CHAPTER 17 - Lunna Rivera
***Lights and Shadows - Part 1***
It had been a few weeks since we returned from Nicaragua, and I was on the verge of losing it. I was avoiding Romolo, to be honest, avoiding the conversation I needed to have with him. Today, the girls had decided to throw a party in Kim's dorm, but the problem is that it was supposed to be just for us, and now it has spread to all the students in the university. There are people all over the building and even in the hallways. This isn't right! I mean, I should be happy and having fun with my friends, but I don't feel well, so I decided to leave from there, but I need to do something before that.
•••••••∞•••••••
**Kim Fiore**
I didn't expect our party to be like this, with so many people. I see Romolo entering and looking around, so I approach him.
“Heyyyy, are you looking for Lunna?”
“Hi… Kim, yes! She had told me there would be a party, but…”
“Yeah, I know! There are so many people here.”
“Can you tell me where Lunna is?”
“I…” I look around but can't see her. “I really don't know where she is.”
“I'll go look for her,” he says and starts scanning the crowd, searching for her. I find it very strange. I go to Kéfera and Julliety, who are sitting and drinking at an improvised bar, talking to some people.
“Girls, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Of course, darling!” Jully says, getting up, and Kéke does the same. We step out of the dormitory.
“Have you seen Lunna?”
“She's around here,” Jully says, looking around, then looks at me again. “Isn't she?”
“Well, I've noticed that she's been acting strange for a while now,” Kéke says.
“That's true, and…”
“Girls, she's nowhere to be found,” Romolo says, sounding desperate.
“Let's call her,” I say, grabbing my phone and dialing.
“I already did, and it's off,” he says, and I immediately realize it when I hear the recorded message.
“She's been acting really strange lately, but I thought it was just nerves because graduation is coming up,” Kéfera says, placing her glass on the counter, concern evident in her eyes.
“And now? What should we do?” Jully asks, also worried.
“Let's search for her around the university,” I say, and my phone rings. It's Adam; it's been a while since I've seen him, since that disastrous dinner.
“Hi, Dan,” I say, and I hear him sigh.
“What happened to Lunna?”
“What do you mean? Did you find her?” I ask, and everyone looks at me relieved.
“I saw her crossing the street like a crazy person. She was heading towards my apartment, and right now, I'm parked at Castle Island Beach, watching her lying on the sand. I'm going to take her to my apartment; she doesn't seem well.”
“How did she end up there? We're on our way, and don't take your eyes off her!” I hang up the call and go to Diana, my roommate, telling her that I'm leaving with the girls. We rush out of the dormitory.
“My car is in the parking lot,” Romolo says, and we follow him, getting into the car and driving away. I can tell he's nervous, just like us, and I wonder what Lunna went to do there, how did she get there? It's a faraway beach. It takes us about forty minutes to reach Adam's apartment. Romolo parks the car, and we rush out, heading straight for the elevator. We're all anxious; Lunna has never done something like this, and we don't understand why she's acting this way.
•••••••∞•••••••
**A few hours earlier.
Lunna Rivera.**
I go to my dormitory and start pacing back and forth. I feel suffocated in here. Likewise, I walk up to the glass door that leads to our small balcony and open it, stepping outside and trying to take deep breaths, but I can't. I feel immense fear, and I can't explain it. It's like I'm about to have a heart attack. My heart is racing, my breathing is fast, and I feel dizzy with chest pains. Alongside all of this comes the fear of dying. I leave the dormitory and start walking. I need to make this go away! Furthermore, I don't know what happened or how I ended up here. I keep looking out at the sea and listening to the sound of the waves, trying to calm myself.
“Lunna?” I look to the side and see him standing there, looking at me.
“What are you doing here?”
“I… I don't know,” I say, feeling that anguish again, and the desperation begins to knock on my door once more.
“Come on, let's get out of the rain,” he says, reaching out his hand to me, but I can't move.
“What's happening, little one?” I can't answer, and I look at the sea once again, trying to calm myself the way Mom taught me, but it doesn't seem to be working.
