Omniscient POV

The day stretched on with a strange mix of heaviness and lightness, as if the house was slowly finding its balance again. After breakfast, the family dispersed into their usual routines, but the invisible thread tying them together remained taut, each of them more aware of the others than usual.

Serafina spent most of her morning in her room. The quiet was comforting, a reprieve from the emotions swirling around her. She flipped through the new phone her parents had given her, the screen glowing softly in the dim light of her room. It felt strange, having something so normal, so mundane, after everything. But at the same time, it felt grounding.

Her thumb hovered over the messaging app, her contact list empty except for her family. She hesitated before opening a group chat Alessandro had set up earlier.

Papa💕: Family First. Always.

The name made her smile faintly, the weight of her father's words carrying more meaning now than they ever had before.

She typed a quick message:

Fina: Thanks for breakfast this morning. I'm feeling a bit better.

Almost immediately, replies flooded in:

Mamma💕: Take it slow, darling. Let me know if you need anything.

Tonio🙂‍↕️: Good to hear. Let's chill later if you're up for it.

Luca🥸: Don't let Mama hog you all day.

Matty☺️: Ignore Luca. He's just mad I beat him at cards last night.

Dante🤪: We're here. Always.

Enzo💕: We love you, always and forver.

The messages made her chest tighten, but not in a bad way. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she wasn't alone.

By the afternoon, Serafina found herself downstairs, drawn to the sounds of her brothers arguing over what movie to watch in the living room. It was a familiar scene, one that had played out countless times before, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.

"No way are we watching that again," Antonio said, shaking his head as he leaned back on the couch.

"It's a classic!" Matteo argued, waving the remote in the air.

"Yeah, a classic waste of time," Luca chimed in, earning a glare from Matteo.

Dante sat in the corner, scrolling through his phone, clearly uninterested in the debate.

Serafina lingered by the doorway, watching them with a small smile. For a moment, she felt like she was stepping into an old version of her life, one where everything was simple and safe.

"Hey, Fina," Antonio called out when he noticed her. "Come settle this. What are we watching?"

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to her. She froze for a second, the weight of their attention making her want to shrink back. But then she saw their faces—expectant, teasing, but kind—and she felt a little of her anxiety melt away.

"I don't know," she said with a shrug, stepping into the room. "What are the options?"

"Don't let Luca pick," Matteo said quickly.

"Hey!" Luca protested, throwing a pillow at him.

Serafina laughed—a small, genuine sound that felt foreign on her lips but warmed her brothers' hearts.

They eventually settled on Twilight , something light and easy to watch. Serafina curled up on the far end of the couch, her legs tucked under her as she clutched a pillow to her chest. Dante sat nearby, his quiet presence reassuring, while Antonio and Luca bickered over the snacks.

As the movie played, Serafina felt herself relax. The laughter in the room was contagious, and for the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.

Later that evening, after dinner, Serafina sat in the kitchen with Isabella. The warm glow of the overhead light cast a soft halo around her mother, who was busy organizing a tray of snacks.

"Do you think... things will ever feel normal again?" Serafina asked hesitantly, her fingers tracing patterns on the table.

Isabella paused, turning to look at her daughter. "Normal is different for everyone, my love," she said gently. "But we'll create a new normal, one where you feel safe and loved. That's what matters."

Serafina nodded, her mother's words settling something inside her.

Just then, Alessandro entered the room, his presence commanding yet comforting. He placed a hand on Serafina's shoulder, squeezing it lightly. "You did well today," he said simply.

Serafina looked up at him, her throat tightening. She didn't trust herself to speak, so she just nodded, her eyes glistening.

Alessandro and Isabella exchanged a look, their silent communication saying more than words ever could. Together, they were rebuilding the foundation of their family, brick by brick, and Serafina was starting to feel it too.

As the night settled over the house, the family gathered once more, their bond stronger than ever. For the first time in a long while, Serafina felt like she belonged. And that was a start.