My chest constricted, making it hard to breathe. I missed her so much it physically hurt. But I couldn't let her back in. I couldn't risk being hurt again.
The door creaked open again, but this time Damon stepped in, carrying a tray of food.
"Thought you might change your mind," he said, setting the tray on the bedside table.
I shook my head, my throat tight. "Take it away, Damon."
He sat on the edge of the bed instead, his eyes studying me. "You can’t keep doing this, bro. You’re barely eating, barely talking to anyone. It’s not good for you."
“What do you know?” I snapped, my voice sharp and brittle. “You think some food’s going to fix everything?”
Damon shrugged, unfazed. "Maybe not. But starving yourself isn’t going to make the pain go away either."
I rolled over, turning my back to him. "Leave me alone."
Minutes after Damon left, the door creaked open again. This time, it was Vivian, my stepmother. Her gentle presence filled the room, and she perched on the bed beside me, her hand brushing my hair back like she used to when I was younger.
"Hey, sweetie," she said softly.
I mumbled a response, barely lifting my head.
"Damon told me you’re not eating. How are you holding up?" she asked, concern filling her voice.
I shrugged, staring at the ceiling, refusing to meet her eyes.
She sighed. "You know, we can talk, or I can leave. Your choice."
A surge of guilt ran through me. "I'm sorry. I’m just…"
"It’s okay," she said, gently squeezing my hand. "I get it. Have you spoken to Kendra at all?"
The mention of her name sent a jolt through me. "No," I muttered, my voice hoarse.
Vivian sat quietly for a moment before asking, "Do you want to talk about it?"
I shook my head, but the words came spilling out anyway. "She lied to me, Vivian. She used me. Everything we had—it was just a game to her. I thought I knew her. I thought… I thought she loved me."
Vivian listened, her eyes soft with understanding. "That must hurt, Antonio. But sometimes people make mistakes. It doesn’t mean the feelings weren’t real."
I scoffed, bitterness filling my chest. "Real? She sold out our family. She betrayed me for a story."
Vivian took a deep breath. "Has she told you why she did it? Have you given her a chance to explain?"
"I don’t want to hear it," I said, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I don’t want to risk her manipulating me again."
"Antonio," Vivian’s voice was calm but firm, "you need closure. This limbo you’re in is tearing you apart."
I stayed silent, but her words hit home. Closure. It was what I needed, wasn’t it? Yet the thought of facing Kendra, of hearing her voice, terrified me.
"I don’t know if I can trust her," I whispered.
"You don’t have to trust her yet. Just hear her out. Decide afterward what to do."
I nodded, not fully committing but not entirely dismissing the idea either. "I’ll think about it."
"That’s all I ask," Vivian said, standing. "Now, let’s get some food for you. You’re looking thinner by the day."
I managed a weak smile as she left, her words echoing in my mind: “You need closure.”
