…on the pet name El.ena & family dynamics.
The man who is her father ( but isn’t actually her father, she will find out later ) first calls her this name, shortening it from her full name. When he does, she is very little and delights at the adoration in his eyes. Her mother quickly catches on, and even after the birth of her younger brother and when he begins babbling, he begins to call her it, too.
They are the only to address her as such. They are the only ones she will permit to call her that. It is reserved for those she loves the most in the entire world.
Her mother and father begin fighting more often the older she gets. She isn’t sure of the reasons why, but often, her mother returns with bruises and tear-stained cheeks. When she looks at Hel.ena, she quickly looks away with shame and leaves the room. She doesn’t question her mother’s reactions, but remembers them and does not forget them.
Her mother begins to refer to her by her full name, and distances herself from her daughter. Maria does her best to care for her daughter, but Hel.ena is aware that what peace was between them is lost and it is at this point that she must grow up enough to stand on her own two feet. ( She is still her mother’s daughter and loves her dearly, but by the time she realizes the reason for Maria’s actions are meant to protect her from the brunt of Fr.anco’s wrath…it is too late. )
As the arguments escalate, the man who is not her father but she believes is, stops calling her Elena. Any adoration once visible in his eyes, diminishes. He only has contempt and disgust for her. He only calls her “sfiga,” or when looking at her mutters, “bastarda!” or “che sfiga.” She knows full well what he calls her. She puts the clues together, and finally realizes he is not her papa; he is nothing but a mad man who tolerates her existence.
The only person to continue to call her El.ena is Pi.no. He is also aware of the fighting and looks to her for answers, but she has none that she can give. She is still a child herself, and all Hel.ena can do is shield him from the worst of it. He is the only one permitted to call her that. It is reserved for him whom she loves most in the entire world.
❝ El.ena! Vieni qui! ❞ It is the first time in weeks, or is it months?, that her mother has called her that. Excitement compels her to answer her mother’s summons. Blooming happiness and hope lead her down the hallway.
Immediate, loud gunfire is heard. They are caught by surprise in the middle of their quaint family dinner—completely unaware. She is still too far down the hall, almost to the dining room when everything slows down. Or does it speed up? No matter the pace, everything is a blur and she cannot keep up.
She is aware of falling to the floor after bullets whizzing by her. She is not cognizant of anything hitting her, but something burns along the top of her left shoulder. She does not cry out, but remains prone.
The masked men flee. A lift of her head, and she tentatively crawls her way to the dining room. She does not cry out. She is focused and lets the adrenaline take effect. When she makes it to the doorway, she sees nothing but death and the end of all she held dear.
Everyone is gone.
No one is left.
She is all alone.
After burying her family, she does not permit any to call her El.ena—except for her Tio To.masso. Any who dare utter that name are met with something sharp against their throat.
She cannot bear the sound of it falling from other’s lips, since it was reserved for those she loved most in the world…and now, grown and on her own, she does not love any in the world. ( or, it is more fair to say…she makes it hard for any to love her, and dares not reciprocate since it’s far “easier” to be alone. )
