𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄|| 18+ ✔️

3

A Z Z U R R A

The morning arrived with a hesitant glow, the sun's rays casting a pale light through the curtains. I found myself waking up early, the remnants of the night's events lingering in the air like a haunting melody. A subtle ache echoed through my bones as I rose from the guest bed, a silent witness to the chaos that had unfolded.

A strange numbness enveloped me as I moved through the dimly lit hallway, guided by an impulse to escape the shadows that clung to my mind. The rhythmic sound of water drew me into Lorenzo's bathroom, a sanctuary of solitude. The tiled walls seemed to whisper promises of solace, and without much thought, I turned on the bath.

As the water filled the tub, I stood there, a silhouette of vulnerability against the soft glow of the bathroom light. The steam began to rise, enveloping me in a comforting haze. I undressed, shedding the layers that concealed the scars etched into my skin, both visible and hidden.

Slowly submerging myself into the warm embrace of the water, I closed my eyes, allowing the memories to resurface. The echoes of my father's cruelty reverberated in my mind, a haunting symphony of pain. Each mark on my body told a story, a narrative of a life marred by violence and betrayal.

I zoned out, the water becoming a transient barrier between me and the weight of my past. The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by the muted echoes of my own thoughts. It was in these moments of solitude that the truth, raw and unfiltered, clawed its way to the surface.

The water rose, inch by inch, as if beckoning me to surrender to its depths. The idea of escaping this pain, of relinquishing the burdens that clung to me like shadows, became an intoxicating whisper. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, I sank deeper into the water until it enveloped me entirely.

Beneath the surface, the world above transformed into a distant realm. The muted sounds and muffled echoes mirrored the numbness that had settled within me. I closed my eyes, relinquishing control, as the water embraced me in its silent cocoon.

For a brief moment, the darkness seemed inviting, a refuge from the storm that raged within. The weightlessness offered a deceptive sense of peace, the illusion of liberation from a reality tainted by the sins of those who should have protected.

But just as I surrendered to the void, a force yanked me back, tearing through the fragile sanctuary I had constructed. The sudden intrusion shattered the tranquility, and I emerged gasping for air, disoriented and vulnerable.

Lorenzo stood before me, his eyes a tempest of fury and concern. In that moment, as I clung to the edge of the bath, a silent understanding passed between us. He had seen the fragments of my shattered resolve, the desperate yearning for escape etched into my eyes.

"Why?" he whispered, the word carrying the weight of the unspoken pain that bound us.

I met his gaze, and for the first time, allowed a sliver of my vulnerability to surface. "It's all I know, Lorenzo. The pain, the darkness—it's all I've ever known."

His features contorted with a mixture of empathy and rage. "You don't have to face it alone. You have people who care about you."

A bitter laugh escaped me, the echoes of despair intertwined with the sound. "People who care? Look where that's gotten me."

He reached out, a tentative touch against the wet strands of my hair. "You can't let your father's darkness define your future. You deserve more than the shadows he left behind."

I remained silent, the weight of his words settling around me like a fragile shield. In that moment, beneath the pallid light of the bathroom, I felt a flicker of something unfamiliar—a spark of hope, delicate and hesitant.