"In the world of perpetual unfamiliarity, the tomorrow me is the first and the last stranger I meet, every day." -Kanna Kumar Siripurapu

I woke up to an unfamiliar feeling. Warmth. I slowly open my eyes to see an unfamiliar yet beautiful room. Where am I? Oh, God did I get kidnapped? Maybe I should have asked for some sort of identification from David. But he seemed really nice though. I then hear some bickering behind the door.

"I want to wake her up," one voice said nonchalantly.

"No, no, no that is really messed up Alessandro you got to see her last night and kiss her goodnight. Therefore, it is time for her to spend some time with her favorite big brother. Besides, dad asked me to wake her up for breakfast, you just came along." Another person said in a whiny voice. "Sorry fratello, but I am the eldest, so I decided that I get to wake up our preziosa sorellina. Also, I am her favorite big brother." The one whose name is apparently Alessandro answered. I wonder what language they're speaking, maybe Spanish. The door opens and reveals two scary and unfamiliar men. We all look curiously at each other. I remembered that John and Larissa didn't like it when I looked at them, so I quickly looked down at my lap. Then the man whose name I still don't know spoke up, "Goodmorning, sole." (fratello-brother, preziosa sorellina- precious little sister, sole-sunshine)

Should I say something back? One of Larissa and John's rules was never to speak unless spoken to. And I was just spoken to, but should I forget about stranger danger? I looked up to take a quick glance at the two men who were looking at me hopefully. They may look scary, but they don't seem mean. "He-hello" I whispered. I wasn't sure if they heard me, so I looked up and saw their faces in complete awe. "You're so adorable!" the unnamed man squealed. Suddenly he came running at me. Is he going to hit me? I started shaking a little bit at that thought. As he stopped in front of me and opened his arms out. I flinched. However, he didn't seem to notice but I think Alessandro did as he furrowed his eyebrows with a look of confusion on his face. The unnamed man then did something I never expected. He hugged me.

I tensed a little at first but soon relaxed in the embrace. His embrace was warm and comforting. I had never met this man before, yet his hug felt so familiar. So natural to me. Should I ask for his name? Would he consider me rude? Then again, he is hugging me. "Um...What's your name?" I questioned. He pulled back from the hug with a look of what seemed to be hurt in his eyes, but it soon disappeared and was replaced by a look of joy once again.

"My name is Mateo, piccolo un" he stopped talking and pointed behind him where the other man stood. "His name is Alessandro. We came to get you for breakfast and to meet the rest of the family." Mateo said with a smile lingering on his face. He holds his hand out towards me with his smile still there. Honestly, why in the world is he smiling so much? Maybe I should call a doctor. Mateo is looking from me to his hand, with an expectant look on his face. Wait, does he want me to hold his hand. No surely, he doesn't, no one would want to hold my hand. I'm worthless, that's what Larissa always told me anyway. Perhaps they don't think that way. I hesitantly put my hand in his. At this Mateo's smile grows even more. I'm getting concerned. Is smiling too much a medical condition? (Piccolo un-little one)

I get up from the bed with Mateo's hand still in mine. We walk out the room following Alessandro. Alessandro leads us to two very big doors. He pushes them open with what looked like ease. He must be strong; those doors look like they weigh 50 pounds! I make a mental note to never get on his bad side. From what he just did and from what he looks like he could probably do 3 times as much damage to me compared to John and Larissa combined.

I look to see what's inside the doors only to be greeted with a room full of a lot of men and they didn't notice us at first, lost in their conversations. Alessandro clears his throat, and everyone turns to us. Their eyes quickly fall on me as do smiles on some of their faces.