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TRAUMA
ADRIANNA ARLETTE CARVALHO
monday, june 29th
adrianna's crib ━━ 8:57 am
in the gentle light of early morning filtering through her bedroom window, adrianna stood before her mirror.
with practiced care, she carefully oiled her luscious locks, coaxing each strand to gleam with vitality. as her fingers worked through her hair, she couldn't help but admire the way the light caught the subtle highlights, casting a halo of shimmering radiance around her.
" hm, i look good," she murmured to herself, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
next came the delicate task of fluffing and styling, her fingers moving with precision and fluidity. with each gentle adjustment, her hair seemed to come alive, cascading in soft waves around her shoulders. she paused for a moment, taking in the sight before her.
" should i style it?" she questioned herself softly. " nah," she said, eyeing herself in satisfaction.
she was dressed in a sleek black backless bodysuit that accentuated her slight curves. the simplicity of her attire was complemented by the striking statement of her footwear, a pair of jordan oreo 4s.
" perfect," she breathed, admiring her reflection.
stepping back to appreciate her handiwork, adrianna couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.
with one final glance in the mirror, she flashed herself a confident grin before making her way back into her room.
adrianna grabbed her school bag and her house keys, making sure to tuck her phone into her pocket before going downstairs and heading out the front door.
adrianna hated the fact that she couldn't see kaleb or journey before she left for school. but what she hated even more was the fact that kaleb was almost never home.
the few times he was at home, he claimed that he was out 'handling business'.
the cool morning air brushed against her skin as she stepped outside. placing her phone on the ledge, she made a quick video for instagram.
since she's been here, adrianna found her love for social media. she was even considering becoming an instagram influencer and/or a youtuber.
adriii posted 3 mins ago
liked by thefaceofharlem, sugarhill_ddot, itsbelll, journeymarcella, whereskay and 19k others...
adriii: outfit of june 29th #ootd
creator disabled comments^
adrianna made her way down the now familiar streets, to go to the train station. she had barely gone a few blocks when her phone buzzed in her pocket, dd's name flashing on the screen.
incoming call from dd 😈
accept | decline
" hi, good morning, dd!" she chirped.
dd cleared his throat. " yo, adri, notti's wants you ta come over," he told her. his voice sounded srained.
adrianna furrowed her eyes brows, looking at her phone, before placing it back to her ear. " why? shouldn't you guys be going to school now?"
" he sick, we think he got da flu? but we'on know fasho," he said. " he keeps askin' fa you. can you come ova?" he asked her.
adrianna's heart skipped a beat at the news. without hesitation, she promised to come over right away, her mind already racing with worry for notti.
adrianna paused. she had to check with kaleb first. she hovered over her phone, her thumb hesitating over the call button.
she knew she had to make a decision, but the weight of it pressed down on her. finally, with a deep breath, she tapped in her brother kaleb's number.
" hi kaleb," she greeted as he picked up.
" wassup, sis?" kaleb's voice crackled through the line.
adrianna paused, unsure of how to broach the subject. " um, listen, notti's sick today, and i was thinking ... could i maybe skip school today to stay with him?"
there was a brief silence on the other end as kaleb considered her request. " hmm, ion know, adri. you know you gotta keep up wit ya studies nd shit,"
" yes, i know, but he's really not feeling well," adrianna insisted. although adrianna loved school, she wouldn't mind giving it up to be there with notti.
" it's the second-last day of school, we're not even going to be doing anything productive,"
kaleb sighed. " aight, aight. i guess it's cool dis once. but dis tha first and last time, aii?"
adrianna couldn't help but grin in relief. " thank you, kaleb! thank you so much!"
" yeah, yeah, just make sure you take care of notti," kaleb replied, his voice softening.
" of course, i will. thanks again," adrianna said before hanging up.
with her brother's blessing, adrianna felt a weight lift off her shoulders. she knew she had made the right decision, and she was determined to take care of notti no matter what.
with newfound purpose, adrianna quickened her pace, her steps echoing against the pavement as she made her way to the nearest cvs.
stepping inside, she navigated the aisles with purpose, grabbing bottles of medicine, pain relievers, water, orange juice, and vitamin c.
at the checkout counter, adrianna waited anxiously as the cashier scanned her items.
