Lonely

Day four

In the tranquil embrace of a Sunday morning, I stirred from slumber, my brown hair cascading over my shoulders like an obsidian waterfall.

As the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the house, I made my way to the kitchen. My father, was already seated at the table.

He greeted me with a warm smile, Elija was holding the hand of Elvira, who was gleefully twirling around.

As I took a seat, my father's eyes softened with a mixture of love and concern. "I'm going to miss you so much this week," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"I'll miss you too, Dad," I replied, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I had to return to my mother's house for the week. "But I'll see you again next weekend."

Dad's face brightened at my words. "That's right," he said, a twinkle in his eye. "And we'll have a whole weekend of fun together."

After breakfast, we decided to go grocery shopping: as we strolled through the aisles, Elvira's tiny fingers reached for every sugary snack in sight.

Elija patiently helped Dad load the groceries into the cart, while I couldn't help but notice the many apples I had gathered.

"Anything else you need, honey?" Dad asked.

I froze, my gaze fixed on the vibrant green fruit, memories flooded my mind of my mother forcing me into an eating disorder, I felt a wave of shame wash over me.

"No, Dad," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "I'm fine."

Dad's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't press the issue: we finished our shopping and returned home.

As we unloaded the groceries, I noticed that Dad was watching me with a concerned expression.

"Are you sure you're okay, Ellie?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

Dad reached out and took my hand in his. "I'm here for you, you know," he said, his eyes conveying a deep love and understanding. "If you ever need to talk, I'm always listening."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I embraced my father, his unwavering support giving me a glimmer of hope in the darkness of my past.

As the afternoon wore on, Elvira and Elija played happily in the living room: I sat on the couch, watching them with a mixture of longing and sadness.

Hours later, it was time for me to leave: as I said goodbye to my fathers and sisters, a profound sense of loss washed over me.

I stood at my mother's doorstep, preparing to bid farewell to my father before returning home for the week.

It was a routine that filled me with dread, for I knew what awaited me at the other end— my mother's relentless manipulation and her cruel obsession with my appearance.

As I knocked on the familiar wooden door, Matteo, my stepfather answered.

"Ellie," he purred, his voice a sickeningly sweet melody. "We've missed you."

A chill ran down my spine as I stepped inside, my gaze searching for the comforting presence of my mother.

But Matteo's words echoed hollowly through the empty house: "She's not home."

With heavy legs, I made my way upstairs to my room, my mind racing with a torrent of confusion: as I gathered my belongings for the upcoming school week, Matteo's footsteps followed closely behind.

"Your room is so pretty," he remarked, his voice oozing with predatory intent. "Just like you."

Nausea churned in my stomach as he sat down on my bed, his eyes fixated on me with a possessive gleam, his hand reached out and caressed my hair, sending shivers down my entire body. I froze, unsure of how to react.

"Such soft hair..." he murmured, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through me. "I could play with it all day."

Panic surged within me, but I dared not speak. Instead, I called out feebly, "I'm hungry."

Matteo's smile widened. "Of course," he said. "I'll make you a sandwich."

With that, he rose and left the room, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. My eyes widened in horror. What had just transpired?

I could hear Matteo humming in the kitchen: my body still trembling. I knew this was just the beginning, just the first step in a game that I had no chance of winning.

I sat on my bed, my back against the cold wall, and the reality of my situation crashed down on me. I was trapped in a nightmare, and I couldn't wake up.

"Ellie!" Matteo called out. "Your sandwich is ready."

That was quick.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the kitchen, Matteo was leaning against the counter, a plate in his hand: as I approached, he handed it to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Enjoy." he said, his voice dripping with malice.

I took the sandwich and turned to leave, but Matteo's hand shot out and grabbed my arm. "Wait." he said. "I have something for you."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver box. "Open it." he commanded.

My hands trembled as I lifted the lid, inside, nestled on a bed of white satin, was a delicate gold necklace: a single diamond sparkled in the center.

"It's beautiful..." I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

"It's for you," Matteo said.

"Thank you." I stuttered, his piercing gaze followed me as I retreated upstairs with my sandwich: seeking refuge in my room.

As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, gasping for breath: I had known Matteo for only a few short days, but I had already learned to fear his unpredictable nature.

As I sat in my room, staring at the necklace, I finally made a decision: with trembling hands, I unclasped the necklace and tossed it onto my desk.

It landed with a metallic clang, a reminder of the danger that surrounded me.

***

The house was silent except for the soft, rhythmic snores emanating from Matteo, I crept down the stairs, my bare feet padding on the wooden steps.

The air was thick with the scent of garlic and oregano from the dinner he cooked, it was past midnight, and I should've been asleep.

I peeked into his room, the pale moonlight filtering through the window illuminated the outline of his sleeping form, his chest rising and falling with every breath.

He looked peaceful, almost vulnerable: I turned away, the feeling of unease growing within me, I didn't want to see him, didn't want to be around him.

I crept back up the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest.