Alice

CHAPTER 28

ALICE ROMANO

I wake up to an empty home and slowly walk to the door heading to Santiago's home dragging my left leg 

Within few minutes I reach his home. It is locked but I look to my left and see the artificial plant I take the key out of the pot and enter his house and lie on the sofa.

 2 hours later he arrives covered in bruises I get up making him sit and get the first aid box 

I sit beside him cleaning the wound on his forehead which seems to be deep

"Sweetheart I am fine it's nothing big. I promise" he says 

"It doesn't look like nothing San" I say trying not to cry 

"don't cry sweetheart. It hurts a bit but it will be fine in a few days" he says 

I bandage him and get up and slowly walk to the cabinet to keep the first aid kit

"What happened to your leg?" San asks 

"M-mom stepped on my knee-" I say 

"come here and sit WHY THE HELL ARE YOU WALKING AROUND WHEN YOU ARE IN PAIN" San shouts. 

It's the first time he is angry at me he never gets angry even when I do mistakes while coding or when he teaches me the medical stuff.

He sighs loudly "From now I will teach you how to get out from such situations"  

"I am sorry for shouting Sweetheart" 

"It's fine I know you are worried about me " I smile 

" I am so sorry baby, I will try my best to help you and heal you as best as I can. You are like my sister that I never had" He says

I gasp " Am I really your sister now? We are not just friends but brother and sister?" 

"Yes I would like to think that you are my sister and we can still be friends Sweetheart " San says

"Wooowwww, I really love you San" I hug him

"Ok come on now we had to head to your home" he says 

"WE?" I ask 

"Yes we, you are hurt sweetheart"  he says

"you are hurt too San and you promised that day" I say

"I remember but I don't want you to get hurt even more." 

"Fine let's go now. Mom must be back" I say 

*scene change*

Walking through the alley where I met Santiago I hear a sad sound, I carefully go to the spot I used to hide and see a small puppy abandoned and injured. 

I go near him slowly and pet his head for sometime. I can't leave him here. I can't take him home. So I can only take him to San's home I hope he wont get angry and he likes the puppy. 

Delicately lifting up the small puppy I take him to San's home, I smile when I see he is in the home. 

"San look" I say showing him the puppy 

"Sweetheart we can't bring puppies home without informing their owners " he scolds me

"I know San look at him he is injured and I found him in the alley " I say 

He sighs "ok fine let's get him treated and see what we can do " he says

"Thank you San" I hug him

*scene change* 

"Now you have learned all the coding I know and I think you know it better than I do" San says

"Yessss thank you for teaching me San" I hug him 

Coco barks happily seeing us 

"It's been nearly an year I have met you and you have learned so much, so much more than a girl your age can. I am really proud of you sweetheart" he says

"Thank you San for not leaving me and for teaching me everything" I say 

He tightens his hands around me " It's been a long time we met and you have been injured most of the time I don't think she will change sweetheart. I feel like she is getting more cruel and more abusive now " 

"I really hope she will change San, why doesn't she love me, Am I not her daughter? Why does she love all my brothers and not me. She says she hates me because dad left her because of me. I promise I didn't do anything wrong."  I say trying to stop my tears

"I know sweetheart I know" he says and makes me sit on the chair 

"I- I want you to stay with me Alice, I can't leave you with your mother anymore, I promise I won't change and I will be by your side and I will keep you happy always"  he says

"B-but mom" I look at him and sigh "Even I want to live with you but I thought mom would love me later but as you said maybe she wont and make it even hard for me" 

"Are you sure you want me to stay with you?" I ask 

He nods " I have been wanting you to come stay with me ever since we met but I knew you wouldn't agree but now we can't leave you alone with your mother anymore" he says

"But now I have to go back to mom" I say 

"Sweetheart I promise from tomorrow you don't have to go back to your mom's house" He says 

"Thank you San I will go back now" I say standing up and going towards coco I sit near him and play with him for a few minutes 

"I am leaving San bye" I say and hug him and coco

"Bye sweetheart don't forget to sign on the window before you get to sleep to let me know about your safety ok?" he says kissing my forehead 

I leave his home walking towards mom's home 

I reach the home and there are scary people with black cars near the home 

I gasp and wake up in sweat realizing it was all a dream.

No it was a memory. Santiago 

I don't know what to do. I look to my side and see Noah's asleep.

I silently leave Noah's room and head to my room 

I want to have a bath before I think anything