The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the hospital room as Alessandro sat beside Fina's bed, his hand wrapped gently around hers. Isabella was perched on the edge of the chair, watching her daughter's pale face for any sign of movement.

Her brothers lingered nearby, each dealing with their emotions in their own way. Antonio stood by the window, his fists still clenched as he stared at the darkening sky. Enzo leaned against the wall, his jaw tight as he watched Fina's slow, steady breathing. Luca and Dante sat on the couch, Dante curled up with his head on Luca's shoulder. Matteo hovered near the door, arms crossed, his face an unreadable mask.

The quiet was deafening. No one dared speak, afraid that any noise might disturb the fragile peace in the room.

Fina stirred slightly, a small groan escaping her lips. All heads turned toward her at once. Isabella shot up from her chair, her eyes wide with hope.

"Fina?" she whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face.

Fina's eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked slowly, trying to focus. "Mamma..." Her voice was hoarse, barely audible.

Isabella's tears spilled over as she cupped Fina's face. "Oh, my sweet girl. You're awake. You're here."

Fina's lips quirked into the faintest of smiles before she winced, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. "Hurts..."

Alessandro leaned forward, his own voice thick with emotion. "Shh, tesoro. Don't try to talk too much. Just rest."

Antonio stepped closer, his usual stoic demeanor faltering as he knelt beside the bed. "You scared us, Fina," he said softly. "You really scared us."

Tears welled in Fina's eyes, and she whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Don't," Enzo interjected, his voice firm. "Don't apologize. Just... don't do that again." He quickly looked away, wiping at his face.

Luca wrapped an arm around Dante, who was trying and failing to hold back tears. "We're here for you, Fina," Luca said gently. "Whatever you need, we'll get through this together."

Matteo stepped forward, his expression softening as he placed a hand on her ankle over the blanket. "We love you, sis. Don't ever doubt that."

Fina's gaze shifted between her family, her heart aching with guilt and gratitude. She wanted to tell them everything—to apologize for shutting them out, to explain the storm of emotions she'd been drowning in—but the words felt stuck in her throat.

Isabella stroked her hair, her soothing touch grounding Fina in the moment. "One step at a time, cara mia," she murmured. "You don't have to carry everything alone anymore."

As the room fell into a comforting silence, the door opened quietly, and a nurse entered with a soft smile. "I'll need to check her vitals and make sure she's stable," she said gently.

The family reluctantly stepped back, giving the nurse space to work. Alessandro kissed Fina's forehead before standing, his shoulders still heavy with emotion. "We'll be right outside," he promised.

As they filed out, Isabella lingered for a moment longer, pressing a kiss to Fina's cheek. "I love you, sweetheart. Rest now."

Fina watched as the door closed behind them, leaving her alone with the nurse. Her body ached, her mind swirled with emotions, but for the first time in a long time, she felt the faintest glimmer of hope.

The soft hum of the hospital monitor was the first thing Fina heard as she blinked awake the next morning. The room was quiet, sunlight streaming through the blinds, bathing everything in a warm, golden glow. Her body still felt heavy, her limbs sluggish as she turned her head to the side.

Isabella was seated in the chair next to her bed, her head resting on the edge of the mattress, her hand still holding Fina's. Her face was peaceful in sleep, though faint lines of worry creased her brow.

Fina swallowed hard, her throat dry. The events of the previous day played back in her mind like a cruel reel: the overwhelming emotions, the decision to give up, the flatline, and her family's desperate faces as they surrounded her.

She bit her lip as tears welled up again, but the sound of the door creaking open pulled her from her thoughts. Matteo stepped inside quietly, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of tea and a small plate of toast. His eyes widened when he saw Fina awake.

"Hey," he said softly, setting the tray down on the small table. "You're up."

Fina nodded weakly. "Yeah," she croaked.

Matteo grabbed a cup of water from the bedside table, handing it to her carefully. "Sip this," he instructed, his voice gentle.

She obeyed, the cool water soothing her parched throat. As she handed the cup back, Matteo sat on the edge of her bed, his gaze studying her intently. "You scared the hell out of us, you know that?"

