Chapter Ten
Safia
Cocoon of Love
The morning sun filtered through the kitchen windows. Uncle James and I sat quietly at the breakfast table. He glanced up from his coffee, concern etched in the lines of his face.
“I didn’t hear you when you came in last night. How was the graduation and dinner?” he asked, his voice gentle but probing.
“It’s hard to believe you didn’t hear me when I came in, especially when I saw you peeking out of your bedroom window when we pulled into the driveway,” I responded.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Busted. Now, tell me how your night was.”
I stirred my cereal absentmindedly, trying to find the right words. “It was... good,” I replied cautiously, knowing what was coming next would change everything between us. “Actually, there”s something I need to tell you.”
He set down his mug, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What is it, Safia?”
“About last night…” I took a deep breath, steeling myself for his reaction. “I... I told Marcello.”
Heavy silence followed as he processed what I was saying. He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke with restrained frustration.
“You told him,” he repeated my profession as more a statement than a question. “What would make you tell him about us?” His brow furrowed in confusion until understanding sank into his weathered features. “Unless…wait, you slept with him?”
I nodded, my gaze dropping to the table. “Yes, uncle. I slept with him… and I felt like he deserved to know who I really am.”
He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I should have never allowed you to go to that graduation with him. Never should have allowed you to date him. I know and you know the risks. You know why we keep our identities hidden. Why would you expose us like this? And I hope you used protection!”
“Yes, I did use protection,” I retorted, knowing we hadn’t used a physical barrier between us, but I had been proactive and asked my doctor for birth control on my last visit. “And I know everything, the risks, the secrets, the danger,” I replied softly, my fingers tightening around my spoon.
Uncle James fumed. “You knew of these risks and still exposed us!”
“He... he handled it better than I expected. He listened; he didn”t freak out. And he promised not to tell anyone.”
Uncle James”s brow furrowed as he considered my words. “And you believe him? Just like that?”
I met his gaze defiantly. “Yes. I trust him.”
He shook his head incredulously. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because...” I hesitated, searching for the right words to convey the depth of my conviction. “Because I have to. Because I believe in him.”
“Oh, you trust him, you believe in him. I guess that makes everything just fucking peachy,” he retorted. “Who knew that all we had to do was find someone, fall in love with them, and believe in them and then we wouldn’t have to worry anymore? If I had known that sooner, I wouldn’t have turned down the many women that have hit on me, Safia! I trusted that you wouldn’t allow yourself to be guided around by your emotions just as I have refrained from doing so.”
I felt a pang of guilt, knowing the weight of my decision was not solely mine to bear. “Everything will never be fine,” I admitted quietly. “But I have to trust and believe that I can find and keep happiness. I want to love. I want to be made love to.”
“Safia, must I remind you that you are seventeen.”
“I am a woman past the age of consent. A young woman, but a woman. And as I grow as a woman, I want to be honest with the people I love,” I argued.
Uncle James sighed. “Trust, belief, honesty and love… that seems to be your theme this morning. Well, young woman, what about the fact that I trusted you to keep our identities sealed?” He held a hand up to block out my reply. “You know what? Don’t answer that. I’m going downstairs!”
An hour later, I stepped into the dimly lit basement, the air heavy with the scent of old sweat and leather. The punching bag swung vigorously from side to side as my uncle punched it with everything in him.
“I’m sorry, Uncle James. Maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him. I just got caught up in the moment, and it felt like the right thing to do,” I said, stepping into the room and wrapping my hands before putting on my gloves.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m not upset with you.”
Tears streamed down my face.
“I’m sor—”
“Quit apologizing and get on the mat.” He continued to spar with the bag, sweat falling profusely from his face and neck.
“Okay.” I sighed, stepping closer to him, readying myself for a round, both in conversation and in sparring. “But he had a right to know, didn”t he?”
