Rafaella sat in her expensive chair. Envelope in hand. Raf reconizged the paper. It was one of the last stationary that Mr. Ortega got. It was mostly sent out when special occasions were about to happen. Odd, she thought. Guadalupe never mentioned anything about a particular event happening at the estate. Rafaella nearly threw it out thinking it was some sort of mistake. The maids sending out the wrong stationary or other ideas crossed her mind.

Instead, Raf opened the envelope. It appeared to not be a joke after all. Raf casually read on. Her mouth working over time. A brunch for Lisa Delgado was to be held.

"What the fuck" she muttered glancing down at her calendar. To her surprise, it was mostly empty. Just like her these days. Raf hovered the pen over the date unsure of what to do. This whole thing seemed wrong. Why would Lupe host a brunch for Lisa? It made no sense to her. Nobody knew her or maybe that was the point in all of this nonsense. It must be some sick joke that she didn't understand. Nor did she feel the need to go. But on the other hand, she felt like it's been too long since she last went to the house, never mind been in the company of her sister for longer than a few seconds. Rafaella sighed and added the brunch to her calendar. She desperately needed to feel like her old self again. Raf was sick of feeling like everything was fine one moment and the next everything hit her all over again. It was like their deaths just hovered over her. she was withdrawn from everyone and everything - besides her work. She was good at her work. Enjoyed it, most times.

// day of the brunch

Rafaella made sure that she arrived an hour earlier than the rest of the guests. The house was filled with silence. Even the maids seemed to walk on eggshells. Their feet not making any sound.

Nina, the housekeeper, came down the stairs. Her voice gave out demands to the other maids or servants nearby. Her eyes lit up when they saw Rafaella. Nina probably didn't expect that Raf would actually come. They embraced in a hug. All of a sudden, the house became alive. The house felt like coming home again.

"Oh dear", Nina announced when she felt a tear drop on her hand. The embrace tightening for a few more seconds. "Guadalupe's in the kitchen" Nina told her. Rafaella's reaction was a chuckle. She wiped her eyes. "She learned to cook? Are we all going to get food poisoning today?" Raf joked. She knew that Lupe was an ok cook but never really had the chance to take those culinary talents to new levels.

"I think I should get myself together first" she told Nina while heading upstairs to her childhood room. Rafaella went past her parents' old bedroom. The feelings took over her body. One hand rested on the knob. Her fingers began to sweat. Rafaella let go and continued to her room. Rafaella heard the doorbell ring. She ignored it and sat at her old vanity. Some makeup and other items still littered the thing. Rafaella cleared off the space. Rafaella's head now littered the desk. Her arms outstretched. She didn't know how she was going to get through being in this house again. Deep inhales and exhales came out of her. She wished that Nina was still comforting her or that Lupe would find her like this. Crumbling in her old bedroom. Raf inhaled again and sat up looking at the extensive damage she caused to her makeup. Thankfully, she had some makeup already to be used and carried a few other items that might help in her purse. She fixed her face up.

There was an old glass cup near Rafaella's nightstand. Rafaella wasn't sure when the last time it was used but she didn't exactly care either. Raf took it into the bathroom with her. She briskly cleaned it and then added the water that she'd actually consume into it. She let a valium disolve on her tongue then chugged the water. There was no turning back now. She could hear the voices gathering below.

Rafaella practically jumped into her sister's arms. She wanted to say sorry, sorry for leaving her in this haunted mansion, and all the other things. But she knew now wasn't the time. Onlookers were watching. Raf casually stepped back and greeted those around her. Acting like the assistant host or some shit. The drug already taking over. A smile appearing as more people entered the Ortega household. Rafaella followed some into the patio overlooking the lush gardens. There were servants out there greeting people with overpriced wine or whatever those among the crowds wanted in that moment. Rafaella took what was offered her. She knew that she shouldn't take valium and then indulge in alcohol but right that moment she didn't care much. It turned out to be wine. The bitter taste greeted her. Raf took another glass from the platter.

One of the guests was telling a story about the Ortega family. Clearly, he didn't get the memo that one was in earshot.

"Please do go on. I love hearing about my life from strangers" her voice now going hostile. She had enough of this guy describing how the Ortega daughters were handling the latest death of her father. Rafaella wanted to throw her glass at him but chugged the remaining alcohol into her empty heart.

"I'm sorry, Rafaella. I didn't see you there" came Evan's voice. Raf had no idea why he was here. She knew that he didn't get along well enough with Lupe. She was positive that he didn't establish any kind of relationship with the Delgado clan.

Rafaella stumbled out to the old swing set kicking her heels off as she went. The wine glass becoming a part of her body, going to her lips and back again. I sat out on that swing set for a while.

Rafaella sat upright. The sun was in her eyes. Her old bed underneath her. Wine glass on the floor. The almost empty wine bottle was tipped over ontop of her nightstand. Across from that was a bottle of aspirin and Rafaella's empty glass from earlier held water in it. Rafaella squinted away from the light hitting her. She didn't remember staying the night. She didn't remember climbing thousands of stairs to reach her old bedroom. Hell, she didn't even remember seeing the actual wine bottle. The taste in her mouth reminded the both of them that wine indeed was served. Rafaella staggered out of the bed taking half the covers with her.

She pushed the intercom. "Nina?" Her voice croaked out. "Lupe?" She added. "Anyone?" She whispered. Rafaella went back to the bed. Nobody intercomed back nor did they check on her. Raf quickly took a shower and found some old hideous thing to wear. She had enough of smelling like a wine brothel, if there was such an establishment.

Rafaella tiptoed down the stairs looking for her beloved heels. She vaguely remembered leaving them somewhere close to the swing set but couldn't be sure. Raf headed that way. She slipped them on and went back in to search for Lupe. She wanted to ask how she got up those stairs and whatever else her hungover mind felt like asking. She was nowhere to be found. Rafaella found herself outside of her parents door again. This time she turned the knob, the door creaking a little. It scared her. She inhaled, took her heels off and left them outside near the door. Raf stepped in and closed it. She needed to feel close to someone but no one was there, typical. Rafaella fondled the picture of her parents on their wedding day. A huge sob was waiting to come out. She put the picture back down, closed the door gingerly behind her. Picked up her heels and ran out of the house and down the driveway. She only stopped when she was at her car. Raf fumbled in her purse to get the keys. Rafaella connected her phone to the cars bluetooth then peeled out of there.

"Send text to Conner" she yelled at the stupid car. She let it know that she wanted to see him and that she was driving over now. Once Rafaella was thinking clearer, she figured that she should give Lupe a message as well. A phone call would have been better but Raf was a mess and Lupe would just worry more.

"Send text to Lupe" she told it. Rafaella wasn't sure what to enclose but settled for saying "I love you" because she realized how she hasn't said those words in years to anyone. Rafaella shakily got out of the car and into Conner's bed where she shaked some more. Partily from being so exhausted and secondly due to all of the wonderful things he was doing to her. The things she told herself she didn't deserve but desperately needed.