Part 9

Another night had passed. I woke up early in the morning as usual and dressed in light clothes, not knowing that something unexpected would happen. I started by making Mrs. Serena's customary breakfast and carrying it into her room.

I came to find her half an hour before the usual time. But as soon as I walked into the room, I saw that she was awake this morning.

Good morning, my sweetheart.

I wished her a happy day with a small smile.

Even though the eyes that were looking at the deserted garden in the distance turned to me, I saw that there was no lightness in those eyes as usual.

"Why is this..?"

I approached her and inquired while touching her face.

She is still looking at me quietly. I thought that face was like a blank piece of paper. I noticed after staring at her for a while that those eyes were not working today, not even to hint at an answer.

"Hmm..!"

"Let's get clean, Mrs. Serena."

I left her in the wheelchair at a moment when her incredible change made my hurt heart melt even more. I started to feel the suspicion that they were silently saying, 'She has a grudge with me' until she cleaned up.

I cleaned her up, put her on the couch, and got ready to give her breakfast without taking anything from her. She did not eat enough food to fill her stomach like usual, and soon she started to drink a few sips of water and finish her diet.

"Are you even sick..?"

I asked, placing my hand on the forehead.

She gave the 'no' sign by closing her eyes and moving her head from side to side, and as soon as she took her medicine in the morning, she put her head on the bed cover and closed her eyes.

"Mrs. Serena.. I thought of going to San Luca Church.. After coming to the bungalow.. I missed going to church.. "

Without thinking about right or wrong, I told her. She gave me the go-ahead with a nod of the head while maintaining her position, which helped ease my mind.

"Federica will be coming in a little while, Mrs. Serena.. If you need anything, tell her.. I'll be back as soon as possible."

In the end, even though I said so, her expression did not change. Feeling that there was no point in staying here any longer, I left the room. Wearing a brown fur coat and a hat, I came downstairs without delay. Until Federica came, I leaned on the sofa in the hall and went towards the sound of the bungalow's bell ringing.

"Good morning, sister Amelya.. I came early today."

She raised her hands and said happily that she had fulfilled my request the previous day without fail.

"Thank you, Federica.. Take care of Mrs. Serena.."

I said, locked the gate after placing my hand on her head and allowing her to enter the bungalow, and then I turned around to leave for the church. The Church of San Luca, perched on the top of the hill about another mile from the Kassoli bungalow, overlooking the town, had been seen countless times, but I had never been there before.

I had heard two stories about the church of San Luca, which miraculously proved the grace of the Mother of God. That is, at a certain time, the whole of Italy was suffering from a severe drought, and at that time, the sky thundered when the group of people carrying the huge gold statue of the Mother of God sitting in the Church of San Luca, who is known as the Mother of San Luca, who is sitting in the hands of the baby Jesus, came down this mountain in a procession. I have heard that one story says that heavy rains ended the severe drought.

In the same way, the belief of another group is that a long time ago, there was a great flood in the whole of Italy, and at that time, when the procession of Our Lady in the church of San Luca came down the hill, that great flood receded slowly. So, I don't know which of these two stories will be true.

The procession carrying the statue of Our Lady San Luca is transported to the other significant church in Bologna during the first week of May each year, where it remains for a full week. A week later, on the next Sunday, the statue will be taken in a procession to the San Luca church, and on both occasions, a beautiful shower of flowers will fall on the earth, conveying the grace of the Mother to the hearts of people on earth.

"Hmm..!"

I took a deep breath and saw the Church of San Luca, about five hundred meters away. As I approached the top of the hill, I approached the village of small houses. Unlike in the middle of the road, here the crowd started to hang out more. Also, to get to the city, there is a bridge from the top of the hill to the other side of the church. When I reached the top of the mountain, I looked at the city of Bologna below and entered the church.

As soon as I stepped inside the church, I had the impression that the large building's light orange paint job would do wonders to untangle my confused thoughts. I climbed the steps leading to the main gate of the church and entered the church.

I approached the San Luca statue, drew the holy cross over my eyes, closed my eyes, and began chanting.

God, who created all things,

I thank you so many times for your kind help, especially for keeping me awake last night. I pledge to live today without breaking even a single one of your commandments, and I dedicate all my words, thoughts, and deeds of the day to you. Therefore, please tell me so that I may be worthy of happiness without causing any harm to my life and soul and follow the religion according to your will..!

Amen..!"

Finally, I left the church again, pleading for the right way to solve all these great questions in my mind.

At around eight thirty in the morning, I stepped back to the Kassoli bungalow with ease. However, even as my heart was racing and I was drenched in perspiration, I did not realize that the entire sky had turned dark, signaling the start of a great destruction.

'Seruiji Bungalow'

They returned to the deserted road after passing the small village, but I kept looking at the sign bearing that name. Even though I started to form some memories, those ominous and hazy images only made my heart beat faster. I moved shakily toward the decaying gate where the board was attached, wiping the drops from my ears, even in this agonizingly cold December.