“Listen, it’s not your fault that you couldn’t tell your boyfriend your real name,” he said finally, his voice softer now. “But now it”s about what happens next. What he does with that knowledge.”
“We will be fine,” I said, more to convince myself than him. “He offered to use his security to protect us.”
“Tell him no.” He threw a jab in my direction, testing my defenses.
The familiar dance of sparring grounded me in the present. “He also offered for us to move onto their compound for protection,” I relayed, returning a jab at him.
“We will not be moving there,” he replied firmly, blocking my jab with ease, his movements fluid and controlled. “We stick together, protect each other like we always have done.”
We circled each other, each looking for our next opening.
“What about the case? Has the police department reached out lately?” I asked, desperate for more information that could provide closure.
“No. I called the detective in Destin last week. I’m still waiting on his return call,” my uncle admitted, landing a light hook to my ribs, a reminder to stay focused. “Those people are the worst. You would think with something this big, they would give us more updates and take it more seriously.”
My uncle was right. The police department wasn’t taking our case seriously. Neither was the FBI.
“We might have to take things into our own hands,” I said softly.
“Must I remind you how dangerous the people who did this are?” he asked.
The car explosion going off in my mind answered his question. “No.”
As the rounds continued, we sparred in silence. By the time we finished, our breaths were heavy, our bodies weary but alive with the thrill of combat.
“I hope you’re right about trusting him, Safia,” he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“I am, and now I’m asking you to trust me on this,” I said, deep down knowing I had to be right.
A Year Later
It was my turn to walk across the stage, diploma in hand, under the bright lights of the auditorium. The applause and cheers from the audience made me smile. The moment felt surreal, like a dream I had been working towards for so long had finally come true.
As I accepted my diploma, I choked back tears. It didn’t escape me that there were three missing faces that would never experience this moment with me.
I searched the crowd and found Marcello with his hands to his mouth like a horn. He stood tall among the sea of faces, screaming my name. He sat next to my uncle and his father: three hulking men who had become my everything—family, friends, and confidants.
After the ceremony, I made my way outside, where Uncle James and Ramiri were waiting. The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over everything, making the moment feel even more serene.
“Congratulations, Safia! Being second in your class is nothing to take lightly,” Uncle James exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. His voice was filled with pride and emotion, and I could feel the tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “Your mother would be so proud,” he whispered into my ear.
“Thank you, Uncle,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Ramiri stepped forward, his eyes soft and warm. “You’ve come a long way, smart girl. We’re all so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Ramiri,” I replied, smiling through the tears.
Turning, I found Marcello, and without a word, I fell into his arms.
“Congrats, baby. Has anyone told you that you’re amazing today?” he whispered in my ear, holding me close. “I’m so proud of you.”
I pulled back slightly to look at him, my heart swelling with gratitude and love. “Thank you, Marcello. For making me feel special.”
Uncle James cleared his throat, breaking the moment. “How about we celebrate this achievement properly?” he suggested. “I know a place that serves the best seafood in town.”
“Give the name to Tony here, and he will call ahead and make sure we have the best seats in the house,” Ramiri suggested.
We all agreed, and soon we were on our way to a quaint little restaurant by the waterfront. The evening was a blur of laughter, toasts, and delicious food. The joy of the moment was palpable, a perfect blend of celebration and togetherness. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the people around me, for their love and support.
“To Safia,” Uncle James toasted, his voice full of emotion. “While I may have questioned your actions a time or two over the past year, I must say that I am proud of your bravery and your choices. You chose love, trust, and honor, something more of us would benefit from doing in this world. You have seen rock bottom. Now, it’s my most sincere prayer that you blast through ceilings and even clouds to get everything your heart desires. May your future be as bright and beautiful as you are.”
“Hear, hear,” Ramiri echoed, clinking his glass with everyone else’s.
“To new beginnings,” Marcello added, his eyes locked on mine. “And to everything you want, need and desire being yours to take.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I replied, addressing each of them.
