Chapter 9

I was born here, grew up, played, and every one of my happy and bitter moments, I remember them in this house, in this room. In every wall, in every corner and room of this place, my entire life is summarized. In this house is everything I know, everything I am, everything I love.

I sniff, no longer looking out the window at the garden house. I close the curtains, stepping away from the place and setting my eyes on the two suitcases resting at the foot of the bed.

My last weekend at home was the worst of all. I didn't go out at any moment, not even to eat. I haven't spoken to my father again, nor have I seen him, and the only time I asked about him was the day after the confession, receiving as an answer, "He went to work."

The whole weekend I was organizing all the details of the move. My family didn't mention my pregnancy again, and I only focused on getting everything done quickly.

Taking a deep breath and holding back the tears that the emptiness and nostalgia provoke, I grab my suitcases and leave, giving one last look at the room I have inhabited for years.

I walk slowly through the hallways, wanting it all to be a dream, for someone to wake me up and tell me that I'm not leaving, that my father doesn't hate me, that he's not disappointed in me, and that I'm not pregnant by a man I barely know.

But none of that happens, and when I reach the main floor, the saddened faces of my siblings and mother slap me with reality. Everyone is here, from my siblings and mother to my brothers-in-law and nieces, everyone except Dad.

I smile sadly as Mom starts crying.

"We're going to miss you so much, baby," she sobs, enveloping me in a loving embrace.

"Auntie, don't go, I... I don't want you to go," Antonella murmurs and all I can do is force a smile.

"We'll see each other soon, sweetheart," I whisper, crouching in front of her, and she nods, going into her father's arms.

I focus on Liam, who is clinging to his father's legs, trying to hide his tears. I take hold of one of his little arms, pulling him towards me to envelop him in the hug that I feel I need more than he does.

"Don't cry, baby, I'll call you," I whisper against his neck, trying to lift his spirits.

"I'm going to miss you, Aunt Lu," he says before kissing my forehead and pulling away. I smile with my eyes locked onto his, feeling the void intensify in my chest.

I immediately wipe away the tear that escapes me, standing up to face Liliam and Alejandro. I lean against my brother when my lips tremble, and the sob escapes my throat without permission.

"You will always be my second favorite hero, Ale," I whisper with a hoarse voice and a sad smile. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"And you, my favorite little sister, princess," he replies, leaving a kiss on my forehead. "I'm going to miss you a lot too, Laura."

I let go, turning towards Liliamna, who, like Mom, doesn't hold back the tears.

"I'm sorry, Liliam..." I apologize with a broken heart, fervently believing that this is my fault and that everyone's sadness is because of me. "I'm going to miss you like no one else." She nods, coming into my arms. "Take good care of Sophia and tell her about her favorite aunt." I try to joke, but she barely laughs. "And please visit me, with everyone. I promise that someday I'll tell you everything." I say in a softer tone. "And please... Say goodbye to Dad for me." I conclude.

And the tears deny her the words, so she just nods and kisses my forehead. I say goodbye to the rest, wiping away my tears before leaving the house, feeling nothing but a hollow void in the place of my heart.

The employees have already taken care of putting the suitcases in the taxi that will take me to the airport, so I walk alone and empty-handed until I get into the back seat of the taxi, giving one last farewell to the people who followed me outside.

Inside the car, I let the tears flow as I store each fraction of their faces in my soul, watching them cry over my departure. Unconsciously, I look up at the window that overlooks my parents' room, and there I see him, barely visible behind the curtains.

My father is there, watching me leave, and he hasn't even come down to say goodbye with a "Goodbye, Laura," and that tears my soul even more. It hurts like hell to know that I don't even deserve a greeting from him.

I take my eyes off the window and turn to the people at the entrance when the taxi engine revs and I give one last glance at what had been my home, my haven, as the car moved forward and I am left with the image of my brothers, nephews, brothers-in-law, and mother waving goodbye at the entrance of the imposing house, and my father's face hidden behind the curtains of his room.

The last image of my family in my old house.

"From now on, it'll just be you and me," I caress my flat belly.

Upon arriving at the airport, I head straight to the boarding area. On Sunday afternoon, I had spoken to Johnny and we had agreed that his private jet would be waiting for me at the airport at 6 a.m., and once in Los Angeles, he would come for me.

And so it was, upon arrival, the jet was ready to take off, the pilot was waiting for me, and once all the necessary checks were done, we headed, the pilot and I, towards the jet.

Once inside, I fastened my seatbelt as Carlos, the pilot, had instructed, resting my head against the jet's window and slowly watching as it started to take me away from the place where my family, my friends, and my life were...

"Maybe this change will be good," I tell myself in a feeble attempt to make the feeling of loneliness and nostalgia that has taken hold of me disappear, right at the moment when the jet stopped touching the ground.

...

It has been about two hours since the jet landed in Los Angeles, two hours in which I have been waiting for Johnny in front of the airport with all my suitcases around me.

It's noon, I'm starving, tired, and all I can think about is lying down. I'm angry, feeling stupid for waiting so long. A black sports car parks in front of me just as I'm about to hail a taxi. I stare suspiciously at the car until Johnny steps out from the driver's side.

"Sorry, I couldn't free myself up earlier," he apologizes as a greeting. I look at him and then shrug, downplaying it, even though I'm pissed inside.

Johnny puts away the suitcases he could fit into the trunk of the truck and then comes to me, opening the passenger door, and inviting me to get in. I step inside the car, and he quickly goes back to the driver's seat, starting the engine, and soon we find ourselves stuck in traffic.

"How have you been? How was the trip?" he asks, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had started to settle in.

"I've been fine, thank you. And the trip was good too," I reply without elaborating.

"Good... And where are we going?" he asks again. I hand him a piece of paper where I had written down the address of my new house. He nods and says nothing more.

A short while later, we enter a private villa, the houses are big and quite far apart from each other. The place is very beautiful, everything is clean and peaceful.

Johnny stops the car in front of my new house, which in person looks much bigger and more beautiful than in photos.

"Here it is, this is your new home," he says, and I nod, turning to look at him for a moment.

My new home.