Our Flame

liii

NADIA

Clearly while I was away, my brothers forgot to grocery shop. I basically ate all the snacks with Gianna.

Since telling them the truth, things seem rocky.
It's been a week yet my family seems hesitant around me, almost like if they slip up- I'll break.

I huff as I rummage through cabinets, I blink a few times as I look at the pills in the cabinet. I'd never relapse.

When I was on pills, I was cold. I didn't care about anyone or anything. Hence why I worked for my father.

Thinking back, the comfort drugs gave me filled the biggest and deepest void in me. "Shit." I curse as the pills fall from the cabinet.

"What are you doing?" Aleksi approaches me. "Cleaning." I mumble. I continue scooping the pills into my hand.

At that moment I realized how bad this looks, "What the hell are you doing?" He slaps the pills from my hands.

I sigh, not wanting to fight in the kitchen again. "You're relapsing." He exclaims. "No, of course not."

I ignore the pain in my chest, why would I relapse after everything I spoke about. It's simple, they don't trust me.

"Alek, I'm not relapsing." I calmly state.

"Viktor, Vadim." Aleksi calls out. I shut my eyes, letting out a breath. "What's- Nadia, what are you doing?" I drop the remainder of pills in my hand.

Instead of only Viktor and Vadim coming in, Luka and Niko did too. Suddenly, I wish Gianna didn't leave.

"Nothing." I stand up. "They fell and I was cleaning them up." I state. By the looks on their faces, they think I'm lying.

"Nik, Luka, you both have to believe me." I look towards the two. "Why would she risk her health for what- some sleep pills?" He defends.

I smile at him, "We all heard what she said last week. Why would she go back to pills?" Niko continues.

"Yeah Alek, I think you're overreacting.." Luka wraps his arm around me. "Thank you." I whisper to them.

"What were you doing in the cabinet?" Aleksi questions. "I was looking for something to eat." I practically shout.

Viktor and Vadim look at each other, "Wait so you guys think that I relapsed, after everything I told you?" I scoff.

"Nadia, we just want to understand. You know we don't pick sides." Vadim says. "I saw her with the bottle." Aleksi argues.

"God, Alek. It fell out of the fucking cabinet. If I wanted pills they wouldn't be expired." I yell. "Why are you trying to make me seem like the bad guy?"

Aleksi shakes his head, "And you guys believe him." I look to everyone else. "So much for family." I head to the door.

I keep walking despite them calling my name. First week back and I already wish I was with Ezra again. 

I regret telling them the truth about my addiction.

A sigh leaves my body as I stand against the outside of my house. I dial a number without hesitation, "Can you come back for me?"