" look like someone ain't feelin' well," the cashier remarked with a sympathetic smile. " 17.99,"
adrianna pursed her lips, pulling out a twenty dollar bill. " yeah, my best friend doesn't feel to well," adrianna replied, offering a small smile of appreciation. " keep the change,"
with her purchase complete, adrianna rushed out the door, eager to reach notti's side as soon as possible.
as adrianna left the store, her arms laden with supplies for notti, she set off towards his house with determined strides.
the sun cast a warm glow over the quiet neighbourhood, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees lining the streets.
with each step, adrianna's thoughts were consumed by worry for notti.
she couldn't shake the image of him lying sick in bed. she quickened her pace, eager to reach him as soon as possible.
as she approached notti's house, adrianna's heart pounded with anticipation. she climbed the front steps and rang the doorbell, her fingers trembling slightly with nerves.
moments later, the door swung open, revealing dd standing on the other side. his expression was somber as he stepped aside to let adrianna inside.
" he's upstairs," dd said quietly.
adrianna nodded, her stomach churning with anxiety as she followed dd up the stairs to notti's room. with each step, her heart felt heavier, the weight of notti's illness pressing down on her.
as adrianna entered notti's room, her eyes quickly found him lying in bed, wrapped in blankets with a feverish flush on his cheeks. concern flooded her senses, but as she approached, notti managed a weak smile.
she smiled, but then pouted seeing him.
" hey, addy," he muttered, his voice slighly hoarse from sickness but filled with warmth at seeing her.
adrianna's worry eased slightly at the sight of notti's smile. she sat down beside him, reaching out to brush his hair off his forehead gently.
" hi, baby. how are you feeling?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.
notti shrugged weakly. " i been feeling chilly nd shit. i got a cough, my throat sore, my nose runny and my fucking muscles hurt," he described.
" awn, i'm sorry," she pouted, sitting beside him on the bed. " it's just the flu? you don't have cancer?" she asked, already overthinking.
notti laughed a little. " nah, i'm good," he replied licking his lips.
relief washed over adrianna as she realized that notti's illness wasn't as serious as she had feared. she reached for the supplies she had brought, setting them down on the bedside table.
" let's get you feeling better," she said softly, opening the cvs bag.
she carefully prepared the medicine and pain relievers, following the instructions on the labels with meticulous care.
she poured a glass of water, its coolness a small comfort against the warmth of the room, and placed it within notti's reach on the bedside table.
" here you go, ethan," she murmured softly, offering him the medicine and a gentle smile.
notti accepted the medicine with a snall nod, his movements slow and deliberate. adrianna watched closely as he swallowed the pills, her heart clenching with each gulp.
once the medicine was taken, adrianna reached for the bottle of vitamin c, unscrewed the cap and carefully counted out the recommended dosage. she handed notti the orange-flavoured tablets, a hint of sweetness to combat the bitterness of the medicine.
" take these too, baby," she urged gently, her voice laced with concern.
notti nodded, popping the tablets into his mouth and washing them down with a sip of water. adrianna watched as he drank, her gaze never leaving his face as she waited for any signs of discomfort.
with the medicine and vitamin c taken care of, adrianna turned her attention to the pain relievers.
she measured out the appropriate dosage, pouring the liquid into a small cup before handing it to notti.
" drink this too," she instructed softly, her tone gentle yet firm.
notti obeyed without protest, his trust in adrianna evident in the way he followed her instructions without question.
once the pain reliever was consumed, adrianna encouraged notti to drink more water, knowing that staying hydrated was crucial for his recovery.
she held the glass to his lips, her touch light and reassuring as she urged him to take small sips.
" there you go," she murmured, her voice a soothing melody in the quiet room. as notti drank, adrianna watched him with a mixture of worry and relief. " good," she mumbled, seeing that the glass of water was now empty.
" you hungry?" she asked him. " i can go make you something to eat,"
" thank you, mama,"
- 15 MINUTES LATER
adrianna carefully poured water into a pot and set it on the stove, the gentle sound of the flame beneath it filling the kitchen.
as she waited for it to boil, she gathered the ingredients for the soup, chopping vegetables and slicing chicken with practiced ease.
humming softly to herself, adrianna stirred the simmering broth, the aroma of herbs and spices filling the air.
she added the noodles, watching as they softened in the liquid, transforming into a comforting meal that she knew would bring notti some relief.
once the soup was ready, adrianna ladled it into a bowl, the steam rising in delicate wisps. she added a sprinkle of parsley on top for garnish before carrying it upstairs to notti's room.