The dinner continued with more toasts and stories. As the evening wore on, Marcello and I slipped away, leaving Uncle James and Ramiri deep in conversation about old times and the future of the family.
We found ourselves walking along the pier, the cool night air filled with the gentle sounds of the water lapping against the shore. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver path across the waves.
“Today is perfect,” I said softly, leaning into Marcello as we walked. “Glad you are here with me.”
“Where else would I be?” he replied, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
We reached the end of the pier and paused, taking in the tranquil beauty of the night.
I turned to Marcello. “This past year, you’ve been my rock.”
He cupped my face in his hands, his touch gentle and reassuring. “And I always will be. We have so much ahead of us.”
An engine revved in the distance, a deep, rumbling noise that sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, my breath catching in my throat when I turned towards the noise, and there it was—a black SUV, just like the one at the market moments before my family died.
My heart stilled. A cold dread seeped into my veins. Panic surged through me. My body tensed. Every muscle coiled tight with fear. I felt as though I was being pulled under, drowning in the past. I couldn”t breathe, couldn”t think. My eyes were locked on the approaching vehicle, dread pooling in my stomach like ice water.
Marcello tried to move my face back to look at him, but I was stuck.
”Safia, what’s wrong?” he asked, his voice urgent but gentle.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the SUV.
“It’s... it’s like before,” I whispered, my voice barely more than a breath. “The car... it looks just like the one from...” I couldn’t finish the sentence, the words too painful to speak.
Marcello glanced towards the SUV, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding. He pulled me closer, his arm wrapping protectively around my shoulders. ”It”s okay, Safia. Just breathe. Look, it’s probably nothing.”
As the SUV came to a stop a few yards away, I held my breath, every muscle rigid with tension. The door opened, and a man stepped out. He walked to the back door, and for a moment, my heart stopped. But then he leaned in and gently lifted a small, giggling toddler from the back seat.
Relief crashed over me in a wave, leaving me weak and shaky. I released a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding, my body sagging against Marcello”s. It was nothing—just a father with his child.
Marcello’s grip on me tightened, his eyes never leaving my face. “See? It’s okay. You’re safe,” he murmured, his voice soothing and steady.
I nodded, swallowing hard as I tried to calm the racing of my heart. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, feeling foolish for my panic. “I just... I couldn’t help it.”
He shook his head, his expression softening. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s understandable.”
The man and his child walked away. Their laughter faded into the night. The tension in my chest began to ease. I took a deep breath, letting the cool air clear the remnants of fear from my mind.”
“Let’s go back inside,” Marcello suggested gently. “Uncle James and Ramiri are probably wondering where we are.”
We turned away from the street, the black SUV fading into the distance behind us.
Marcello kept his arm around me until we were inside the restaurant.
Uncle James and Ramiri, who after a rocky start had become quite good friends over the past year, looked up from their seats as we joined them. Their easy laughter and lighthearted banter gradually dispelled my earlier fear. But even as we ate, Marcello’s hand found mine under the table. He intertwined his fingers with mine in a show of support.
After dinner, we said our goodbyes. My uncle had reluctantly agreed to Marcello and I spending the night together. Thankfully, Marcello offered comforting silence on the ride to his house.
Once in the confines of his bedroom, the silence was different—softer, more intimate. Marcello pulled me into his arms as soon as the door closed behind us, holding me tight as if he could shield me from my fears.
I buried my face in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent.
“I’m here,” he whispered, his voice low and soothing. “You’re safe with me, Safia.
His embrace grounded me. He kissed my forehead, his lips lingering, and then gently tipped my chin up to look into my eyes.
That night, we made love with a tenderness that spoke of more than just physical desire. It was as if Marcello was trying to erase every shadow of fear, every trace of doubt, with each gentle touch and fervent stroke. Wrapped in the cocoon of Marcello’s love, the joy of my graduation achievement returned, and I felt cherished and whole.