Over her, Antonio's eyes met mine and he threw me a smile before mouthing the words 'thank you'. He then turned his full attention to Rita. "Red Velvet. Your favorite!" 

Her eyes widened with excitement as she hurriedly picked up the box, like a kid. I couldn't help but smile a little as I watched her tear apart the lid before taking the masterpiece out. She looked at it hungrily before taking one big bite. 

Antonio then took out another from the box and handed it to me. Thanking him, I took it and the three of us ate quietly devouring the heavenly taste of Anne's red velvet cupcakes. They reminded me of my favorite bakery back at home. The one I always insisted my mom to take me to...

"He was only ten." Rita suddenly said, breaking the silence. 

I looked up at her, to find her staring at the box as her fingers fiddled with the lid. She looked at Antonio. "He was too young." 

I didn't know what to say. Neither did Antonio. So we just kept quiet, letting her carry on.

"He was a michevious one, that one. He always got into fights and I had to watch over him constantly because he always got into trouble." She continued, a sad smile on her face. "It's so unfair. I get to live, and he doesn't." Her voice broke at the end, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.