Page 32 of Niccolo

Condescended to…

But never physically in danger.

Until now.

“Let me out of here or I’ll scream,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

He stared me down, enraged –

But he eventually removed his hand.

I opened the door and quickly stepped into the hallway.

“She won’t react the way you think she will,” he called after me as I nearly ran down the hall.

“I guess we’re about to find out,” I shot back without looking over my shoulder.

15

Unfortunately, he was right.

She didn’treact atalllike I thought she would.

I rode home on the bus alone and went up to our apartment. I found my mother working on her computer, a full glass and an empty bottle of white wine sitting on the desk beside her.

“Mama, we need to talk,” I said breathlessly.

“Go ahead,” she said as she clicked her mouse, changing the color of some text in Photoshop.

“I need you to look at me.”

“I can hear you just fine,” she said in a bored voice as she continued to work.

I gritted my teeth, then spat out, “Papa’s having an affair with a girl at the university. Maybe one of his students. I saw them kissing.”

My mother froze.

There was a long silence…

And then she swiveled around in her office chair to look at me.

“You think I don’t know?” she asked bitterly.

I stared at her in shock.

She chuckled – a dark, angry sneer. “Look at your face. I’ve known for years, Sofia.”

My mind reeled. I wasn’t exactly thinking straight when I asked, horrified, “He’s been seeing her… foryears?!”

“NO,” my mother said contemptuously. “It’s a new girl every single year. How do you thinkwemet? In fact, how do you think we hadyou?”

I wanted to vomit.

I didnotwant to hear anymore –

---