My Enemy’s Daughter

AMELIA LEAL

Not.

Not I can think of no other reason for a person to move to this town than to hide from the world. Missouri is a city in Texas and I can say that “end of the world” is more appropriate, although, the city is slightly charming, I can’t bear to look at all the horses, goats, chickens and pigs that Melissa raises. Although, she has become friends over the last few days and her son is the cutest thing. Which of course makes me think of the son my sister is carrying in her womb, my first nephew, and how difficult it will be to be away from him.

I sigh, looking at my newest friend’s interaction with her husband. He is clearly older, however, this is the typical well”presentable “crown”. Very well! by the way. Like, he’s hot.

Snort.

The guy is practically a Greek god, he’s so handsome. Tall, broad”shouldered and tan”skinned, a few white hairs on the sides of his hair and caramel”colored eyes that remind me of my dad’s favorite whiskey. Damn, they make a couple like those on the cover of a magazine, it’s even disloyal to walk beside them.

” Pancakes?” Melissa’s husband Lorenzo asks, and I nod, unable not to have my skin warm from his attention. He smiles warmly and serves me two of his wonderful pancakes. The man is a cook, and a good one at that.

” Thanks.” I whisper, feeling disconcerted just looking at him. Hell, it’s not like I’m fantasizing about my friend’s husband or hitting on the man, but I’m not used to having conversations with a guy like that. I feel like an intruder, too, disrupting their breakfast with my sullen expression.

“Are you okay?” Mel asks, taking a seat across from me at the table, pouring herself an orange juice. I take the opportunity to observe her, her long hair is tied in a ponytail on top of her head, making her look cooler, her blue eyes are highlighted by a light brown shadow, and she wears a blue dress glued to her bust. And released in the region of belly and high boots with no heels, I never asked your age, but I’m guessing something like twenty-something.

” Yea. Sure I’m not interfering?” I ask, still feeling uneasy about being at her house so early.

She smiles and shakes her head.

“Not at all, to tell you the truth, I’m the one who should be thanking you for staying with Vicenzo tonight.” He says, taking a piece of his own pancake. Lorenzo sits down beside her, looking down at her with an adoring expression, he kisses her cheek and whispers something in her ear that makes her bite her lip and blush, they share a look I recognize and turn their attention to their respective dishes. .

I look away from the couple before I’m discovered and feel, once again, intrusive.

We eat, and he leaves for the bistro he keeps in the busiest part of town, it turns out they prefer a house in the country where they can keep all of Vincenzo’s favorite animals and Mel can tend to all the animals in the area. I can’t deny that seeing them together makes me think of Henrico and question why I haven’t received any calls or messages. I may have even blocked all my fucking social media when the news of my trip was used by the media as an escape and I received a barrage of questions from journalists and followers, I just took a break from everything, using “my study” as an excuse, since this was the allegation that Augusto used for my coming to the United States so suddenly. Luckily, he managed to once again deflect all the media attention and get Mom’s name forgotten.

Ezequiel’s death was given as yet another tragedy caused by drugs, he had an overdose shortly after, according to the gossip newspapers, murdering the prostitute who was with him, since no other person was seen at the scene.

I thought about calling or sending a message to Henrico, but pride wouldn’t let me. That would only create more trouble too, I promised my dad I’d stay away from my sister’s ex if Mom was safe, and if he really wanted to find me, he would have arranged it.

“Need to go.” I say, eyeing the big cabin not far from where we are. She looks in the same direction I’m looking and lets out a low sigh.

“How is your mother?” he asks, using a truly concerned tone.

“In the same.” I say, feeling the weight of my own words.

It’s been two months since we arrived and Mom hasn’t gotten better, on the contrary, every day she sinks deeper into depression and I don’t know what to do.

“I don’t know what happened to her, Amelia. However, I imagine it was something serious like the loss of someone dear, and I can assure you that I know that feeling better than anyone else, I’ve lost too many people in my life to memorize the feeling, but I found motivation to fight in Lorenzo, even without knowing it is motivated me to be strong, I matured ahead of time and ended up finding a place for the pain, strengthening myself from it. She just needs the right motivation, someone to step up and support her. Be that person for her.”

Her words move me, even more so because her eyes are flooded with unshed tears, making me think of everything she had to overcome.

“Do you want me to stay?” I ask, using the same tone she used when she asked about Mom.

She denies, taking the twist of her hand to her eyes and wiping the tears that didn’t come down.

” Do not worry, I’m fine. Go take care of your mom, see you later. ” I nod, not sure if I should leave her alone after her outburst and head home, hoping to find another scenario when I hit Mother room. However, I don’t slam her door, I wait for night to come, then for day to break and when finally two days go by without even seeing her, I reach my limit.

“Get up from that bed and live!” Growl, opening the curtains and letting the light in.

I stare at the confused expression on Mom’s face and feel my girl grow bigger, her eyes are lined with dark circles and her hair looks like it hasn’t come under a comb in a couple of weeks.

“Close the windows!” Orders her, pulling the covers and covering herself in full.

” No, I will no longer accept meeting like this.” I pull the sheet from over her body and throw it on the floor.

She stands up with fury in her eyes and her face twisted in disgust.

“Listen here, young lady. He points his finger at my face. “I’m your mother and I demand respect, do you hear me?” Scream.

I cross my arms, not looking away from his gaze. I’m doing this for your own good, even if it sounds rude.

“So act like one and listen. I’m your daughter, but I’ve been taking care of you since we arrived, I thought I’d get out of bed after a few days, but it’s been two months! Two damn months and nothing!” I exclaim, throwing my hands in the air, showing all my indignation.

She narrows her eyes and gives up looking at me.

” Leave me alone.” she asks and I shake my head.

” No.”

“Amelia…”

“No, mother. I’m not going to watch you slowly fade away, I’m here and I demand that you fight and recover.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I’m not wasting away.”

“Yes, you are. Look at her condition.” I point to the mirror and she looks at her reflection, startled by what she sees.

” I… ”

“It doesn’t have to be like this, I…” I trail off, taking a deep breath and gathering my courage. “I know I didn’t take your relationship with Ezequiel well, as I’m also aware that you lost someone important and had a small piece of you destroyed, I won’t ask what happened that night and I won’t even mention his name if you prefer, but I don’t agree to keep it.

” I’m sorry. ” She says, starting to cry like a child. I hug her tightly, crying together.

“If you want to divorce my dad, I understand.” I say, sniffling low into her neck. She pulls me away and I look deep into my eyes, wiping my tears with my fingertips and smiling.

“No need to worry about that, dear. Starting today I’ll take care of my own problems. I’m sorry for neglecting my role for so long and causing you pain.” I kiss my forehead.

“We’ll get through all of this.” I say, smiling at his caress of my hair.

“And we’ll be back too, I just need some time.

“Shall we?” I ask excitedly, immediately thinking of black eyes and rough hands.

“Yeah, I just need to regroup.” I smile, shaking my head.

We will be back.