The apartment felt different that evening — quieter, heavier, like the walls themselves were holding their breath. You sat on the edge of the couch, hands folded in your lap, eyes tracing the pattern of the rug for the hundredth time. Everything smelled unfamiliar: clean laundry, espresso, someone else’s home.

Across the room, Damiano leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. He’d been pretending not to stare, pretending this was all normal — but his jaw was tight, his foot tapping softly against the floor.

"She’s nervous," his mother said gently, setting a cup of tea in front of you. "You don’t have to be afraid here, sweetheart."

You nodded, even though your throat felt too tight to speak.

Damiano finally pushed himself off the doorframe and stepped closer, stopping a careful distance away, like he wasn’t sure you were real either.

"You can take my room if you want," he said, a little too quickly. "I mean— Jacopo won’t care if I crash with him for a while."

Jacopo snorted from the kitchen. "I will absolutely care."

That earned a small, surprised laugh from you — the first sound you’d made all evening. Damiano noticed immediately. His shoulders eased, just a little.

"You don’t have to decide anything tonight," his father said calmly. "We just wanted you to know… you’re safe now. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own anymore. And of course you will get your own room, we won't make you live in boys' room."

The word safe landed strangely in your chest. You weren’t sure you trusted it yet.

Later, when the adults drifted into quiet conversation, Damiano found himself sitting beside you on the couch, closer than before but still careful. He glanced at you sideways, then looked away again.

"So," he said softly, "guess that makes me your annoying brother."

You swallowed, then finally met his eyes. "You don’t seem that annoying."

He huffed a quiet laugh. "Give it time."

There was a pause — not awkward, just full. He picked at a loose thread on his sleeve before speaking again.

"I didn’t know how to act," he admitted. "I don’t want to mess this up. You’ve already been through enough. I've never had a sister before."