My despair grew with every passing second as I hugged Abigail and Emma. I was terrified I might never see my parents again, my grandparents, Chad, Adam… I thought of them all at once.
Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you, girls. It was just a sad coincidence that you were here.
Meanwhile, Abigail tried to say something with a trembling voice.
Giovanni, please, leave them alone. I… I'll go with you wherever you want.
In that moment, I understood everything. It was the ex-husband Abigail had mentioned before. He was truly insane, having traveled all the way from Italy to Florida to go after her.
Then let's go. My car is on the street. Get up, walk, GET UP ABIGAIL! he shouted.
She got up. I didn't want her to go. I grabbed her arm and said,
He's going to kill you!
Mia, dear, everything is under control. I'll send news, don't worry, everything will be fine.
Come on, let's go! he said, furious, pulling her by the arm.
And you, stay quiet there. Don't look back.
I hugged Emma tightly, and we remained frozen. That was when we heard the sound of the glass door opening. Giovanni had opened it to leave with Abigail. The sound of police sirens echoed outside. Giovanni slammed the door, ran back to us, and threw Abigail onto the sofa.
Who called the police?! he shouted, furious.
Then he approached me and grabbed my face.
Was it you, girl?!
I said nothing, only cried.
Leave her alone! Abigail shouted.
This is a kidnapping now, then!
He handed me my phone.
Call your father and tell him that if they enter here, I'll kill all three of you. Come on, girl, call!
I dialed the number. When my father answered, he already sounded desperate.
Mia! Daughter, for God's sake, I'm coming home! Tell me you're okay!
He took the phone from my hand and said,
Tell the police that if they come in, I'll kill the three of you. Wait for me to get in touch.
He hung up aggressively. Giovanni paced back and forth, scratching his head, muttering nonsense.
Abigail, why did you make me do this?
She apologized constantly.
If anything happens to me, tell Adam that I love him… and that in my whole life, I've never felt so protected as that day he confronted Wender for me. Emma said, sobbing.
We stood up and faced Giovanni. I hugged her tightly.
At one point, he had his back to the glass door. That was when I saw Pitter by the pool, right in front of the door. He signaled us to stay silent. I trembled. Emma tried to distract him. Soon we saw Adam and Chad beside Pitter. Abigail stood near us. She tried to tell them to leave. Giovanni scratched his head, holding the gun, and said,
Calm down… I'll think of something…
Suddenly, Emma fainted.
Help! She fainted! Abigail screamed.
We kept talking nonstop so Giovanni wouldn't hear the sound of the glass door opening. While Emma was still down, he approached us and crouched near her.
The boys entered. Pitter grabbed a vase and ran toward Giovanni, but at that moment, he noticed and turned toward Pitter and fired.
Bang!
I covered my ears. The sound was deafening.
Pitter was bleeding in the leg but kept moving toward Giovanni. He began to fight him. Everything happened so fast until Adam and Chad ran behind Giovanni and restrained him. Chad managed to take the gun from his hand.
Run! Call the police! Chad shouted.
We ran. While running, everything seemed to be in slow motion. When we reached the street, we saw that the area was already surrounded by police. Officers were rushing toward the house.
My father ran up and hugged me tightly when he saw me. Emma approached the ambulance, still dazed. Mrs. Ruth went to her and wrapped her in a tight hug. As Ruth held her, the lights of the sirens illuminated Emma's face. She breathed a sigh of relief and murmured,
He shot Pitter… He shot Pitter…
Ruth, crying, asked desperately,
No, Emma… That can't be! Where's my son?!
She ran toward the house. Emma followed her.
I think he's okay! It was in the leg! Emma shouted.
At that moment, the police brought Giovanni out in handcuffs. The boys hadn't come out yet. A stretcher entered the house, and the police wouldn't let us go inside. We waited, each second feeling like an eternity.
After a few minutes, which felt like hours, Chad and Adam came out, and Pitter arrived on the stretcher. But he was conscious.
Chad hugged me tightly and said,
Mia, I was so scared of losing you…
Adam pulled Emma into a hug. Mrs. Ruth entered the ambulance with Pitter. My father didn't even look at Abigail. She seemed helpless. I hugged her.
I know what you're thinking… It wasn't your fault, I tried to reassure her.
It was, Mia… It was…
Chad hugged her.
At that moment, a woman approached, shouting,
Son!
Chad looked at her, surprised.
Mom?!
She hugged him tightly.
My God, Chad! The police called me and said you were being held hostage! I don't even know how I ended up here…
Chad tried to calm her. A police officer approached us and said,
All of you need to go to the station to give a statement.
We followed them. My father remained silent the entire time. During the statement, Adam and Chad recounted every detail of that night. As soon as Chad realized something was wrong, his heart started racing. Without thinking twice, he grabbed his mother's car and drove at high speed to my house. Adrenaline coursed through his body, and his hands sweated with worry.
Upon arriving at the street, he found Adam and Pitter already there, both anxious. Adam had gone to talk to Emma, and his brother, concerned, decided to accompany him. However, when they arrived, they sensed that something was off. The tension was almost palpable, a silent warning that danger was near.
Without hesitation, the three entered the house cautiously and hid. The fear was suffocating, but the need to act was stronger. Time seemed to both fly and drag. Every sound, every movement made their hearts pound in their chests. They didn't know exactly what they would find, but they were certain they had to do something.
The police hadn't arrived yet. They were alone. From that moment on, everything happened too fast.
Abigail stayed talking to Hanna, Chad's mother. I approached my father and whispered,
Dad, it wasn't her fault. You can't treat her like that…
He sighed, running a hand over his face.
