Chisa
I SEND A TEXT MESSAGE to Ana, asking her to please keep an eye on Rica and make sure that her granddaughter doesn’t leave her room while I pack my things.
And when I step out of my room, and I see it’s Maria once again who’s waiting for me, her eyes red-rimmed...
“Oh, signora.”
I know exactly how she feels.
It’s almost funny, really.
I think I’m really this close to laughing hysterically because this is the worst case of déjà vu ever.
As she walks with me to the guesthouse, I’m once again telling her the same thing.
“It’s okay, Maria. It’s okay.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “No. It’s not okay. It’s not.” The older woman mutters the words every so often under her breath, and when we finally make it to the guesthouse, which is located at the back of the property...
“I don’t know what’s wrong with Signor Marcello.”
“There’s nothing wrong with him, Maria.” And I’m saying this with all honesty because I finally realized the truth.
A man who can distrust me so much...can never have loved me at all.
And that’s why, as soon as the door closes behind Maria, I crash to my knees, and I’m crying.
I can’t seem to stop crying.
Because even though Ana has suddenly come rushing in, and her face crumples at the sight of me...
“Maria told me to come here.”
I know I should be strong for Rica, and that’s why I hate how I can’t seem to stop crying.
“Oh, cara.”
The older woman kneels down and takes my hands. “W-What happened?”
“I c-can’t seem to stop crying.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
She shouldn’t be. This isn’t her fault. And I can’t even say it’s Marcello’s fault either because...
It’s not his fault if he can’t love me.
Right?
“What can I do for you, cara? Tell me, please. I don’t want this to end like it did before. Let me help you. Please.”