Omniscient POV

The morning sun poured into the kitchen as the family gathered for breakfast. Plates of pancakes, eggs, and toast were spread across the table, and the sound of clinking silverware filled the room. The atmosphere was lighter, more relaxed, though a subtle undercurrent of seriousness lingered beneath the surface.

Serafina sat between Luca and Antonio, picking at her pancakes as the conversation ebbed and flowed around her. She had been feeling better, little by little, but the thought of what lay ahead made her stomach twist into knots.

"So," Alessandro began, his deep voice commanding attention. He leaned back in his chair, his coffee mug in hand. "We need to start talking about the next steps for Serafina."

The room went quiet, all eyes shifting to her.

"Next steps?" Serafina echoed, her fork pausing mid-air.

Isabella smiled gently from across the table. "Your papa and I were thinking it might be time to consider school again. Not right away, of course, but in the near future."

The word school sent a jolt of anxiety through Serafina. She set her fork down and stared at the table, her appetite disappearing.

"I'm not sure I'm ready," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"We understand," Alessandro said, his tone steady but firm. "We're not going to rush you. But you've been doing well, and we think this could be a good way to help you move forward. A new environment, new people—"

"New people?" Serafina cut in, her eyes wide with panic. "I can barely handle being around all of you sometimes. How am I supposed to be around strangers?"

Luca placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It doesn't have to be right away, Fina. We'll take it slow. Maybe start with online classes or something?"

Antonio nodded in agreement. "Yeah, no one's saying you have to dive into a full-on high school experience tomorrow. We can figure out what works for you."

Serafina glanced around the table, her heart pounding. The thought of returning to school—of walking into a building full of unfamiliar faces, of being vulnerable in front of strangers—felt overwhelming.

"I just... I don't know if I can do it," she admitted, her voice trembling.

"You can," Isabella said firmly, her eyes filled with determination. "But only when you're ready. We'll be here to support you every step of the way."

Alessandro leaned forward, his hands clasped together on the table. "We'll start small. Maybe you meet with a tutor first. Or we look into schools with smaller class sizes. Whatever makes you comfortable."

"Or homeschool," Matteo suggested with a grin. "I mean, let's be real, none of us would survive high school again."

The table erupted into soft laughter, easing some of the tension in the air. Even Serafina managed a small smile.

"I don't want to be a burden," she said after a moment, her voice quiet.

"You're not a burden," Dante said firmly, speaking up for the first time. His dark eyes met hers, and the sincerity in his gaze made her throat tighten. "You're our sister. We'll do whatever it takes to help you."

The room fell silent, the weight of Dante's words settling over them.

Serafina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The idea of school still terrified her, but her family's support made it feel a little less daunting.

"I'll think about it," she said finally, her voice trembling but resolute.

"That's all we ask," Alessandro said with a nod, his expression softening.

Later that afternoon, Serafina found herself in the living room with Isabella, curled up on the couch as her mother folded laundry. The TV played softly in the background, a low hum of comfort.

"Do you think I can do it?" Serafina asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Isabella looked up, her hands pausing mid-fold. "What do you mean, darling?"

"Go to school. Be normal again. It just... it feels impossible."

Isabella set the laundry aside and moved to sit beside her daughter. She took Serafina's hand in hers, her touch warm and reassuring.

"It's not about being 'normal,' Fina," she said gently. "It's about finding what works for you, what makes you feel safe and happy. And that's going to take time. But I believe in you. We all do."

Serafina blinked back tears, her mother's words wrapping around her like a hug. "I'm scared," she admitted.

"I know," Isabella said, pulling her into a tight embrace. "And that's okay. We'll face it together."

As the day wound down, the family gathered in the living room for another movie night. Serafina sat between Antonio and Luca, a bowl of popcorn balanced on her lap.

For the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of hope. Maybe she wasn't ready to take on the world just yet, but she was starting to believe that, with her family by her side, she could face whatever came next.

And that was enough for now.