Page 60 of Condemned By Pain
I turn and see my uncle raising a bottle above me. He lowers it and watches my mother with a disgusting smile. I grit my teeth. He looks down at me, his anger flaring again.
My mother rushes to me and hugs me tightly.
“Please. I beg you.” She sobs, her whole body trembling.
Vinci, my other uncle, rises and yanks my mother away from me.
“Gli insegneremo solo le buone maniere, Alba,” he oozes, pulling her close. His voice makes me sick.
(We’ll only teach him manners, Alba.)
Vinci looks at Justin. “Lascialo andare dopo avergli bruciato le mani.”
(Let him go after burning his hands.)
My mother falls at Vinci’s feet, crying and begging him not to. He just laughs.
Justin drags me to the fireplace. My mother tries to get up, to come toward me, but Vinci kicks her, then plants his shoe on her back and presses her down.
I scream, “Mama!”—but the word dissolves into a cry of pain as Justin presses the backs of my hands against the burning coals.
I try to pull back, but his grip is too strong. The pain builds and builds. I keep crying.
Finally, he lets me go.
I run out of the living room, not stopping until I realize: I didn’t bring Mama with me.
Where is she?
I stand on the staircase, calling her name. She doesn’t answer.I left her there—left her with them. Now they’ll torture her. I didn’t save her. I failed my mama.
I scream her name, again and again, but no one answers.
I run upstairs. I’m not in my father’s mansion anymore, I’m in my house. I hear music and rush up to the rose garden.
There’s Mama. She’s playing the piano.
She smiles at me when I reach her. I’m still sobbing. I run to her and fall at her feet, wrapping my arms around her knees.
“You didn’t leave me,” I sob into her lap. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I’m so scared.”
She strokes my hair but doesn’t say anything. I look up to see her.
But she’s not there.
She left me.
I spin around, searching for her, but I’m alone.
Suddenly, the piano plays again behind me. I turn.
Someone’s on the bench now, but it’s not Mama.
She stops playing the piano and looks at me, her golden eyes shining in the light.
She reaches out to touch me.
I open my eyes. She’s holding my face in her hands.