" i made you some chicken noodle soup, it's gonna help your cough and sore throat," adrianna said softly as she entered the room, a warm smile on her lips.
noti looked up from his bed, a tired but grateful expression on his face. " thank you, addy" he murmured, his voice still weak from illness.
adrianna settled herself beside notti, gently holding the bowl of soup as she helped him sit up. she blew on a spoonful of soup to cool it before offering it to him.
" here, take a sip," she encouraged, her eyes filled with concern as she watched him.
notti took a cautious sip, the warmth of the broth spreading through him as he swallowed. he smiled gratefully at adrianna, feeling comforted by her presence.
as adrianna continued to feed him spoonfuls of soup, she couldn't help but admire the way notti's eyes sparkled, even in his weakened state.
eventually, notti finished the soup, his eyelids growing heavy with exhaustion.
adrianna carefully set the empty bowl aside before tucking him into bed, arranging the blankets around him with gentle hands.
" go to sleep, baby, you're tired," adrianna whispered, her voice barely above a whisper as she brushed a strand of hair away from notti's forehead.
notti nodded, his eyes already drooping with sleep. " thank you, addy, fo helpin' me nd shit," he murmured, his words slurred with fatigue.
adrianna leaned down to press a soft kiss to notti's forehead, her heart swelling with love for him. " you dont have to say thank you, e, i'll always be here for you," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
as notti drifted off to sleep, adrianna settled herself beside him, wrapping her arms around him in a tender embrace. she held him close, feeling the steady rhythm of his breathing lull her into a peaceful slumber.
in the quiet of notti's room, surrounded by the warmth of their love, adrianna and notti slept soundly, knowing that together, they could weather any storm that came their way.
- 30 MINUTES LATER,
after notti had been asleep for a while, adrianna gently disentangled herself from his embrace, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber.
she leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his forhead. " sleep well, baby," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.
notti shifted slightly in his sleep, a contented sigh escaping his lips.
with a soft smile lingering on her lips, she quietly slipped out of bed, her feet padding softly across the floor as she tiptoed around the room.
as adrianna surveyed the space, her eyes fell upon the scattered tissues strewn across the bedside table and floor, remnants of notti's sickness.
" poor baby," she murmured, shaking her head.
without hesitation, she bent down to gather them, her movements gentle and precise as she disposed of them in the trash bin.
next, adrianna fetched a broom from the closet, the bristles whispering against the floor as she swept away the dust and debris that had accumulated in notti's room.
adrianna let out a sigh. she felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her, knowing that she was creating a clean and comfortable space for notti to get better.
once the floor was free of dirt and clutter, adrianna turned her attention to his laundry hamper. it was quite full.
with a determined spirit, adrianna gathered up notti's dirty laundry, careful not to disturb him as she worked. she sorted through the scattered garments, separating them into piles of colours and whites.
she then carefully stripped off the sheets and pillowcases, working around the boy who slept peacefully on the bed.
carrying the laundry basket down the stairs, adrianna made her way to the laundry room, the steady rhythm of her footsteps echoing through the house. she loaded the washing machine with notti's clothes, adding a generous scoop of detergent before starting the cycle.
as the machine hummed to life, adrianna leaned against the counter, her thoughts drifting back to notti upstairs.
she couldn't help but smile at the image of him sleeping peacefully, his presence filling her with a sense of warmth and contentment.
returning to notti's room, adrianna smoothed out the mattress protector and neatly tucked in the corners of the fitted sheet, her movements deliberate as she made the bed with precision.
she fluffed the pillows and arranged them just so, taking care to maintain the cozy atmosphere of notti's bedroom.
as she worked, adrianna couldn't help but steal glances at notti, who slept soundly amidst the soft folds of his blankets.
his peaceful expression filled her with a sense of tenderness, and she felt a surge of love for him that warmed her heart.
with the bed freshly made and the room tidied, adrianna surveyed her handiwork with a satisfied smile.
as she turned to leave the room, adrianna paused to press a gentle kiss to notti's cheek, whispering words of love and affection into the quiet of the room.
then, with one last glance at notti, she quietly closed the door behind her, leaving him to rest peacefully in the clean and tranquil space she had created.