Elena.
I shuffled through the piles of boxes and containers, sneezing occasionally as the dust tickled my nose. Finally, I found a box with Diego's name on it, my heart swelling with anticipation. But when I opened it, the box was empty. I sighed as I frantically searched through the other boxes to find what I was looking for, but to no avail. Where could it be? Where could this toy of his be?
Just then, Mrs. Cali walked in, her eyes scanning the room before resting on me. "Looking for something?" she asked, her tone curious.
"Yes," I replied, trying to hide my disappointment. "That childhood toy that Diego is so obsessed about, he told me about it and how it suddenly disappeared and he cried for it for days, he told me that it would make him so happy if he ever finds it again. I thought it would be in here, but the boxes are just empty."
"Oh, that," Mrs.Cali said with a knowing smile. "We put all of Diego's toys somewhere else to keep him from being reminded of his mother too much. I can show you where it is."
Relief washed over me as Mrs. Cali led me to another room very away from the one we were in, she walked away after pointing the door to me.
I took a deep breath and ventured down the dimly lit stairs leading to the storage room. It was a place that not many people dare to venture into because of its thick layers of dust and cobwebs, but I had to find that toy for Diego's upcoming birthday. The thought of the look on his face when he sees his long-lost toy again filled me with excitement.
As I made my way towards the storage room, I could already sense the musty smell that wafted towards me. It was as though the air itself was filled with dust, and I could feel it settling on my clothes and in my hair. The hallway leading up to the storage room was dark and narrow, and it felt like I was descending into the bowels of the earth as I walked down it.
Finally, I reached the door to the storage room. It was old and creaky, and I had to use some force to push it open. The room itself was cavernous, and it was filled with boxes and crates stacked haphazardly on top of each other. The light that filtered in from the windows was dim, and it made everything seem shadowy and ominous.
The air inside the storage room was thick with dust, and I could feel it coating the inside of my nose and mouth. The boxes and crates were covered in cobwebs, and it looked like they hadn't been touched in years. As I made my way further into the room, I could see that the shelves on the walls were also filled with boxes, and some of them were so old that they had begun to disintegrate.
The whole place was suffused with a sense of abandonment, as though it was a forgotten corner of the house that nobody ever bothered to visit. The only sounds were the rustling of the boxes as I moved them aside, and the occasional scurrying of a mouse in the shadows. I then started to look in all the boxes and then I saw where a small box is tucked away in a corner.
I opened it and there it was – the toy that Diego had treasured so much. I could not wait to see his face when I give it to him.
But then, just as I started to walk out of the room, I heard muffled sobs coming from the storage room. I recognized the sound of someone trying to hold back tears and my heart sank. It was Sofia, and my heart went out to her. I was hesitant to intrude on her privacy, but my concern for her well-being outweighed any reluctance.
I re-entered the room and saw her sitting on a stack of boxes, her face buried in her hands. She did not even notice me until I got closer. I could see her mascara running down her cheeks, and I felt a pang of sympathy. I knew what it was like to cry so hard that you can't control the tears.
I approached her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Sofia?" I asked softly. She looked up, surprised to see me. Her eyes were red and puffy, and I could tell that she had been crying for a while. I sat next to her, and she moved over slightly to give me some space.
I put my arm around her, and she leaned into me, sobbing uncontrollably. I stroked her hair and whisper soothing words, trying to calm her down. She still did not manage to stop crying, and I pulled away, offering her a tissue.
I took a step closer to Sofia, trying not to startle her, and offered her a gentle touch on the shoulder. "Sofia, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice hushed and soothing.
She looked up at me, and I could see that her eyes were puffy and red, as if she had been crying for hours. "I'm fine," she whispered, wiping away a stray tear from her cheek.
I nodded sympathetically, even though I don't really understand. Sofia had always been a bit of an enigma to me. But I knew what it's like to feel lonely and isolated, and I could imagine that it was even harder when you're part of a big, close-knit pack like this.
But I knew better than that. Sofia was hurting, and even though, I had my reservations about her, it still broke my heart to see her like this. "Please, Sofia, tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can help."
Sofia shook her head, her lips trembling. "It's nothing. Just leave me alone, Elena."
But I couldn't just leave her like this. I had to do something. "Please, Sofia, you don't have to go through this alone. Whatever it is, I promise I won't judge you. And I can also get the alpha to help on whatever it could be."
“Oh, mind your business for God’s sakes, will you? Your fake concern makes me puke, stop acting like you care about me when you are obviously happy at my predicament. At seeing me like this!” She said in an outburst and I was shocked.
“Sofia? I thought we were past this now? Did you not say that yourself? Was it all a lie too? Why would you think this is just a fake concern from me?” I asked, wanting to sincerely help her.
“Ugh, whatever! Just leave me the hell alone!” She snapped again and then walked out of the room.