Having a father like Luis, who was either cheating on his mother or beating the hell out of him was a living nightmare.
"This would be their new home?"
Dante stomach dropped as the cab stopped in front of a towering apartment building, its rusty sign barely readable, the paint look dull and mud were smugged all over the wall.
Everything looked lifeless. It wasn't home. Not even close.
"We're here," his mother, Rosa, said with forced excitement, turning around to meet his eyes. "Our new beginning. Now you can see the city."
People rushed by, horns blared, and the city felt loud, much louder than what he was used to.
Dante didn't respond. Luis, a tall intimidating man who his mother was unfortunate to have married, sat in the front seat, scrolling through his phone.
He had only looked up to either shout at him or Rosa during their ride, but most of the time, he was on his phone.
Dante knew what that meant. His father's mind was elsewhere, probably with another woman.
It was his sad reality.
"Come on, Dante," Rosa nudged him, her shoulder barely touching his chest. He was tall just like his father. "Let us go inside and unpacked." Rosa said as she stepped out of the car.
Dante sighed, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as he stepped out onto the sidewalk. Luis followed them, still glued to his phone.
Rosa's smile faltered for a second before she pushed open the apartment door. Rosa bit her lip, looking between her husband and son. "I am sure the inside will be better," she said.
But she was wrong. The inside wasn't much better than the outside. The elevator creaked as they rode to the sixth floor, the narrow hallway smelled of something burnt, and the door to their new apartment jammed before Rosa managed to push it open.
Dante dropped his bag in his new room, which was barely large enough for a bed and a desk. The walls were blank, the window facing another building. No luxurious view to calm him down. This wasn't the city he expected.
"Do you like it?" his mother asked, standing in his doorway.
He shrugged. "It's fine."
"It's...cozy," she said, trying to get a smile from him.
"Sure."
Luis walked in, barely glancing at the place. "I've got a meeting. I will be busy in my room so nobody should disturb me," he muttered and walked out.
"Your father's…busy with work. You know how it is."
Dante didn't answer. He knew better. "Yeah. Work."
"Tomorrow is your first day of school. Are you excited?" she asked, Dante could tell she was anxious for him. "I believe you'll make friends."
"Sure, I guess," Dante replied.
Rosa sighed, "Dante, how about we order pizza tonight? A little celebration?"
"Sure." Dante dropped his backpack on the bed, He wasn't hungry. He just wished he was anywhere else but here.
***
Dante stood in front of his new school, trying to blend in with the crowd of students rushing past him. He tugged at his hoodie, hoping it would make him disappear.
No one had looked at him yet, but he knew he was an easy target with his dark-rimmed glasses and wornout backpack.
The school was huge compared to his old one. He didn't know anyone. Didn't want to. All he had to do was survive the first day without being noticed and maybe he would be able to stay invisible forever.
But as he turned the corner, a group of boys stood by the lockers, talking loudly. One of them spotted him.
"Hey, you!" A voice cut through the noise. Dante froze, not wanting to look at the person. He knew what was coming.
He heard footsteps and the guy grinned, blocking his way. "You can't talk? What's your name?"
"Dante," he mumbled.
"Dante, huh? What kind of name is that?" The guy exchanged glances with his friends, who snickered. "You lost or something?"
Dante glanced around, hoping someone, anyone would help him, but no one even looked their way. He swallowed when nobody stopped them. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine though. You looked broke and dumb too," the guy said.
Laughter erupted from the group, and Dante felt his face flush with embarrassment. He wanted to disappear, sink into the floor and never come back.
Dante didn't respond, keeping his eyes on the floor.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," the guy said, stepping closer. "You a nerd or something?"
One of his friends snickered. "He looks like one."
He tugged at the hood of his sweatshirt, wishing he could just vanish. Maybe if he stayed quiet, they'd get bored and move on.
"Come on, nerd. What's in the backpack?" the tall guy asked, reaching for it.
Dante stepped back, gripping the straps tighter. "Nothing."
"Nothing?" The guy raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. He shoved Dante lightly, making him stumble. "Come on, let me see."
Dante's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't want to fight. He wasn't good at standing up for himself. Never had been.
"What's your problem?" the tall guy sneered, stepping closer, his voice dropping lower. "You too good to talk to us?"
Dante swallowed hard, shaking his head. "No, I just…"
Before he could finish, the guy shoved him harder, and Dante's back slammed into a locker. Pain shot through his shoulder, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing him hurt.
"Anyway, watch where you're going, loser."
The group walked off, still laughing, leaving him alone in the hallway. He swallowed the lump in his throat and kept walking, head down.
Dante bit the inside of his cheek, fighting back the tears that burned at the corners of his eyes.
After school, Dante slumped at the kitchen table, picking at an apple.
"How was your first day?" Rosa asked, sitting down across from him.
Dante shrugged. "It was fine, Mom."
"Just fine?" She leaned forward, concern etched on her face.
He nodded, not wanting to get into it. "Just fine."
"You'll make friends, Dante. You always do. It just takes time."
"I guess."
There was a long pause. Rosa glanced at the door, waiting, hoping her husband would walk in. But the silence stretched on. She reached across the table and squeezed Dante's hand. "I'm proud of you."
"For what?"
"For being brave. This move…this new school…it's a lot. But you're doing great."
Dante forced a smile. "Thanks, Mom."
Just then, the front door opened, and Luis walked in, tossing his keys onto the counter. He barely glanced at them, heading straight to the fridge for a beer.
"How was work?" Rosa asked, her voice hopeful.
"Busy," Luis grunted, taking a long swig from the bottle.
Dante watched the exchange, his stomach twisting. He knew what his dad's "busy" meant. He knew the late-night phone calls, the text messages, the lies. It wasn't work keeping him late.
"You're going to be late for dinner every night now?" Dante asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Luis frowned, finally looking at his son. "What's your problem?"
"No problem, Sir" Dante muttered, turning his attention back to his apple, fuming inside.
"Then don't give me attitude," Luis snapped. "I'm working to pay for this place, you know."
Dante clenched his fists under the table. Rosa's eyes flicked between them, tension rising
in the air. She placed a hand on Dante's shoulder.
"Dante, why don't you go finish your homework?" she suggested softly.
"Yeah, whatever," Dante mumbled, standing up and heading to his room.
He wouldn't know until later that his life and the world was about to change.