I

—Ruby! —Rose’s voice made me react as if a bolt of lightning had shot through my mind from wherever it came.

I spun around, startled by such a scream, and when I regained my focus, Ruby was gone; the balcony looked deserted.

—She left? —Even though she had been there just a second ago, I couldn’t understand how she had disappeared from one moment to the next.

I admit that moment haunted me all day; that melody wouldn’t stop playing in my head. Night had fallen again, and I was still absorbed in it.

—What kind of person is she? —I whispered to myself—. She’s so... unpredictable.

Suddenly, a notification made my phone jump. No one could have been so excited to receive a message from Tom.

[Chat: Tom CDC] 

Tom: How’s it going, Mia? Everything okay?

Mia: Tom, I’m in the attic, among the boxes.

Tom: Hahaha, that’s my fault, I’m sorry. I really appreciate you being able to adapt without making a drama.

—"Adapt," he says… —I muttered aloud, feeling a wheeze in my breathing.

I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but the dust was already depressing my lungs.

Mia: I don’t want to be rude, but... is there any chance of sleeping on a mattress that isn’t filthy?

Tom: Absolutely, Mia! The maintenance team will be there tomorrow to fix everything. In the meantime, send me a list of things that would make you feel comfortable there.

I took the opportunity to send him my entire folder of saved photos that I was never going to use; the ones as abandoned as fitness recipes or movies-to-watch lists. I sent the whole thing so he could choose what was possible.

Tom: Haha, got it! See you tomorrow!

I think I was more exhausted than the night before; the hunger, the effort of moving furniture, and the adrenaline crash finally made me pass out. In a blink, sleep overcame me and daylight returned.

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw were the four "maintenance ladies" standing silently at the edge of the bed, watching me—who knows for how many hours.

—Good morning, Miss Mia —one of them said.

I sat up, my heart racing at a thousand miles an hour. I understood it in that instant: everyone’s mission in this house was to kill me via a heart attack.

II

That morning I flew to the bathroom. I realized I had spent an entire day without washing up and that the previous day I had only moved around by stealth to avoid running into anyone.

That shower disinfected my miserable life for an hour.

At the sink, there was everything. I thought I wouldn't find a thing because the night before I hadn't even flipped the switch. But now... there were soaps of all kinds, skincare, salts, lotions... It seemed I had been allowed to be a "person" thanks to Luna.

I wasn't idealizing anything; the head of service had made it very clear:

—Miss Luna sent us to prepare your stay. You may take a bath and get to know the residence while we fix everything here for you. The young lady sends her apologies for not being able to see you sooner and asks us to tell you that she will come to see you very soon.

It felt like a dream, broken by the nightmare of Ruby’s voice calling me like a madwoman:

—Mia! Mia! MIAAAAH! —she bellowed from the foot of the stairs—. There’s something for you!

—Can you... stop screaming? —Rose asked, massaging her temple—. You’re going to make my head explode.

—Did you decide to give her a guitar? —Alice asked upon seeing a hard case arrive among the moving bundles.

—Don’t even try, Ruby —Rose said—. She doesn’t belong here; there’s no need for you to teach her anything.

—Hey, I’m just following orders. I’m as innocent as you guys —Ruby replied with that characteristic lightness of hers.

Before the workers could proceed to collect payment, Luna took the document one of them was holding.

—The receipt will be in my name. Take everything to the top floor, please —she requested, signing several pages without anyone questioning her.

When I sent all that to Tom, I never imagined he would take it so literally. The poor moving men couldn’t figure out how to maneuver to bring up my belongings—both the old and the new.

Then, one of them tripped.

—Watch out!... You’re going to break my stairs —Rose barked at them, trying to hide her temper in front of them.

Perhaps, if she hadn't opened her mouth, nothing would have happened, but the man got so nervous that the box slipped from his hands and ended up chipping the edge of one of the steps.

Right there, she harbored a little more resentment toward me. Just a pinch, nothing more.

—What did I just say! —Rose looked like she lost ten years of her life in that scream.

By that time, I was oblivious to what was happening downstairs. I stepped out of the bathroom and my room was different; it was so polished I could see my reflection in the wood. The ladies had worked magic.

The boxes were neatly tucked away in the lower section. The room had two levels: the bottom floor was spacious, and a small ladder led to a second floor. That was where I planned to set up my bed, next to the window seat; I’d use that corner every night to meditate on how to stay there with them without going crazy.

As I walked in, something caught my eye. Among the packages, a hard case stood out. A guitar.

