Prologue
They say it doesn’t take long for your life to be flipped upside down.
A moment.
A second.
And it’s all over.
I walk into the building, taking the stairs directly, my steps echoing as I move toward the private room. I open the door.
The faint scent of lavender fills my nostrils.
As I step inside, I’m met with an eerie silence, broken only by the soft beeping of the mechanical ventilator. I walk toward the center of the room, where she lies silently on the large bed. The silence is suffocating.
It’s killing me.
Her long ash-brown hair spreads across the pillow like silk. With her eyes closed and her gentle complexion, she looks almost peaceful. Almost happy.
But only almost.
How could she be happy after what happened?
I shake my head, shoving the thought aside, and sit on the chair beside her bed. I take her hand in mine. Her soft, delicate fingers rest against my large, rough ones as I squeeze gently.
“Giuro che pagherà per quello che ha fatto. Mi manchi tantissimo… per favore, svegliati presto, sorellona. Ti voglio bene,”[“I swear he will pay for what he’s done. I miss you so much… please, wake up soon, big sister. I love you.”]
I say in a cool, controlled voice, almost detached, while my thoughts burn with
revenge. Revenge. REVENGE.
My jaw clenches as I look at her face, memories of what she went through flashing violently in my mind. My hands tremble slightly.
Abruptly, I stand, pulling my hand away as I carefully cover her with the blanket. I turn and walk toward the door.
As my fingers curl around the doorknob, I pause.
I turn back and look at her one last time.
Then I open the door and leave, never turning back again.
