Dark Ocean

Part 11

Valentina had never been a morning person and even less so now that she’d developed the habit of wandering around at the beach until far into the night. But today it’s even harder than ever and if it wasn’t for the fact that she hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol she’d suspect she had a lingering hangover.

She slowly walks down the stairs and finds her breakfast prepared, as usual. She takes a seat at the large table and glances around the spacious room, sighing into the silence. The morning sun streams unrestricted through the large windows and it’s way too bright for her liking. The room somehow feels smaller today, stuffy. She tugs at the color of her shirt but there’s not enough air circulation to do any good.

She takes a careful sip of her hot coffee and closes her eyes, humming in appreciation. She mentally thanks whoever invented coffee, because it’s the only thing that’s keeping her awake right now. Leaning back in her chair, she combs her fingers through her hair, smoothing out the tangles. She tries to relax into the soothing motion, but to no avail, because Lucho’s words keep resounding in her head, haunting her.

‘The beach? What do you mean at the beach? I haven’t been there in ages. Why would you make up something like that?‘

‘Have you been drinking again? It’s clearly affecting your brain.’

She buries her face in her hands and takes a deep breath to clear her mind. It doesn’t help. She still feels so utterly confused and humiliated. She can’t wrap her head around his words because they don’t make any sense at all. What could he possibly have to gain by lying? Then again, what could he lose?

She hates Lucho for messing with her head. She hates him for being able to affect her so strongly. She hates him for ruining her good mood last night. She just hates him.

She was supposed to feel good. Thrilled. Excited. She was supposed to be pinching herself and unable to believe that this was really happening to her. Because for the first time in what feels like forever, she has something to look forward to. Or rather, someone. A girl who makes her feel alive in a way she never has before. But her senses seem to have dulled ever since Lucho’s phone call, and she wonders if she can get those sensations back.

And maybe, just maybe, there’s some truth in his words after all, because she’s aware of the symptoms of depression. Extreme happiness quickly turning into sadness or anger, an inability to concentrate.. But she quickly brushes that thought aside, mentally cursing Lucho for putting that thought into her head.

Valentina jolts when a voice cuts through the silence, causing her heart to trip.

“Good morning, little sis!”

She whips around in her seat and a wide, toothy smile cracks across her face. “Guille! You’re back!”

Valentina jumps up from her seat and throws her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. She closes her eyes and inhales his familiar scent, a feeling of relief spreading through her body. The vise binding in her chest begins to loosen and Valentina takes what feels like the first breath since she’s entered the room.

“You’re back..” she whispers again and tightens her hold around his neck. “How was your trip?”

Her brother hugs her back just as tightly and presses a kiss against her temple; the tickle of his beard brushing against her skin. “Good, just got back this morning.”