I took the instrument, went up to the upper floor, sat in front of the window, and played a chord that doesn't exist.

—I like how it feels —I said aloud, feeling the vibration shivering in my fingers—. Could it be that I actually can do this?

Again, a classical yet rhythmic melody penetrated my room. I liked that they listened to those pieces so early, so, encouraged by the music, I decided to take advantage of the morning by setting up my things.

Although Tom offered to have the staff do it, I found it relaxing to do it myself, as I always had—and because, if they get on my nerves, I can drill the wall all the way through without hurting anyone.

In the middle of searching, I found a drill in the closet by the door and started my work. Rose did not like it.

Hell took over her rehearsal hall and reached my room when she burst in, hysterical, slamming the door.

—What are you doing now?! —she screamed at me—. How dare you use that infernal device in my house!

She kept shouting as the others appeared behind her.

—I was... um... —With only one day there, I was already weary of her—. My things arrived and I wanted to put them together.

—I’m dying… —Ruby exclaimed, doubled over in laughter.

—Mia... —Alice said, being so much herself that day that I still smile when I remember her—. You can’t use that here, you could hurt yourself. What if your hand slips? How would we help you?

—It’s true, it’s true —Ruby seconded, nodding—. The ambulance takes twenty minutes... and the private clinic is on the other side, on the other horizon. You won't make it alive.

—There is only one horizon... —Rose muttered, irate—. You damn ignoramus... that’s why it’s called the horizon! —she exploded.

—I’m sorry your mind is so closed it only lets you see one, Rosie —Ruby shot back, still laughing at me.

—If you’re going to live in the attic, stay still, stay quiet, like a piece of furniture. Do you understand? —Rose spat at me with a hatred that I managed not to let affect me. I could see clearly that her rage wasn't toward me; I saw clearly that this resentment was toward Tom.

—Nothing is going to happen to me. —I pulled the trigger of the drill and made the motor roar a couple of times—. I use it all the time; if I didn't know how to handle it, I would have drilled through my hand by now.

They all jumped back, covering their hands in panic. "Drilled through my hand" echoed in their heads, and after that, they didn't hear another word I said.

A spark lit up in Alice and the atmosphere shifted:

—Mia, I was recently sent a dozen wall mounts for my instruments. The installer is a bit clumsy and that’s why I’ve thought twice about it, but...

—The real truth is… —Ruby interrupted— Alice is traumatized because a year ago some guys dressed as delivery men snuck into Hellion’s house to take photos. But don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.

—I’m curious how you control it —I admitted.

—With the Roses.

—The Roses? —I asked, not understanding.

—The Roses... —she repeated, very sure of herself.

—So... I was wondering if you could help me install them, Mia —Alice continued.

—I want some too! You owe me —Ruby ordered, pointing at her—. I want to hang my guitars, my cuatro, my ukulele, my violas... everything.

—I don’t owe you anything, but I’ll give them to you anyway —Alice replied, slowly lowering the hand that was pointing a finger at her—. I only need four; you can have whatever is left.

—What do you say, Mine? Will you help us? —Ruby gave me a fake pout that was as adorable as it was irritating.

"If I take these opportunities to make them understand I’m not the useless person they think I am... maybe the intensity of their hatred will fade," I thought.

—Whenever you want —I replied, more uneasy than confident.

—I’ll expect you at noon. You know where my room is, right? —I nodded a thousand times—. Good —Alice said, giving an elegant flip of her hair before retreating.

—I don’t want her drilling at any hour —Rose complained, not wanting to leave just yet.

—Come on, come on —Ruby said, pushing her toward the exit—. Lizzie’s already gone; let’s go find her and I’ll leave you here fighting by yourself.

When they finally left, I was able to let out a sigh of relief and set the drill aside. I sat in my new favorite spot by the window and let myself be carried away by the view into nothingness; it was incredible how a few little birds could relax you in the face of so many unbalanced people.

I thought that, perhaps within that toxic positivity that helped me survive daily—not just inside this pigsty they threw me into, but in my relationship with them—there might be some chance of earning my place in the group.

—What the hell is that —I asked aloud, seeing an incoherent rappelling rope falling from the balcony on the other side of my sealed window.

—That belongs to Ruby —Luna answered from behind me.

I turned around incredulous, nervous, and blushing.

—Hello —she said with a smile, holding something I didn't want them to see; something I didn't understand why she had touched with her precious hands: my Nappoky keychain.