Our princess
I wake up with a headache and stomach ache.
I sit up in bed and feel everything around me spinning, which only makes my nausea worse.
I look around and realize I'm in Lorenzo's room, my mind is confused and I don't remember how I got here.
I see my brother staring at me with a raised eyebrow, his critical look is charming.
“Why does it feel like my head has been put in a blender?” I ask massaging my temples.
“There are two pills near you” Lorenzo informs me coldly.
He looks irritated and I try to remember the last thing that happened.
I remember being outside smoking and I have a vague memory of drinking, but then everything becomes a meaningless mess.
"What happened?" I ask quietly, since my head hurts.
“You got drunk last night” Lorenzo says and then I understand that look of disapproval.
“How am I in trouble?” I ask with a frown.
“A lot, he's been grounded for a long time,” he informs me, but I realize there's something else he's not talking about.
“What else did I do wrong?” I ask in fear.
“Get ready to eat something and then we'll talk to the others in the room” He tells me without leaving room for discussion.
I slowly get out of bed and go to the bathroom, I still feel dizzy, but little by little I get better.
I do my morning hygiene and then go to my room to change my clothes.
Lorenzo accompanies me in silence the entire time, it seems he's afraid to leave me alone.
We enter the kitchen and everyone gives me a dark look, which leaves me confused and scared.
Am I really in so much trouble?
I eat a portion of fruit and drink a glass of juice, my stomach protests, but I have to hydrate.
“Let’s talk” Lorenzo announces when I finish eating.
I get nervous, even more so when I see everyone is in the room.
The last time this happened I had to face Edgar.
The thought gives me goosebumps.
I sit in a carefully placed armchair facing everyone in the room.
I hate these types of meetings, it usually feels more like an intervention than anything else.
“Elena, we need to talk about what happened yesterday” Vicente says calmly.
Their tone is cold and I can tell they are just as uncomfortable as I am.
“I know I'm in trouble, I shouldn't be drinking or smoking,” I say, trying to ease my punishment.
I learned from the time I spent together that the punishments here are different from what I was used to, I won't be beaten or locked in a cell.
“Honey, we're disappointed in what you did, but this meeting is because we caused this,” Nonna says sadly.
I look at them confused.
“Yesterday you told us why you did what you did” Lorenzo says coldly “And we’re sorry we didn’t realize that you agreed to meet Edgar because of us.”
I clasp my hands tightly in my lap.
I feel bad for causing this, for interrupting their workday just to talk to me.
“You relived those memories because we were weak,” Giorgio says sadly.
“You didn't make me do anything, what I said when I was drunk was the effect of alcohol and drugs” I say irritably “I may have been upset, but it's with me and not with you”.
My voice rises as I speak.
"And now, having you all here just to talk to me only makes the situation worse," I say exasperatedly. "I'm hindering the search for those bastards."
"No, daughter," says Fernando, stepping forward. "You told us once that it's no use fighting for family and forgetting that it exists."
I remember those words well, how alone and scared I felt at the time.
"We can't neglect the needs of any of you; everyone needs to be well so that, in the end, everything is worthwhile," he adds firmly.
Everyone agrees, and I feel a wave of gratitude in my chest.
"So, we promise never to put you in situations like this again, and we need you to be honest about what bothers you," Bruno asks gently.
I nod and receive a warning look from Dante.
"Okay," I finally say and get up from the sofa.
“We’re not finished yet,” Aunt Adriana says, and I sit down again.
“What you did yesterday was reckless and irresponsible,” Uncle Carlo says, and I lower my gaze. “You could have hurt yourself or done something you’d regret.”
I already regret it.
“You’re grounded. You’ll have to hand over all your electronics and you’re deprived of everything that brings you joy,” my grandfather says firmly.
He’s never used that tone with me, and this is worse than any punishment.
“For how long?” I ask quietly.
“Until Lorenzo says you’re free to go,” Vicente says, and I stifle a groan.
That will be on my one hundredth birthday.
“Okay,” I say, accepting without choice.
“Just one more thing,” Vicente says, and I look up. He observes me calmly. “Where did you get the marijuana? I remember confiscating everything.” I'm in shock. I don't want to expose Leonardo. "I don't remember," I say, looking at the ceiling as if trying to really remember. "My memory is hazy."
Vicente looks at me for a few seconds before nodding.
"You can go back to your room, I want you to rest," Matteo lets go of me.
I get up from the armchair, wanting to escape their gazes.
One day I was afraid to face them, afraid to trust that they would protect me from the outside world.
I stop before leaving the room and look at them. At my family.
"Thank you for giving me a reason to want to wake up, a place to return to and, above all, for loving me," I say softly and gratefully.
Everyone looks at me surprised, and I just smile before going up to my room.
I still feel nauseous and tired from last night.
I go into my room and put away my phone and computer because I know that at some point someone will come to get them, and I don't want to give that person a reason to worsen my punishment.
I text Dominic letting him know I'll be without my phone for a while and reply to Anabela that I'm back in her country until things calm down.
She laughs at my situation and tells me to take care of myself.
I miss her and the others from school, I miss normalcy.
I end up sleeping all afternoon and, miraculously, without nightmares.