Mezcal dreaming (juliantina)

Lonely nights

  *TW blood,night terror, alcohol

   It was the best day anyone could ask for a wedding. The sun had finally crept through the broken clouds of yesterday's drizzle and haze; the birds singing in appreciation to welcome the better weather. There is Leon, my father and his beautiful new wife, my stepmom, Lucia. I didn't know what to expect when she started coming around the house. I was young, still adapting to life back at home after being sent off to Canada by Eva, my sister, and frankly still grieving the loss of my mother. Lucia once found me crying at the corner of the bed holding a picture of my mother and I back when we used to horseback ride and held me for at least an hour before I fell asleep. From that point on she's always been there for me and from seeing how happy and respected she has made my father feel since mom's death, I gladly welcome her as an official part of the Carvajal family. Once papa's speech was over, the reception was in full swing. People dancing, singing, and congratulating the newlyweds. Suddenly a door swings open and as I'm turning around to look, a blur rushes past me and collective shrieks of horror can be heard. Papa, now on the ground is gasping and blood is coming through his shirt. The room goes dark and see only the man's face. "You're next" he said and chuckles evilly and grabs me. 

   Next thing Valentina knows she's thrashing and screaming to be left alone as the view of Chivis and Eva come into view. As she notices she is in her own bed in her own room she calms down but silently weeps. Chivis rubs Vale's back as Eva stands over her, her face softens at her sister.

   "They are going to come back for me I know it". Valentina manages to squeak out while she wipes her eyes with her sleeve.

   "Miss Valentina, no one is going to come get you I promise" Chivis softly exclaims. She then tells Eva she will be right back and as the door closes behind her Eva sits at the edge of the bed.

  "I know it's only been a week Vale but please try to get some rest...Maybe the amount of Mezcal you drank today caused you to have a night terror". Eva tries to reason with her sister as she is still grieving too even though its been almost a week since their father's death and the funeral was in a few days. 

   "I'm trying Eva. All I've done my whole life was try. You couldn't deal with me being a sad little kid so you sent me to a country I didn't know and I barely spoke English. Everyone made fun of me for talking weird and because I didn't have a mom!" Valentina started to raise her voice; her voice noticeably slurred as a reminder of her poor attempt of coping with the fact she along with her sister were now orphaned.

   "Valentina I couldn't do anything for you and our parents death was not my wrong doing. Maybe if Lucia stayed the hell away from that man maybe papa would still be here and she wouldn't have been kidnapped. If you don't start getting out of bed and stop drinking the way you do I'll send you back there." and with that, Eva leaves her sister shaking and crying harder than before as Chivis hands her a midnight snack and some juice. Once she is thanked she leaves.

   All that is left is the dark, silent tears from artificial cyan eyes, and the low hum of crickets. Once collected enough, she lets her mind wonder as she stares at the mezcal bottle next to her. She grabs it in hopes there is any left and sure enough there is just enough to fill half a shot glass. As she downs the last pitiful amount, Val begins to go to her dark place. She doesn't understand why Eva is always so mean to her, why Guille wouldn't stay home with her when she needed him most, and why everyone on the outside thinks of her life as a movie. Not a single person in this house or fans has listened to her or paid any true attention to her emotions. There has always been people surrounding Valentina but not a single person understands her. The closest thing Valentina has to a true friend is Rue. Rue is stuck in almost the same predicament as her and met a few days before at a club Lucho brought her to. The two are almost inseparable since getting drunk and high talking about their problems. Valentina pulls out her phone as she yawns; her tear stained face illuminated by the blue light and writes:

"hey Rue want to come by the house tomorrow for a swim? there will be drinks xoxo". a few minutes go by and her phone vibrates.

"sounds great see you around noon". 

   Knowing Eva will be gone at the office tomorrow, Valentina sinks back into her safety net of warm blankets; the mezcal taking a small effect of calmness; knowing a day full of fun and forgetting awaits her. She yawns, puts her phone on the nightstand and drifts off into a light slumber.