Page 74 of Always Meant To Be

"I know how long it's been, Papa," I reply on a sigh.

Mamma steps forward. "You haven't been back to that room since you spent twenty-four hours straight with her."

I shake my head, pain hitting me in the chest, and I croak, "Mamma, I-I can't."

She sniffles, and Papa whispers, "You can,il mio ragazzo. You've had the time to get your anger out, fuck, our men now fear you, along with respect you. Everyone knows not to fuck with you, and now it's time you see your wife." I look down, feeling my eyes tear up. "Let us take you to her," my father finishes.

My eyes go to the pictures again. In them, her smile is wide, and her violet eyes are bright with happiness.

I was selfish to bring her into our world when she wanted out, and yet, even now, I can't seem to care. She's the light to my darkness, heaven to my hell.

Slowly, I nod, and I hear Mamma sigh with relief….

When we arrive at the hospital, Mamma and Papa go to the nurse's desk, and I continue my stride. Doctors quickly rush out of my way, and nurses look me up and down, but I ignore them all, my sole focus on the double glass doors to the private room where I had her moved.

I stop outside the door, my eyes going to my wife. She looks the same, her face pale, only her bump is a little bigger; our son is still growing.

Holly is asleep on the chair beside the bed, my wife’s hand in hers.

I know that should be me, but I just fucking can't.

I know if I go in that room, I won't be coming back out.

I feel a presence behind me on either side of me, but I don’t turn.

"We won't leave her, Rome," Ray whispers from my right.

Aldo concurs, "We know how hard this is for you, so while you're not here, we will be. We’ll make sure she knows how fucking much you love her, and how hard you're struggling without her."

I nod with gratitude, and they both grip my shoulders. Not once do I take my eyes off my wife's form, my ring finger tingling from where her name is tatted.

"We never discussed names for boys," I admit a few minutes later, both men going still. "We only discussed a name for a girl. I need her to wake up…."

They don't say anything, only squeezing my shoulders tighter.

I feel like I can't fucking breathe when I look at her, like I'm dying right beside her….

I need her to wake up because I can slowly feel myself fading. The monster is ready to take over, and once he's out, no one is safe….

Twenty-Six

Elena – Three Weeks Later

"Mamma…"I hear whispered, and I furrow my brows, screwing my eyes tight. The voice says, "Wake up, Mamma, I want to play…."

I blink, my eyes adjusting to the bright sun as I gently sit up.

What the….

I look down to see I'm on a baby blue blanket in a meadow.

"Mamma," a little boy giggles, and I look to my left, and my heart stops….

Beep, beep….

"You need to wake up,shmel…."

Andrei…. Isn't he supposed to be in Greece?