•••••••∞•••••••
**Adam Fiore**
I gaze at her, but this isn't the Lunna I know. Her breathing is strange. I grasp her shoulders and lift her up. She remains motionless, staring fixedly at the sea. Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she clutches her chest. Her breathing seemed to falter, and she started trembling. I don't know what's happening.
“Lunna, talk to me!” There's no response from her, and I start to get worried.
“Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital.” I pick her up and begin walking towards my car with her.
“N-No, don't take me… No…” She couldn't finish saying it, and I understand that she doesn't want to go to the hospital.
I reach my car and unlock it. I place her in the seat, and she closes her eyes.
“Lunna, tell me what's happening, please!” She tugs at my shirt, but she seems weak. I approach her, and her breathing is failing, as if she can't fill her lungs.
“I… I'm panicking,” I step back, looking at her with her eyes still closed and a hand on her chest.
Tears stream down her face, and I realize she's trying to calm down. I had never seen her like this. I fasten her seatbelt and, despite the rain, leave the car window open. Likewise, I close the door and go to the driver's side, get in, start the car, and drive away from there.
“I'm taking you to my apartment, okay? Stay calm, everything will be alright,” I say, unsure of what to do. I look to see if she has a bag or a cellphone, but she doesn't have anything! So, I decided to call her mother. That's the only option.
“Mrs. Arlet!” I say as soon as she answers.
“It's me, Adam.”
“Oh, hi, my son. How are you? What a surprise!”
“I'm fine, but I'm calling because something's wrong with Lunna.”
“What do you mean?”
“She's with me in the car, and I don't know what happened, I…”
I gaze at her, but this isn't the Lunna I know. Her breathing is strange. I grasp her shoulders and lift her up. She remains motionless, staring fixedly at the sea. Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she clutches her chest. Her breathing seemed to falter, and she started trembling. I don't know what's happening.
“Lunna, talk to me!” There's no response from her, and I start to get worried.
“Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital.” I pick her up and begin walking towards my car with her.
“N-No, don't take me… No…” She couldn't finish saying it, and I understand that she doesn't want to go to the hospital.
I reach my car and unlock it. I place her in the seat, and she closes her eyes.
“Lunna, tell me what's happening, please!” She tugs at my shirt, but she seems weak. I approach her, and her breathing is failing, as if she can't fill her lungs.
“I… I'm panicking,” I step back, looking at her with her eyes still closed and a hand on her chest.
Tears stream down her face, and I realize she's trying to calm down. I had never seen her like this. I fasten her seatbelt and, despite the rain, leave the car window open. Likewise, I close the door and go to the driver's side, get in, start the car, and drive away from there.
“I'm taking you to my apartment, okay? Stay calm, everything will be alright,” I say, unsure of what to do. I look to see if she has a bag or a cellphone, but she doesn't have anything! So, I decided to call her mother. That's the only option.
“Mrs. Arlet!” I say as soon as she answers.
“It's me, Adam.”
“Oh, hi, my son. How are you? What a surprise!”
“I'm fine, but I'm calling because something's wrong with Lunna.”
“What do you mean?”
“She's with me in the car, and I don't know what happened, I…”
“Madre…” Lunna says and starts to cry.
“Daughter, take a deep breath, and let's count together, okay?” Mrs. Arlet says and starts counting. “One, breathe in and breathe out. Two, breathe in and breathe out. Three… breathe in and breathe out. Come on, sweetheart, do it with Mama,” she says, and I can hear the concern in her voice. I enter the building where I live and park, but I don't get out of the car. Lunna starts doing what her mother is telling her, and I begin to notice that she's calming down. “Now, clench one of your fists as tightly as you can. Notice how your fingers and forearm become tense. Hold that position and count to ten before releasing and allowing your hand to relax completely, letting go of any tension. Repeat the gesture as many times as necessary until you can relax. This approach will help you increase and release tension throughout your body. By tensing and relaxing various muscle groups, it's possible to relieve physical stress and calm your mind,” Lunna does as she was instructed, and I start to perceive the change in her.