Chapter 5 Secrets

• Luna arrived home exhausted after a long day at the new school. When the door of the luxury car, which had picked her up from school, opened, she quickly got out, huffing. Being the new student was exhausting, and this was only her first day. She looked at the elegant facade of the family mansion and stood there, pondering how she would endure living in this new city, with no one caring about her or how she felt.
• It felt like days had passed, but it was only the first day. How will I endure spending more time in this place? In this city, feeling like there's something wrong with me?
• The mansion's facade was impressive, with its tall pillars of white marble and a well-kept garden that looked like a work of art. The large windows and sophisticated architectural details highlighted the grandeur of the place. Luna took a deep breath and, after realizing she had spent quite some time there, decided to go inside.
• As she passed through the solid wood entrance door with detailed carvings, Luna was greeted by a spacious and well-lit foyer. The marble floor gleamed impeccably, and a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft and welcoming light. The walls were adorned with modern and understated artworks, perfectly complementing the minimalist style of the decor.
• Luna walked towards the living room, feeling the weight of exhaustion on her shoulders. The room was spacious and decorated with straight-lined furniture and neutral colors. A large white leather sofa occupied the center, accompanied by elegant armchairs and a glass coffee table. On the shelves, a few carefully selected art objects and books were arranged harmoniously. The ambiance was sophisticated, yet in a way that conveyed a sense of order and calm.
• Suddenly, Luna heard her mother's voice conversing with her father. This surprised her, as she didn't expect her father to be home at that hour. Curious, she approached cautiously and hid behind the wall, listening to the conversation.
• "I don't think it was a good idea to bring her to this city," said her mother, with a hint of concern. "You know why my family had to move to another city."
• Luna furrowed her brow, confused and curious. Her mother rarely spoke about her family. She seemed worried that the seventeen-year-old girl would discover something bad. Well, that's what it seemed like.
• She peeked, revealing a part of her face, at the two of them, who were conversing in the kitchen.
• "Elisa, you're not like them, and Luna won't be either," Lorenzo didn't seem worried about the situation. Even though he knew his wife's fear and the reasons behind it, she only cared about her work and appearances. "They're common," he concluded, taking his wife's hand, who didn't feel comfortable at all.
• "This place triggers things, Lorenzo," she stepped away, avoiding eye contact with him, preferring to focus on a corner of the wall. "I may have never triggered that within me, but I feel it. Since the moment I set foot in this city."
• Luna widened her eyes. Her mother felt the same way she did.
• What are they talking about? Does my mom also feel bad in this place? Well, I have no idea what it is, but it scares her, just like it scares me.
• But my father doesn't care about any of this. He only thinks about his business.
• "It's just your impression," he tries to calm her down again. "Fear makes us feel things that aren't really happening."
• This filled Elisa's heart, as well as Luna's, with anger. He didn't understand. He didn't even care.
• "I think we should stop this conversation," Elisabete took a deep breath and lifted her head, trying to appear determined, but inside, her fear only hid behind the false sense of control. "Luna is about to arrive, I don't want her to hear us."
• "Don't worry, dear," Lorenzo, wishing his wife would feel better, went to her, took her shoulders, and looked deep into her eyes. "Everything will be fine."
• "And if it's not?"
• "I'll make it fine," Luna found him very determined and confident. She tried to understand that feeling, and again felt like she was entering someone's mind, as if invading that privacy, even though she didn't want to. Then, she heard: no one will hurt my family. I would never allow it. - Look who you married.
• More doubts. Questions that wouldn't be answered by them. So, Luna decided to go up to her room and pretend she hadn't heard anything.
• Luna climbed the polished wooden stairs slowly, feeling each step weigh under her tired feet. The elegantly curved stairs were flanked by a wrought-iron railing, whose intricate scrolls matched the mansion's discreet opulence. Each step echoed softly through the empty hallway, accentuating the loneliness she felt.
• Reaching the upstairs landing, she walked through the wide and well-lit corridor, its walls adorned with modern paintings and discreet wall sconces. Luna finally reached the door to her room and opened it, revealing a vast and luxuriously decorated space. The room was huge, with large windows that allowed natural light to flood in, filtered by white silk curtains that gently swayed with the breeze.
• The walls were painted in a soft shade of gray, providing a tranquil backdrop for the minimally designed furniture. The king-size bed, covered with an impeccable white linen quilt, occupied the center of the room. Pastel-toned pillows were arranged invitingly on the quilt. Beside the bed, there were light wood bedside tables, each with a modern lamp of simple lines.
• A soft neutral-colored rug covered the wooden floor, providing a comforting sensation underfoot. Against one of the walls, there was an elegant desk with some notebooks and a laptop, indicative of a study space. Near the window, a comfortable armchair with a cashmere throw folded over the arm seemed like an invitation to rest.
• Luna tossed her bag onto the bed and, with a deep sigh, sat on the edge. The feeling of fatigue and doubt overwhelmed her. The weight of the new school, the loneliness of the new town, and the conversation she had overheard from her parents still echoed in her mind, but she decided not to mention what she had heard. Instead, she lay back, feeling the soft mattress embrace her as she stared at the ceiling.
• The ceiling, painted pure white, seemed vast and distant, reflecting the immensity of her own thoughts and feelings.
• "New school, sour classmates, a strange boy, and a confusing conversation," she said, hoping those words wouldn't leave that place. "What else has to happen?" She felt upset about the whole situation. Her parents were hiding something, and her mother seemed to fear the family's past. "What was all that about?" She furrowed her brow, trying to understand. "What is she so afraid of?"
• Then, the wind, coming through the slightly open window, brought with it a voice, whispered in her ears, saying, "Come to me." Luna found it strange. It was as if she was hypnotized by that sensation. "Come to me." The call continued until she got up, without even realizing it. Her body walked to the window. She pulled back the curtain, which fluttered in the wind. "Discover who you are."
• "Luna?" Her mother's voice snapped her out of the trance, grounding her. The girl widened her eyes, trying to disguise what she was feeling. "I didn't know you were already home."
• As she looked at her mother, the girl laughed nervously. So much was happening. Conversations. Voices. Everything made her feel strange and scared.
• "I came straight to my room, today was a tough day."
• "Are you okay?" Elisa worried. Deep down, she wanted to ask, "Are you feeling something strange?" The answer would be yes, and Luna wouldn't dare confess.
• "Yeah, it's just the new school thing, new people. Nothing major," she gave a nervous smile, crossing her arms.
• "I know how it is," the girl wished to say, "No, you don't know," "You'll get used to it," she said after a sigh.
• "Yeah, I will," she swallowed the words.