Chapter 32

GABRIELA

Today is the day I would tell my family everything about Alex. I hadn't slept well and it wasn't just because of the ear pain, which I had brought on myself, but because of anxiety. I spent the whole night thinking about what my family's reaction could be.

I know they don't like people talking about him, especially because until recently I didn't allow it. I also had no idea what's going on in their head Alex had done to me, but it couldn't be good.

I know I would have my grandmother's support, but I didn't want her to have problems with them for not having told them before. She doesn't know today is the day I would tell everything to my family and it's going to continue like this, at least I could make her look surprised, if after I speak, she intends to say she knew before, I'll avoid it, no matter what it costs me, but I will do it.

It's half past six in the morning and I know I'm not going fall asleep, so I got up and headed to the shower to clear my head. It took me about an hour or so to get ready, mostly because I was going as slow as I could go.

When I came down it was already half past eight in the morning which didn't surprise me. My parents were already up and they thought it's strange I'm up so early. Normally on the weekend it took me a while to get up.

"Isn't it too early for you to be up?" my mother asked and I shrugged, because it is "Maybe, but I couldn't fall asleep again" I admitted "We could realize considering you got up at six in the morning. Does your ear hurt?"

"No, is not that." I said, "Is there something in particular that didn't let you sleep?" My mother asked and I denied even though there is, "No, I'm just tired of being at home, mom."

"But you can't go out Gabriela, it's the best thing to recover as soon as possible." My mother responded, "I know, but that doesn't mean I don't want to go out, Mom." I assured, "Gabriela, listen to your mother. Think that this way you will get better sooner." I don't believe it. Even though my ear hasn't bled since yesterday, it hurt enough, I think I even heard a little less than I did yesterday, but that's my problem for having gone out yesterday.

"I will, don't worry." I stated, the last thing I wanted to do is worry them. The rest of the morning I spent in the studio drawing, it helped me keep myself distracted until it's around eleven in the morning, when my grandmother appeared at the door, I hadn't realized she was there.

"Sorry for bothering you, I didn't mean to." said grandma coming in "You didn't do it, grandma, when did you arrive?" I asked, a little confused. "We just got here and your mother told me you were here, so I came to check on you."

"I'm fine grandma." I responded, "I thought it's strange that you didn't answer when I greeted you earlier. "It wouldn't be strange if you had the earphones, but you don't." she said, suspecting something is wrong with me. "You can say I'm so deaf I don't hear when they talk to me." I admitted "That's not normal Gabriela." She sighed, "I don't really know, but right now I don't care."

"You should care. You should go back to the doctor to get checked again." She insisted, "Grandma, my ear stopped bleeding, I'm fine." I assured, "You're not, and I'll tell your mother."

"Grandma, please don't do it." I asked, "I have to do it Gabriela." she answered and I denied, because she really doesn't have to do it "No, you don't have to. Do me the favor of not telling her." I pleaded, "I won't tell her if you promise me if this continues, you'll go to the doctor to get checked."

"I will" I said "Promise." She emphasized, "I promise Grandma, I really do." I promised, "Now are you going to tell me what keeps you a nervous?" She asked and I denied even though I am "I'm not, why do you say that?" I questioned, "If you're not nervous, something's wrong with you. I notice you a little tense."

"I'm not, I'm just thinking I don't like how the drawing is turning out." I diverted the topic "Let me see it" She approached where I'm and stared at it. I knew well if I said she would believe it, I'm easily stressed. I'm always like that and when I'm little I had a hard time controlling them more than anything, even now I had a hard time controlling them. I've been a anxious person for as long as I can remember, but that got worse when they started picking on me. That didn't help at all to control the nerves. This only got worse when Alex left me, although no one knows this of course. Now I controlled them a little more, but I had my difficult moments.

"Gabriela, it's beautiful. I don't know what's wrong that makes you tense." she admitted, "It's this part, grandma, it doesn't convince me." I responded, which was half true, "It's the best part." She refuted and I denied, because it wasn't even remotely true. "It doesn't convince me, I have to find a way to change it."

"I think it's fine, you don't need to do anything to it." grandma insisted "But I find it ugly, I don't like it." I stated, "Well, you don't need to stress about it. I'm sure you'll find a way to make it the way you want." she finally said, "I hope so, but let's go down, mom must be about to start making food. Let's see if she lets me help her."

"I don't think I'll let you, but by trying you don't lose anything." I left the pencil on the table and left the studio. We crossed paths with my brothers who had just gotten up, they were still going to have breakfast. We spent an hour talking, well, I didn't talk too much, mostly because there were times when I didn't understand anything they're talking about.

There's little left until the food is ready and my ear hurt too much, almost reaching the point of not being able to stand it, right now I'm ignoring it, I didn't want to worry anyone. I'm in my world until my sister touches my arm to get my attention.

"You're not hearing anything Gabriela." Maria protested. "The truth I'm not paying attention." I admitted, "Well, I think you should pay attention to what Dad is saying."

"What?" I asked confused, "Do you remember that asshole who hurt you?" He questioned, and it didn't take long for me to tense up again. "What's this question about?" I asked, trying to stay calm, "I heard he's at the same college as you. I'm wondering if you've come across him."

"What?" I asked, but mostly because I didn't know where he got that from. "What you hear, but from your reaction I can see you don't know anything. If I hear he's there to hurt you again, I swear I'll break his teeth like I should have done years ago." He responded, and I know he's serious, "You're not going to do anything dad, I'm not going to let you get into trouble because of me. He's not going to do anything to me."

"We're not sure about that Gabriela, he's a jerk for everything he did to you, and this time I'm not going to sit still waiting for him to do it again." He assured, "Dad…" I began, but at that moment, the pain in my ear increased to the point I don't hear anything. I also noticed how dizzy I'm getting and short of breath. In the end I don't know what the hell happened because everything around me turned black.