Serafina's POV

The house had been unusually quiet that morning. I'd stayed in my room, flipping through my new phone and laptop, getting a feel for the devices. They were comforting distractions, but they didn't chase away the lingering unease that clung to me. It was hard to focus on the present when the past still loomed over everything.

A knock on my door broke the silence, startling me. "Fina? Can I come in?" Enzo's deep voice called.

I hesitated for a moment before answering, "Yes."

The door creaked open, and Enzo stepped in, a mischievous smile on his face. Behind him were Antonio, Luca, Matteo, and Dante, each wearing an expression that could only mean one thing—they were up to something.

"What's going on?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at them.

"We're kidnapping you," Antonio said casually, leaning against the doorframe.

"What?" I blinked, confused.

"Not literally," Luca clarified, rolling his eyes. "We're dragging you out of this room. You've been cooped up here for days. It's time to do something fun."

"I don't know..." I trailed off, uncertainty swirling in my chest.

Matteo stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm. "Come on, Fina. It's just us. No one else. We promise it'll be something light, nothing overwhelming."

I glanced at each of them, their faces filled with a mix of determination and care. They weren't going to take no for an answer, and deep down, I knew they were right. I couldn't stay locked away forever.

"Okay," I said quietly.

"Great!" Dante grinned, clapping his hands together. "Let's go."

They led me outside, the sunlight warm on my skin. The garden stretched out before us, but that wasn't where we were headed. Instead, we veered toward a small clearing behind the house where

a basketball hoop stood, slightly worn from years of use but still sturdy. A faded ball rested on the ground beneath it, as though it had been waiting for us.

I froze, staring at the hoop. Memories flickered to life—of my brothers playing here, their laughter echoing through the air, their competitive spirits always dragging me into the mix.

"I'm not good at basketball," I said quickly, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

"That's okay," Enzo said, picking up the ball and spinning it on his finger. "You don't have to be good. You just have to play."

Antonio smirked. "We didn't bring you out here to win, Fina. We brought you out here to have fun."

I hesitated, glancing at the hoop again. The thought of trying, of putting myself out there, felt daunting. But when I looked at my brothers, their smiles wide and their energy infectious, I felt the tiniest bit of courage bloom in my chest.

"Fine," I said, crossing my arms. "But don't expect me to score."

"That's the spirit!" Luca said, tossing the ball to Matteo. "We'll go easy on you... maybe."

They split into teams quickly—Enzo, Antonio, and Dante against Luca, Matteo, and me. They didn't give me time to think about it, pulling me into the game before my nerves could take over.

The first few minutes were chaotic. The boys were relentless, darting around the court like they'd been doing this forever. I mostly stuck to the edges, trying to keep up and avoid getting in the way. But then Matteo passed me the ball, his voice ringing out.

"Take the shot, Fina!"

"What?" I said, panicking as the ball landed in my hands.

"Shoot it!" Luca added, waving his arms to block Antonio.

I glanced at the hoop, my heart racing. The distance seemed impossible, and I could feel everyone's eyes on me. But then Enzo's voice cut through the chaos, calm and steady.

"Just try, Fina," he said. "It doesn't matter if you miss."

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Then, with all the strength I could muster, I threw the ball toward the hoop. It soared through the air, wobbling slightly, and bounced off the rim.

"It's okay!" Matteo called, grabbing the rebound. "That was close!"

Dante laughed, dribbling the ball away. "Not bad for your first shot in years."

And just like that, the tension melted away. I found myself smiling, the weight in my chest lifting ever so slightly. The game continued, each moment pulling me further out of my shell.

By the time we were done, I was breathless and laughing, my face flushed from exertion. We collapsed onto the grass, the sun warm above us, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt a little lighter.

"See?" Antonio said, grinning at me. "Told you this would be fun."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help the smile tugging at my lips. "Okay, fine. You were right."

Enzo ruffled my hair, his expression soft. "We're always here for you, Fina. Don't forget that."

As I lay there with my brothers, the sounds of their voices filling the air, I realized something. I wasn't alone—not anymore. They were here, and maybe, just maybe, I could start to heal. Together.