Manitoba Morning

CHAPTER 13 Lily’s POV

“You know that I love you right? No amount of Bussy or pussy can replace your special place in my heart.” William says, taking my hands from my lap and holding it tightly. I nod my head.

“Bussy? What’s that?” Andrea curiously asked.

“Google it” William rolls his eyes.

Andrea pulled out her phone and typed something on it. “Oh it means gay man’s butthole. Butt Pussy.” she laughed.

“We are supposed to have a serious talk.” He sighed. “Not give you a lesson on gay slang.”

She scoffed at him and he lightly pushed her arm. I laughed at their antics. I love them so much.

“I-I know why you guys want to talk to me” I sighed. “I will follow through on my promise in trying to be more sociable and getting therapy again.”

“We don’t want you to feel any pressure okay? But ever since you stopped therapy, you started getting anxiety attacks. You never had that before, and-and you are having nightmares.” he looked at me straight in the eyes.

I feel Andrea sits beside me and gives me a side hug. She put her head on my shoulder to comfort me and I can feel that she is crying.

“Lily, we will always be here for you. You and Dad are my only family, It hurts to see you like this” His eyes are turning slightly red, I know he is holding his tears.

My eyes started to water and I felt them both hug me. William and I used to go to a therapist once a month. It helped us to express ourselves freely and see things on a judgement free perspective.

When Matteo found out about it. He got mad and forced me to stop going to my therapist. I still remember what he said to me, he said, “You are too much work. I will not have a fcking crazy girlfriend. I’m sick and tired of you, Stop that crap or William will not recognize your pretty little face after I’m done with you.”

Am I being unfair? My Dad and friends have spoiled me too much, just accepting what I want to do with my life. I have been showered with so much love and I know I am limiting their daily life activities because of what I am.

I am just too stubborn to take a big step. It’s not easy to accept that someone broke you. I still hear what they say in my sister’s funeral, the disappointed looks they gave me. The one who lived was not the bright, special and talented kid. The gifted teen with the brightest future died saving her completely ordinary dull sister.

I also remember how Matteo always reminds me that a whiny and nervous mess like me will never be loved by anyone except him. How he always gets upset every time I stutter or rambles about stuff. Everything they said about me is already carved in my head but I can’t be like this forever. I want to be better, give a good meaning to the second chance my sister gave me but I’m stuck. I can’t let Matteo or anyone else hurt me anymore. I need to be stronger.

I feel someone wiping my tears and I look up. William wipes my tears and kisses my forehead. He gives me a reassuring smile and his brotherly look. Arrgh that look! The look that says he understands and will support me if I lash out and take it all back, that I am not going to try and help myself.

I know he is wondering what happened to me but he just does not want to interrogate me. He does not know the reason why I stopped having therapies and why I started getting nightmares.

I can’t tell him that it was Matteo. William was the one who convinced me to give Matteo a chance. I know it will hurt him if he found out what Matteo did to me.

I look at William and Andrea and give them both a kiss on their cheek. “William please help me schedule a session. I want to have the same schedule as you, so we can go together and continue our tradition again like before.” I sweetly ask.

William nods and pat my head. “Yes, I think I can get your old schedule back.” he said.

“Tradition? What tradition?” Andrea asked. I was already dating Matteo when the twins transferred to the school that’s why she does not have any idea about it.

“It’s really fun. After therapy we usually eat ice cream and go to a lake near the ice cream shop” William explained.

“Can I go too?” she pleads.

“That was a William and Lily thing.” He sighs. I punch him in the chest and pout. He winced in pain. “Fine it can be our thing. We will all go for ice cream and chill on the lake.”

“Yes!” she shouted, clapping her hands. “I’ll bring food so we can have a picnic on the lake.”

“Okay, Now you can definitely go. Bring a lot of food or I will drown you.” he warned.

We both roll our eyes at him. He can’t even swim to save his life.

William grabs the remote. “Let’s binge watch until we fall asleep.” he offers. We both nod and We started watching again.

I feel my phone vibrated and see a text from Salvy.

Blue-eyed Greek God:

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?

I tried not to laugh, Me? Have any plans? Of course not. I’m always free, I’m a certified house plant.

L:

Yes. I am why?

Blue-eyed Greek God:

Can I take you out for a date my angioletto?

I threw my phone on the carpeted floor. William and Andrea sat up straight and looked at me with worried eyes.

“What the fck! What happened?” William asked me worriedly. Andrea picked up my phone and checked what’s on the screen. She looks at me with wide eyes.

“What is it Andrea? Fcking tell me.” William demanded. Andrea just gives him a wide grin.

I controlled my breathing, my heart was beating so fast. “H-he asked me on a date” I told him

“What? Saliva?” he asks.

“Stop calling the head of our family Saliva.” She smacked him on the head. “This is it, He really asked you out. My cousin doesn’t do dates, You must be really special to him.” she told me.

“Sh-should I agree? I mean you guys told me to slow things down” I question.

William rolls his eyes. “I just saw the two of you do soft porn in front of the house earlier. Go to the date Lily.” he said

“Wait, they kissed again? Soft porn? Explain it dumb blonde” she asked, shaking his arm.

William was about to say something but I interrupted. “We only kissed. Ahhmmm yeah.” I said.

“Like make out?” she clarifies.

“Yeah, a make out? That one.” I confirmed, to be honest my mind was too hazy earlier. His kiss was intoxicating.

William rolled his eyes and gave my phone to me. “You need to reply to him or else he will think that you don’t like him. You want to go right?” he asked.

I nod my head and smile at him.

“Send a text saying you will go and don’t forget to ask what to wear.” Andrea added.

L:

I would love to. What should I wear?

Blue-eyed Greek God:

You can wear anything you want my angioletto. You can wear a rag and you will still be the most beautiful girl in my eyes.

I blushed hard after reading his text. What is he doing to me? I need to calm down.

L:

Thank you Salvy. Where are we going?

My text sounds lame but it’s better than not replying at all.

Blue-eyed Greek God:

It’s a surprise. I will pick you around 3 am?

L:

Sure. Thank you for everything

Blue-eyed Greek God:

You don’t need to thank me for anything my angioletto. I like being with you. I need to go and might not be able to contact you till tomorrow. Goodnight and think of me before you sleep.

L:

Good night and take care.

I closed my phone and looked up, William and Andrea grinning wide at me. “Wh-what?” I asked.

William stood up. “Lets go to sleep. Lily needs a beauty sleep for tomorrow” he winks at me.

Andrea pulled me up and we went upstairs. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. William was laying on the mattress and Andrea was laying down on my bed.

I lay down beside Andrea and she cuddled with me. “Goodnight Andrea and William. Sugar dreams.

I hear William groan while Andrea tightens her hug. Can my life get any better than this? I close my eyes and sleep.