pte

r beautiful friend, breaking my heart," she said, pl

at would you like?" I asked,

g your stuff; it's like you were running a

l kitchen to prepa

r and grabbed some bread, wit

okay?" Jessica asked, so

sister is strong," I sa

ring, we went back to

ext to Sicily. We were in the middle o

she asked, a question I'v

replied sadly, s

r side. I'll never leave you," she said, repeat

eft, saying he would vis

nd, was always at the h

'S Poin

belly has grown, making i

old my body, which is why m

e without knowing the real re

derstood me, that they would be the first to offer suppor

y and Clyton are

and father to me. Clyton often visits our home to ch

ps and errands, and I'm so grateful that t

I'm trying to bury those memories

went outside to see what was happening. As soon as I st

is everyone shouting?" I ask

our houses stand, bestie," she said, an

eminds us of my father," I said, unable to hold back my t

ned me, and now the owner is taking

man alive, with everything

ce period years ago, and now they're not offering any

m going to my hometown where m

ing my siblings along. We'll just be a burden, especiall

will never be a burden to me. I couldn't

ntually agreed. It was better than sleeping under an ove

, and Sicily helped me pack my things. We were in the middle of pack

Do you have a place to go?" he asked

ou leaving?

ater," I

you leaving?"

we won't have to deal with bus

there?" he offered, but both

visit when I have free time. Please," he pleaded,

a lot of things,

ey, I couldn't help but think about what our life would be

ce (Za

my cheek, so I slowly opened

got up and stepped out of Clyton's car.

helped with the rest, and we e

greeted us and help

, maybe Mom wouldn't have le

prepared a

y's mom asked as she place

replied, and Au

guy with you?" Aunt Veron

end. He's the one who brought us h

my younger siblings since they had

d Jesean, right?" Aunt Veron said to my

Jessica?" Aunt Veron asked J

Aunt Veron," Jessica

so much too. The last time I saw him, he was still a bit shy,

sharing stories and

Sorry for talking your ears off," Aunt Ver

to another room since Aunt Veron insisted he sta

ul and happy life. Before re

, there was a knock on the

n, she sat beside me

's time to e

siblings to be here with your parents

nts to think I was taking a

e a burden to yo

consider you all like siblings. Come on, enough with the drama. We're

rouper fish," I teased, laughing

could I look like a grouper?" she said, flippin

p punching you accidentally," she said, so I stood up

t Veron busy preparing our dinner

n help with?" I asked as I go

not good for you to tire yourself out, especially si

r baby might come out looking like a duc

e to help because Aunt Veron insisted I shouldn

how much Aunt V

ownstairs, we started eating, and t

out Sicily when she was a

ssica offered to

ce that was all I cou

ly's parents has

icily never leaves my side. Aunt Veron and Uncle Victor accepted

and content, even if my c

SIX

baby anymore, I'm a big boy now," my five-

You even still nurse fro

because he insisted he was a big boy

oy now, Mommy Tita! Stop calling me

ill wet the bed?" S

ared at Sicily, but she just stuck her t

es me and calls me a baby. I'm a big bo

n, DUKE SHINTARO AREVALO. He's f

Contin