"I know," Fina whispered, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to—"

Matteo raised a hand, cutting her off gently. "I know you didn't mean to. But we almost lost you, Fina. That's not something any of us can handle."

Isabella stirred then, lifting her head and blinking groggily. When she saw Fina awake, she straightened quickly, her hand reaching for Fina's cheek.

"Good morning, my love," Isabella said softly, her voice laced with relief.

"Morning, Mamma," Fina murmured.

Isabella's lips trembled as she pressed a kiss to Fina's forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Fina admitted, her eyes heavy with unshed tears. "And... guilty."

Isabella frowned, brushing her daughter's hair back. "There's no need for guilt, cara mia. You were hurting. But now we move forward, together. No more hiding, okay?"

Fina nodded, but the tears spilled over. "I don't know how to fix this, Mamma. I don't know how to stop feeling like this."

Isabella wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a firm hug. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. That's why you have us—your family, your friends. We'll help you figure it out, one step at a time."

Matteo stood, giving Fina's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We're not going anywhere, sis. Not now, not ever."

The door opened again, and Antonio, Enzo, Luca, and Dante entered, their faces lighting up when they saw Fina awake. Dante immediately ran to her bedside

and threw his arms around her carefully, his small frame trembling against hers. "Fina," he whispered, his voice cracking, "don't ever scare us like that again. Please."

Fina wrapped her arms around him, her throat tightening as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Dante," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry."

Luca stepped closer, his hand resting on Dante's shoulder as he gently pulled him back. "Hey, let's not overwhelm her," he said softly, though his own eyes glistened with emotion. He leaned down and kissed Fina's forehead. "You scared us, but you're here now, and that's what matters."

Antonio crossed his arms, his expression a mixture of relief and sternness. "Luca's right, but we're not going to just let this slide. You're going to talk to someone about what's going on in your head, okay? No more shutting us out."

Fina nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "I promise."

Enzo, who had been standing quietly near the door, finally stepped forward. "You've got us, Fina," he said, his voice soft but firm. "We'll be here for whatever you need. Just... don't give up on us. Or yourself."

She looked at each of her brothers, her heart heavy with both gratitude and guilt. "I don't deserve you all," she murmured.

Matteo frowned, his tone sharp but not unkind. "Don't say that, Fina. You deserve everything good in this world, and we're going to make sure you remember that."

Isabella wiped her tears and kissed Fina's cheek again. "Your brothers are right. You've been carrying so much alone, but not anymore. We'll take it one day at a time, sweetheart."

The room fell into a quiet warmth, the weight of the previous week lingering but beginning to lift. Dante climbed into the chair next to Fina's bed, holding her hand tightly as if afraid to let go. The others stayed close, their presence a protective shield around her.

Finally, Alessandro entered the room, his usually composed face lined with exhaustion and worry. His eyes scanned the room before landing on Fina, and in an instant, his tough exterior cracked. He moved toward her slowly, his hands trembling slightly as he crouched by her bedside.

"Tesoro," he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion. "You scared your old man."

Fina's lip quivered, and tears slipped down her cheeks again. "I'm so sorry, Papà."

Alessandro reached up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing away her tears. "Don't apologize. Just promise me you'll fight. Promise me you'll never let yourself go through this alone again."

"I promise," she whispered, her voice breaking.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, his own tears falling freely now. "We're going to get through this, Fina. All of us, together."

Antonio cleared his throat, his voice gruff but tinged with emotion. "And you'd better believe we're not letting you out of our sight for a while."

The room filled with quiet laughter, though the heaviness of the moment still lingered. Dante held Fina's hand tighter, as if anchoring her to the present.

Fina looked around at her family, her heart swelling with gratitude despite the guilt and pain still tugging at her. "Thank you," she said quietly, her voice filled with raw emotion. "For not giving up on me."

Alessandro shook his head. "Never, tesoro. Never."

As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, the family settled into the room, their presence a constant reminder that Fina wasn't alone. Though the path ahead was uncertain, one thing was clear she had a family that would move heaven and earth to see her through it.

a/n

hey lovelies sorry for not being able to update the story, I've been very busy with the second term of junior year (11 grade) and the work has been piling up . sooo yeah . not proof read either so.. yeah