Chapter 1: The ticket to Rome
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR!"
My breath hitched in surprise. There in front of me a cake with candles.
The candles were in a form of 21. That's it, I was turning 21 today but I was never someone to think much of it.
"Sis I baked this cake for you, you know I don’t have money so this is my present"
My lips curved into a sweet smile at James statement.
I just stared at him as he stood next to mother, looking at our background even the candles felt too much.
"I was expecting tears and screams from you" mother stated calmly as if already bored of holding the cake.
"Why would I cry over a piece of cake and pink candles...I'm not kid mom" I said pacing towards her and lifting the weight of the cake on to my palms.
Her face darkened and I could feel the mood shifting.
"I'm sorry Lett, Luca said he had something to do so-"
I cut her with a sharp gesture of my hand, thinking about Luca only brought my mood to the ground.
"I don't care what he does, that guy has his own choices and If he really wanted to be a good boyfriend then he would have made time for me"
My gaze shifted back to James short figure, he looked lost and uncomfortable.
What rang in my head was that I wasn't ready to spread my legs open for Luca but still he dared to be mad about it.
I'm not saying I'm a virgin but I'm not saying I'm not one.
"Anyways, smile for me and I'll show you a surprise" mom's smile widened and I then realized that her hands were hidden on her back.
"What are you gonna give me, a lollipop?" I asked sarcastically but I was still curious to know what she was hiding.
"You're being dramatic right now and you're spoiling the mood" she mumbled but her arms shifted to reveal a brown envelope.
My gaze locked on the envelope and my hands were itching to unwap it.
Before she could say more I placed the cake on the nearest table and I slightly pulled the envelope from her hands.
"Come on.open it, I just want you to be happy"
My fingers moved automatically unwraping the envelope.
My lips parted and tears formed on my eyes, everything just felt too vividly.
"MOM!?" I gasped breathlessly, how did she afford this much.
"Lett, it's okay"
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Since I was 7, I had always dreamed on visiting Italy but our class was just too low to afford it. Right on that spot when I was head over hills obsessed on visiting there my father disappeared.
Later at night mom got a phone call and it was dad, he surprised us by announcing that he was in Rome. Never in my life had I ever felt so betrayed at such a young age.
Days passed with disappointment and betrayal but he kept calling us and showing me around, feeding us lies that he only went there to meet an old friend.
Saying I was jealous of my own dad was an underestimation, I was disgusted with him. Not that I cared or loved him but I only loved his money which kept us alive.
After a month of pure silence another call followed and it was to announce his death. I dared not to share a single tear on someone who dumped my dream only to feed up his pride.
No one said it out loud but I knew it could be the truth, he was murdered by someone he knew and he only visited Rome to do dirty work for money but it seemed like he was not lucky enough to meet the right people.
My worst scenario was dark and could be a lie but I grew up with it because I knew that Italy wasn't a place for people like him.
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"Mom you don't have to spend your money on this ticket, you could have done better" I whispered a lump forming on my throat.
The memories and the realization only hit hard.
A ticket to Rome
"This is your dream and as a parent I want to fulfill it for you so please let me, I've been saving for years for this day"
I instinctively attacked her with a hug wrapping my arms around her neck. The warm tears rolled down cheeks before I could realize I was crying.
"Lett are you gonna take me with you?" James low voice filled my ears causing me to pull back.
I crouched to his level my hands moving to cradle his face.
"I don't have the money to buy your happiness but I swear, when I come back I'll work my bones out just to take you back so you can see paradise" I mumbled a tight smile on my face as I held back my tears.
I wasn't planning to be just like father but I was planning to become what I craved for when I was James age.
My stare settled on the ticket on my palm, the flight was tomorrow and everything just felt too rushed.
Something about Italy just didn’t sit right with me, it felt like this was a ticket to spill blood just like how my father’s ticket was paid for his blood.
