The thought of being forced into a marriage with a man eerily similar to her father was suffocating. She had always been close to her father, but spending the rest of her life with someone who reminded her of him in every way was too much to bear. She knew that her family's traditions and expectations were weighing heavily on her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing control of her life.
As the sun began to set, she made a silent vow to herself to find a way to break free from the chains that bound her and forge her path, no matter the cost.
The room was quiet, save for the sound of my breathing. Suddenly, a soft knock interrupted the stillness. I hesitated momentarily, wondering who could be calling at this hour. With a sense of curiosity, I rose from my seat and went to the door.
Lily's mother gently pushed open the door to her daughter's room and softly called out her name, "Lily?" With a heavy heart, I uttered my mother's name through gritted teeth, my face contorting in a deep frown.
The overwhelming sense of misery consumed me, leaving me feeling utterly defeated. As tears streamed down my face, my mother enveloped me in a warm embrace. She held me tightly, her arms encircling me, whispering soothing words in my ear. Despite the pain and sadness that consumed me, her presence brought comfort and security. Thanks to her unwavering love and support, I felt a little better with each passing moment.
She sat alone in her room, staring blankly at the wall. The weight of her unhappiness felt heavy on her chest, suffocating her.
She knew deep down that she could do nothing to change what had happened. It was a bitter pill, but she had to accept it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to find peace.
As I sat there, feeling lost and alone, she came over and touched my back gently. Her touch was soothing, and I could feel the tension in my muscles begin to ease.
"Your father confided in me today," she said softly, "about his plans. If I had known sooner, I would have tried to stop him." Her words were a balm to my troubled mind, and I felt grateful for her kindness.
"I know," I whispered, pulling my mother into an even tighter embrace. A heavy silence descended as soon as the words left my mother's lips. I could feel the weight of her disapproval, even though she refused to look at me.I knew what she was thinking—that I was making a mistake and going against everything my family stood for. But I couldn't help the way I felt. "Your brothers, especially Mark, are not going to be happy about this," she repeated, her voice strained. I could tell she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.
I sighed, knowing that this was going to be a difficult conversation. "I know, Mom. But I have to do what's right for me." She finally looked up at me, her eyes filled with sadness and anger. "And what about your family? Don't you care about what we think?" "Of course I do," I said, trying to calm my voice. "But I can't live my life according to what everyone else wants. I have to follow my path."
My mother shook her head, her expression one of disappointment. "I just hope you know what you're doing. Your brothers are going to be so upset." I knew she was right. My brothers had always been the golden boys of the family, who followed in my father's footsteps and did everything right. And here I was, going against the grain and doing something sure to upset them.
But I couldn't help it.
I had to be true to myself, even if it meant going against my family's expectations. It was a risk, but I was willing to take it. She let out a deep sigh and shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.
As the youngest of six siblings, I always felt like I was constantly vying for attention. My four older brothers, Stephen, Ben, Savi, and Mark, were all so different from each other, but they all seemed to have their unique bond with each other. I never felt like I reasonably fit in with any of them. But then something unexpected happened.
I found myself getting along with Mark more than anyone else. It was strange because we were so different from each other. He was always the quiet one, while I was more outgoing. He was into sports, while I was more interested in music and art. But despite our differences, we just clicked. I remember one summer when we spent hours sitting on the porch, talking about everything and nothing. We talked about our hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities.
We were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered. Years later, Mark and I still have a special connection. We may not see each other as often as we used to, but whenever we do, it's like no time has passed at all. He's still quiet, and I'm still outgoing, but somehow, we work.
As they sat around the campfire, the group of friends couldn't help but reflect on how close they all were to age.
Each was only a year apart; they had grown up together and experienced many of life's milestones. It was a comforting thought, knowing that they had each other to lean on as they navigated the ups and downs of adulthood.
The siblings were all born and raised in France, yet they were forbidden from learning the language of their homeland. Their father, a man with connections to the Mafia, often spoke in French with his associates and friends.
The children were left out of these conversations, unable to understand a single word unless their father allowed it. It was a strange and isolating experience to be so close to a culture yet so far removed from it.Her mother's gentle voice echoed in her ears as she felt a soft touch on her hair. "Anyways, come down and eat with us, dear; dinner is ready," she said with a loving smile. The sweet scent of the food wafted up the stairs, making her stomach grumble with hunger.She slowly got up from bed, feeling the day's weight on her shoulders. As she made her way down the stairs, she could hear the sound of her family's chatter and laughter, filling the house with warmth and joy. She couldn't help but smile, grateful for the love and comfort surrounding her.As soon as my mother rose from her slumber and departed, I trailed after her down the stairs.Mark's cheerful greeting caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. It wasn't until I felt a twinge of annoya
How could he make such a choice without consulting me first? I struggled to control my emotions, knowing that any outburst would only make things worse. Instead, I nodded, my silence a testament to the weight of his authority. Ben's anger boiled over as he slammed his fist on the table, causing the dishes to rattle.His voice echoed through the room as he shouted, "She's only 18!" The intensity of his emotions was palpable, and those around him could feel the weight of his words. Darryl's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at Mamá with anger and disbelief. "How can you just stand by and let this happen?" he cried indignantly. Mark was fuming, his finger jabbing in my direction as my mother tried to soothe him. "She's just a kid; you can't do this," he seethed. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.My heart raced as I watched the scene unfold, unsure of what would happen next. She sat at the table, her appetite gone. Only the sound of her fork tapping against
Lily's POVLily gazed out the window, lost in thought. The world outside was a blur of colors and shapes, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off and that she was missing something important. She sighed and turned away from the window, eyes scanning the room. It was familiar yet foreign as if she had never truly belonged there. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts, but the feeling persisted. She needed to figure out what was wrong, but how?Her heart pounded as she hurried down the long hallway toward her father's office. Her heavy footsteps echoed off the walls, announcing her arrival before she even reached the door.She approached the door with a sense of trepidation, her hand reaching out to grasp the cool metal of the doorknob. With a careful twist, she pushed the door open, her heart racing as she stepped inside. Her heart raced as she approached his office door.She hesitated momentarily, taking a deep breath, before finall
All she could do was focus on the task and hope everything would go smoothly. He looked at her with a piercing gaze, his eyes searching for any sign of comprehension. Lily nodded slowly, her heart racing with anxiety. She knew the importance of this moment, with the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air between them. She took a deep breath and met his gaze with a determined look, silently promising to do her best.A deafening silence filled the room as soon as the words left his lips. I stood there, frozen, unable to process what had just been said. My eyes darted around the space, searching for any sign that this was all some kind of sick joke. But the solemn expressions on the faces of those around me told me otherwise.I stole a glance at Damian, who was standing off to the side, his eyes trained on the ground. I couldn't read his expression, but I knew he must feel as shocked as I was. We had never discussed marriage, let alone with each other.My mind raced as I tried to c