Serafina's POV

The next few days passed in a blur of normalcy, though Serafina couldn't stop replaying her late-night conversation with Aiden. His words had stayed with her, wrapping around her like a safety net she hadn't realized she needed.

She'd never had someone speak to her like that, someone who saw her pain but didn't turn away. Someone who wanted to help her, not because they had to, but because they genuinely cared.

And that terrified her.

It was a Friday afternoon when she found herself sitting at the kitchen table, doodling absentmindedly in a notebook. Her mom bustled around, cleaning up after lunch.

"Mamma," Serafina said, setting her pen down.

Isabella turned, a warm smile on her face. "Yes, tesoro?"

"Can we talk?"

Her mother's smile softened as she sat down across from her. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

Serafina hesitated, her hands twisting together in her lap. She had been holding this in for days, unsure of how to bring it up. But if there was anyone she could trust with this, it was her mother.

"It's about Aiden," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Isabella's brow lifted slightly, her interest piqued. "Ah, your friend Aiden."

"He's not just my friend," Serafina admitted, feeling her cheeks heat. "I mean, he is, but... I think I like him. Like, like him."

Her mother's face broke into a gentle smile, though she said nothing, waiting for Serafina to continue.

"And it's confusing," Serafina went on, her words tumbling out. "Because I've never felt this way about anyone before. And he's been so kind to me, and he makes me feel safe, but I don't know if he feels the same way, and—"

"Breathe, tesoro," Isabella interrupted, reaching across the table to take her daughter's hand. "It's okay. What you're feeling is completely normal."

"But what if he doesn't feel the same?" Serafina asked, her voice cracking. "What if I ruin everything?"

Isabella squeezed her hand gently. "I can't promise you that he feels the same way, but from what you've told me about him, Aiden seems like the kind of person who would never let your feelings ruin your friendship. He cares about you deeply, Serafina. That much is clear."

Serafina nodded, though her heart still raced. "It's just... scary, you know? Letting someone in like that."

"I know," her mother said, her voice soft. "But love—whether it's romantic or not—is about vulnerability. It's about letting someone see the parts of you that you usually hide and trusting them to hold those pieces carefully."

Serafina swallowed hard, her chest tightening. "What if I'm not ready for that?"

"Then you don't have to rush," Isabella said, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face. "There's no timeline for this, Fina. If you're not ready, that's okay. What matters is that you're honest with yourself about how you feel."

Serafina let out a shaky breath, her mother's words sinking in. "Thanks, Mamma."

"Always, tesoro," Isabella said, leaning over to kiss her forehead.

Later that evening, the family gathered in the living room for a rare movie night. Serafina sat between Dante and Enzo on the couch, feeling the warmth of her family around her.

Halfway through the movie, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to see a message from Aiden.

Aiden❤️

Don't forget, movie night at Mia's tomorrow.

I won't.

You okay?

Yeah, just thinking about stuff.

Want to talk about it?

Not right now. But thank you.

Aiden didn't press further, and she was grateful for that.

As the movie played on, Serafina found herself glancing around the room at her brothers, her parents, and the life she was slowly rebuilding. And though the road ahead still felt uncertain, she realized she wasn't walking it alone anymore.

Maybe, just maybe, she was finally starting to believe that she deserved to be loved.