Daughter, I'm trying to process everything. Don't get involved in adult matters. Do you know what it was like to go through that?
Emma ended up sleeping on Adam's shoulder while we sat in the police station waiting area.
When it was time to leave, my father looked at them and said,
Let's go home. Emma, your parents aren't here. Adam, your mother will stay at the hospital with Pitter. You're coming with me.
Then he looked at Abigail and said,
Let's go.
She stood up without saying a word. Chad, standing beside his mother, came over to me and gave me a tight hug.
Mom, this is Mia.
The woman smiled and stood up.
Ah, so you're the girl he has told me so much about… How beautiful you are!
She held my hand and said warmly,
My son is very special, a golden boy. You're lucky he likes you.
I smiled. Her eyes sparkled.
My father cleared his throat and interrupted,
Thank you, Chad. You, Adam, and Pitter were very brave.
Chad just shook his head. We said our goodbyes and left.
In the car, no one spoke. The tense atmosphere between my father and Abigail was obvious.
When we arrived home, my father said,
Take a shower and go to sleep. Adam, go to the guest room.
Yes, sir. Good night.
Emma and I went upstairs behind Adam. On the stairs, we heard my father calling Abigail.
I want to talk to you.
Yes, sir…
We hid and watched them in silence.
I'm leaving tomorrow, Abigail said.
You don't need to. It was an accident, my father replied.
It wasn't, Mr. Luck.
Stop calling me "sir," he shouted, impatient.
The fault was all mine. I saw the judgment in your eyes, Abigail said.
My father stepped closer and said,
My look wasn't for you. It was for myself.
She frowned, confused.
Today I went out to dinner with a woman from the office, trying to forget… forget you, Abigail.
She froze. A tear rolled down her cheek.
Mr. Luck…
Stop calling me "sir," damn it!
Sorry… she murmured, lowering her head.
My father held her chin and asked,
Do you feel the same?
She tried to answer but stammered. Before she could say anything, he kissed her. Abigail tried to resist, but soon surrendered to the kiss. He lifted her into his arms.
Emma and I ran to my room and closed the door.
At least one good thing happened, Emma said.
I smiled and said,
I think there can be two.
Emma and Adam looked at me curiously.
What do you mean? they asked in unison.
I got up quickly.
I'm going to take a shower and let you two talk.
After I finished my shower and came out of the bathroom, I found Adam and Emma kissing near the window in my room.
I'll go to the guest room, Adam said, smiling.
And tell Mia it was you who grabbed me, okay? Adam joked.
She smiled and said,
Good night!
Good night, Adam replied.
When he left, I started tickling Emma.
Tell me everything now!
She laughed, a little flushed.
He confessed to me and… I also! We kissed. Then he asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend and… I said yes!
I hugged her excitedly. After the hug, her expression changed. She lowered her head and said,
My parents called me while we were at the station. They said that, now that everything was resolved, they don't need to come back…
I held her hands and led her to the bed to sit. A tear rolled down her cheek.
Emma, you have an amazing boyfriend, incredible friends, and my father, who is practically your uncle now. If your parents don't want to be part of your life, they're the ones who lose.
She looked at me attentively. I continued.
Live your life. Study, go to the college of your dreams, get married, have children, be happy. Be everything they weren't for you. Be what they are not.
While she cried silently, I continued,
My grandfather once told me that we must remove from our lives those who do us no good, whoever they are. Not to hate them, because hate makes you sick, but to keep them far enough that they cannot hurt us.
Emma cried even more and hugged me tightly.
I love you so much, Mia…
I love you too, friend.
My phone rang. It was Chad. We talked until we fell asleep. Emma and I slept hugging. I guess we were still scared and looking for comfort in each other.
The next morning, we woke up at 9:30 and went downstairs for breakfast. Abigail and Adam were in the living room, talking.
My father appeared, adjusting his shirt sleeve.
I'm going to the office. When I return, I'll bring Ruth and Pitter. He will rest here for a while.
He's okay, but he needs to rest. The shot fractured the bone. He'll feel pain for the next few days.
He came closer and kissed my forehead and Emma's.
Don't cause trouble. Tomorrow, you'll go to school.
Then he looked at Abigail, somewhat awkward.
Goodbye.
Tch… sir.
He stopped and looked at her seriously.
Goodbye, Luck.
He smiled.
Better this way.
When he went to open the door to leave, he encountered my mother. Her face went pale.
Cami…?
Camilly, for you! Where is my daughter? she asked, nervous.
I ran to hug her.
Why didn't you call me? she demanded, anxious.
My father intervened.
You didn't need to come.
My mother entered the house, agitated, raising her voice.
Ah, you didn't need to? My daughter was taken hostage, almost died, and you really think I wouldn't take the first flight from France? I knew having her live with you wouldn't work!
Then she turned to me.
Mia, go pack your things. I already bought our tickets. You're leaving for France today.
I stared at her in silence.
It was impossible. Now that I liked Florida, had incredible friends, moments I would never forget, a relationship that made me feel safe and loved, and a sense of belonging I had never felt before… and now I would have to leave? Start all over again?
My grandmother once told me that, generally, a teenager takes three to six months to adapt to a new life, a new city, new people. But if she were to experience love at first sight, an overwhelming passion, the time it takes to feel at home would decrease significantly. And I knew, without a doubt, that this was exactly what had happened to me.
It wasn't that the other people weren't important my father, Emma, Abigail, Adam… but Chad… he had the power to make my heart race, to make me want Florida to be my home forever. And at that moment, everything became clear: if I could choose, I would stay. Definitely.