CARMELO
Laura took a deep breath, her face looking past the windows. Where the sunrays slipped into the room. Her hands clasped and resting on her lap. I knew whatever she was about to tell us was going to break my heart further into pieces.
"I used to be a marathoner, and Simone Rossi, her father, was a marine. We were one happy family and since Chiara was our only child we pampered her and cherished her a lot. Our home was filled with love and laughter because of her. She was so young but cunning and witty." A wide smile broke on her beautiful face as she spoke in a hushed tone. It was so warm and contiguous that we found ourselves smiling as well.
"Until one day." Her smile fell and so did mine. "It was on Christmas, boxing day. Chiara couldn't sleep the whole night waiting for the day to break. And we found her already sitting under the Christmas tree waiting for us to unwrap gifts with her. It was five o'clock in the morning," She chuckled, her eyes pooling with tears.
"So, we opened gifts with her, and she was so happy with each gift that we bought for her. She was happiest with a crayon pouch I'd gotten her. She said she was going to show it off to her friends at school the next day." She choked on her tears. My hand flew to her back, patting her. "Suddenly, the door was kicked open and a deranged looking man entered, holding a gun in his hand."
"Then he shot Chichi's father on both legs, crippling him. As if it wasn't enough, he went to our kitchen, looking for fuel and burnt him alive, right before us. He then took me forcefully, threatening to kill my baby as well if I didn't go with him. I begged him to let me take her as well. Whatever he was taking me, I couldn't leave my baby behind."
Tears streamed down my cheeks like a waterfall. I felt so much anger coursing inside me. How could someone be so cruel? I found myself moving closer and wrapping my hand around Laura's shoulder. She was trying so hard not to sob. I felt like screaming for her. While Mama's sniffles filled the room and Papa was handing her tissues from the table every now and then.
"And that's when our life flipped. He raped me and did everything he wanted to me and used my baby when I said no. Chiara was only eight then. He started to teach her how to fight, how to kill. He made her kill for him. He blackmailed her with my safety to get what he wanted. My baby never knew peace since she was eight and so did I since that day." Laura wiped her tears,
"She is who she is today because of him. He turned her into this person I couldn't recognize anymore when she was my own daughter. He beat her and tortured her. That was until she started to have a mind of her own. That's when she began to disobey her. And since she was like a ticking bomb, he couldn't control her anymore. So, he used me with everything. Chiara could've run but she stayed. Because of me. Sometimes, I prayed for a miracle to happen so that she could escape the jail I got her into. And when it did happen… I was the happiest mother in the entire world. I was ready to die because my baby was not in that hell anymore."
I picked a tissue and handed it to her. She smiled with her tears, shuttering my heart further. My heart ached for both her and Chiara. I wished I could return Antonio just so I could kill him painfully.
"He even turned one of my sons against us. Luca. He was the result of his father's poisonous words. When I used to be a marathoner, he would approach me at the training center and ask me out. Even when I told her that I was married. He didn't stop. I didn't want to worry my husband, so I didn't tell him about Antonio. Days went by and it got worse. He was forcing me and touching me inappropriately. Until someday, I forged an injury and quitted. Just so I could escape him. I didn't know who he was then. And I didn't even know how he found us. He ruined both mine and my daughter's lives." Her shoulder shook.
Mama stood from where she was and came to sit beside her. I got up and left them. Then she pulled Laura in her arms. "Oh, Laura. I'm so sorry." Laura sobbed in my mother's arms. I turned around, not able to watch both of them crying. I felt a light touch on my shoulder. I turned and found my father with open arms. I hugged him, letting tears roll out. My throat hurt so much.
"You are so strong, Laura. Both you and Chiara are. I wouldn't have survived all of that. God, I'm so sorry." Mama uttered.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her. My woman and her mother didn't deserve any of what happened to them. And I wished they would find peace from now on. I took her hand and kissed it. Just looking at her made me want to cry all over again. Faces hid so many things. Painful unspeakable things. My heart ached for every woman that went through any of that. As a man, I was sorry to all of them.
I was so grateful to my parents for instilling such good values in us. Even when we thought they were being too much to us.
Antonio was a monster. There was no humanity in him. And I hated men that harassed women more than anything. Our entire family reprimanded them.
Chiara might have never had a good example of a man in her life. She never had a father. But I was going to be a better man to her and for her. I was going to treat her even much better and hopefully, I'd be a reason for her to forget her painful past. I kissed her hand again and let my lips linger on it.
"I love you, tesoro. So much." I pulled the chair closer and sat on it, still holding her hand.