"God said, love thy enemy. And so I obeyed him and loved myself."

-

Adelaide

-

"Well, darling. Are you sure you've got everything?" My mother probed, for what had to be the hundredth time. Her perfectly manicured fingers held my cheeks, examining the skin thoroughly.

"Your lip gloss is smudging hija, here." Before I could pull away, her tongue swiped across her thumb and my overbearing mother brought it to my lip, wiping away the glossy product.

I stepped back in slight repulsion, stretching the material of my white shirt to wipe the remnants of her saliva off my face. "Mother, I'm not a five year old." I scolded, a playful smile on my face.

Sativa Daniel's was a beautiful woman, there was no denying it. In the words of her lover, she was created by a combination of the moon and stars. She made you feel the effects of a Friday on a Monday, She felt like summer and her scent was best described as freshly bloomed flowers. The woman in front of me was God's gift to mankind. An angel among demons, or better yet, the light in the darkness.

I was a spitting image of my mother. Brown eyes that looked way too ordinary on me, stood out on her slightly aged face. A woman nearing her fifties who didn't look a day over forty. Three present, but unnoticeable unless you were really looking, crow's feet decorated her eyelids, but she was beautiful nonetheless.

"I know hija, but I am only doing my job." I smiled sincerely and she gave me a once over, eyes lingering on my bare legs. "You must be cold, shall I grab you a coat? I think I will." As soon as she spun around on her flat shoes, I grabbed the back of her hand. "Summer has just begun mom, I'll be fine." I reassured the woman, glancing at the ticking clock on my wrist.

At the rate we were going, I'd never arrive on time.

She pushed away estranged brown locks from her face, nodding sympathetically. "I'm being a helicopter mom, aren't I?"

I nodded sheepishly and she pulled me in for what was hopefully the last hug. "I'm going to miss you so much. Oh, my little baby, stay safe, okay?"

I tightened my grip around her waist, inhaling her summery perfume as well as the scent of her floral shampoo, laced in her shoulder length hair. "It's only three days, you'll be fine." I assured, my words muffled by her shoulder.

The cab driver I had called over honked impatiently, fed up with having to wait an extra five minutes.

I looked over at the elderly man, my smile laced with guilt.

"I have to go now." I announced, holding her at arm's length.

She dramatically fanned her face, preventing tears from flowing down her pink cheeks. "Leave before I start crying."

"Have a great time Hermosa, don't forget to greet the family for me, okay? Do you have the arroz con Leche I prepared?" she asked.

"Yes, it's over there, on top of my luggage, see?" I pointed in the direction of the dessert as well as my belongings for the weekend.

"Now, I must go. Kiss papa for me okay? I'll be back before you know it." With one last kiss to my mother's cheek, I let her go, feeling the warmth of her comforting fingertips leave my body.

"I love you hija!"

I smiled at her, my hand clasped on the door handle of the car I would be riding in. "I love you too mom."

*

Breathe. I repeated, chanting the seven letter word over and over in my bustling head. In and out.

I felt myself grow unexplainably nervous, standing in the driveway of the well-known Strocelli mansion. It hadn't been too long since I had visited my best friend, but unfortunately, over the past few months my anxiety had completely evolved. Leaving me a shaky, uneasy mess in the simplest of situations. But I had easily learned how to control it. The skin of my bottom lip burned as I tugged on it with my teeth, stinging as it completely detached. A bad habit, yes. But it was distracting enough.

Although the pills I was prescribed help ease the tension in my thoughts. He told me there was no way to completely relieve myself, but I could make myself believe the aching wasn't there. Even if it was only for a few hours. The real question was; is life too complicated? Or am I approaching it in a way that is too difficult for me to grasp?

I would never completely figure out the answer.

I could only wish we were able to create a society that wasn't inherently soul-crushing. To which He'd reply, 'the best I can offer you are pills that will trick your brain into thinking you don't hate it here. That is until you find a reason not to, of course.'

I tugged on the hairband that collected the dark strands at the base of my neck, relieving the locks of their restraint. I instinctively ran my hands through it, attempting to tame the wild mess.

With one last deep breath, I raised my hand to the hardwood door and knocked my knuckles against it a few times, my red fingernails grasped the necklace perched on my collarbone and twisted it out of habit.

I expected to be met with Cassie, the lifelong maid and the sweetest old woman you would come to know, but instead I came face to face with the breathtaking Azelia Strocelli and instantly, all my worry began to wash away at the sight of her welcoming smile.

"Addy, darling? Oh my goodness, come here." I was swept across the floor and into the warm, welcoming embrace of the second mother figure I had, sighing happily at the familiar scent of her expensive perfume.

I tightened my hands around her waist, melting into her hold for a few more seconds before she let go.

"Oh, honey. You look beautiful. I've missed you so much." She beamed, her gaze fluttering over my facial features.

