Chapter2

#Chapter2

September 2019

Don't panic.

Do.

Not.

Panic.

You'll figure something out Angelica.

The bench I was currently sitting on was cold and uncomfortable beneath me.

It had been two months.

Although it seemed like an eternity had passed.

Just two months.

Since my mother had finally succumbed to her cancer.

Since I had left that godforsaken place.

I'd sold my mother's wedding ring and my pendant for money but even that had run out.

I had no food. No money.

No home.

The tears threatened to spill but I held them back

I clutched the envelope in my hands to my chest. It was the only piece of my mother I had left.

Inside the envelope there was a letter and a single photograph.

When you looked at the photo you couldn't help but smile. You'd see the faces of a happy family. A father, a mother their son and their daughter. Looking so content, peaceful.

The letter on the other hand was a different story. It was tragic, really, but for some odd reason I found myself reading it over and over again. Perhaps it was because I felt like it was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.

My eyes automatically started skimming through the lines;

/"To my dearest daughter I told the nurse to give you this letter if I didn't make it, so if you're reading this I have already left you.

I want you to do two things for me,

First I want you to go to my room, search the floor beneath the bed for a loose floor board. You'll find a wooden box beneath it, inside that box there's some jewelry and a picture. Take it.

Next, I want you to pack your things and leave home.

Home. That's not what I should call this place.

This isn't what a home is supposed to be like. This place is a nightmare.

I am so sorry I brought you here. At the time it seemed like the best decision, by the time I realized that it wasn't, it was too late to turn back.

I know the only reason you stayed here was because of me. There were times when I wanted to beg you to leave me here and run as far away as you could but I was too much of a coward to do that. I wasn't ready to let you go.

Now that I'm gone. I know there's nothing for you here.

Nothing but pain and suffering. I know it's all my fault. I hope that you'll be able to forgive me one day.

I want you to go somewhere far away Angelica.

I want you to go back to Italy.

I want you to find your father, darling. Show him this picture. Tell him about me, about how we got here, everything. He just has to look at you to believe you.

I know it won't be easy and I am so sorry for that.

I wish I was here with you.

I wish I could turn back time and undo my mistakes but I can't. It has to be you.

Angelica, you are strong. Stronger than anyone I know.

And you are brave.

I hope you know that everything I did was because I loved you.

I will always be with you./"

I tried to swallow the growing lump in my throat. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand furiously trying to get rid of the moisture that had managed to escape.

I read the name over and over again.

My father's name.

A strangers name.

I didn't remember anything about my father or brother, my mother had always avoided talking about them I knew it was because it caused her too much pain.

I knew my brother was dead. He had been killed and I had been there when it happened. Everything else about my biological father and brother was a blur.

The doctor said I had psychogenic amnesia, a memory loss condition associated with severe psychological trauma. My condition was undoubtedly due to the events that had taken place thirteen years ago, events that lead to the murder of my brother and my mother leaving my father.

My hands shook. All I wanted to do was scream.

/"You asked me to come here to Verona, Italy and I did. But you didn't tell me what I was supposed to do once I got here Mama./" I whispered. /"The only thing I know about my father is his name, I can't even remember him. How am I supposed to find him? And even if I do find him what makes you so sure he'd believe a goddamn photograph which could have easily been stolen or forged./"

I can't believe you actually left me here in this mess.

What am I supposed to do?

Where am I supposed to go?

How am I going to survive...

/"This is a huge mistake./" A man's squeaky voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

There was a cold chuckle.

/"Non lo penso, amico mio/" (I don't think so, my friend)

I shoved the envelope in my bag pack and slowly got up from where I was sitting. I followed the sound of the voices. The feeling of dread settled deep in my chest.

The voices came from an alley just a few feet away from here I was.

I plastered myself against the wall and peeked.

There were four men in total. Three of them wore black suites and sunglasses and they surrounded the fourth man.

/"I'm sorry. Please give me another chance. I'll do anything./" I could see that the man was shaking badly, he was terrified.

/"Mi spiace che il capo abbia detto di non avere più possibilità./" (Sorry, but the boss said no more chances.) The man in the suite who had blonde hair replied.

My eyes widened in horror when I saw him retract a revolver from his back pocket. He aimed it straight at the trembling man's chest.

My heart thudded in my chest wildly.

The police.

I needed to call the police.

My hands were shaking badly as I took out my cell phone from my bag.

Bang!

The sound of the gunshot resonated.

I had to clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming.

I dared to look again and the scene in front of me made bile rise up in my throat.