It had only been three months since I had last stepped into their loving household. Studying had consumed me more than I'd like to admit. I spent countless hours locked behind my bedroom door, flipping through page after page of my hefty textbooks, taking in information as if it were the air I needed to inhale to stay alive.

Unfortunately, money did not come easy to my family. But that was a mere setback in life. I was happy with what I did have.

"I've missed you as well, Mrs. Strocelli. " I finally replied.

Her smile didn't waver. "Oh please." She waved her hand in front of her made-up face. "I've told you dozens of times to call me Azelia."

It's true. For the best part of thirteen years she had reminded me to call her by her first name. But whenever the name fell past my lips, it felt wrong to say.

"Mom? Who was at the door- Adds! Holy shit."

My smile simply failed to stay hidden as I squealed, running in the direction of my best friend who I had missed dearly. She met me in the middle of the large foyer, giggling uncontrollably as we lunged into each other's arms. Our hair meshed together with the impact of the hug, creating a tangled mess of brownish-black.

"Language, Valentina." Her mother scolded, playfully, shutting the door behind her and walking away into the distance after smiling at me one last time.

I could've sworn I felt eyes burn holes into the back of my head but I ignored it, shrugging off the strange feeling.

Her hands squeezed my shoulders lovingly as she let go of me.

I had hugged way too many people today.

I hated physical touch. Too much of it made me feel oddly uncomfortable and my friend knew that, which is why a sympathetic smile graced her Latin features.

Val's curly hair was haphazardly sprawled across her shoulders and down her slender back, accentuating her hips. Her brown eyes were fitted with her naturally long eyelashes. Although they were the same colour as mine, her eyes looked electric compared to my murky ones.

"I can't believe you're finally here. Come on. I'll have someone bring up your bags."

She grabbed onto my hand and dragged me up the long staircase towards her unnecessarily large bedroom. I had spent countless hours in this house but still managed to stare at the large space in awe, every single time.

The white interior created a warm and tender atmosphere around the building. Each detail was intricately set to meet the criteria of Azelia Strocelli, world renowned interior designer. But more specifically here in Italy.

Her work was outstanding, the proof was her very own home.

Once situated in the luxurious room. I flopped backwards onto the comfortable bed. Giggling as the soft mattress hit my back.

"I could kill you right now." My happy daze was snatched away when I felt a fluffy pillow smack me right in the face.

"Ow! What was that for?" I whined, staring at the girl in disbelief.

"Three months? We survived on text for three fucking months." She whisper yelled, jumping onto the bed beside me with a huff. She folded her arms over her chest and sighed in annoyance.

"School has been kicking my ass. Forgive me because you love me?" I asked, pouting. She stared at me and rolled her eyes.

I shoved her shoulder with light force. "Oh come on, you grumpy bitch, you couldn't have missed me that much. Weren't you tanning in the Caribbean for a month?" I asked, remembering how excited she was to go on vacation with her family.

"Would've been better if you accepted my invite and joined us."

I elevated myself onto my elbow and brushed a few strands of hair out of my face. "Next time. Did you get laid?" I interrogated with a smirk.

That question was all it took for the girl to delve into a deep story telling of her 'sexpeditions'.

Valentina was sexually active and wasn't shy to admit it. It was understandable. The young woman was daringly beautiful and probably had lines of interested men and women awaiting to be with her.

On the other hand, I was less sexually inclined. I was seventeen the first time I had sex and I swore to never do it again. Yes, it was that bad. Although James Ackerman was an attractive male, his skills in bed were definitely misleading.

The only sexual satisfaction I received now was from me and a little friend Val had gifted me after the shitty experience. Not that I minded. Self-love was most definitely the best form.

"I think his name was Eli. But I can't remember, I was absolutely wasted that night." She giggled. "It was good, he met all my expectations, if you know what I mean." She wiggled her full eyebrows suggestively and I cringed, fake gagging. "Gross. Save the dirty details."

A loud laugh tumbled from her pigmented lips, but soon died down once she caught sight of the clock hanging on her wall. "You must be starving. It's almost time for us to head down for dinner."

At the mention of food, my stomach grumbled embarrassingly and she scoffed at the sound. "Well that confirms it."

I shoved her once more and we erupted into a fit of giggles.

I had missed this.

As if reading my thoughts, she spoke up. "I missed you, you know that? Let's make a promise to never be apart for that long ever again." She held up her smallest finger and I held back a laugh at her childish antics. Agreeing nonetheless and locking our fingers together. "I promise." I said, sealing the deal.

"Girls! Come and eat!" I heard the distinctive voice of Cassandra call out from the distance and I grinned eagerly at the thought of seeing her again.

"You coming?" I asked Val, who was curiously staring out the window.

"Yeah. My dad just got home. Come on let's go."

***

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