Chapter 26

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?

I try to open my eyes, but they won't work. Why won't they open? Why can't I move?

What happened to me?

"It's been three weeks since your papa called, three weeks you've been in a coma. Everyone misses you, shmel . Please, wake up," he whispers, the beeping phasing out with his voice, darkness taking over as fear overtakes me.

"Mamma, come on," the little boy giggles again, the bright sun blinding me once more.

Slowly, I stand and look down to see no bump, my blue maxi dress is hugging my curvy figure. I look up again in shock, my eyes making contact with the little boy’s.

Striking blue one's glint with happiness, and tears build in mine.

He grins, holding his little hand out to me, his black hair falling over his eyes, "Come, Mamma, I wanna play…."

"Elena…” a voice whispers.

Beep, beep, beep….

No, I want to return to the little boy, please….

"We need you to wake, sorella …" another voice pleads.

Leonardo?

"Why won't she wake up, Leo?" a voice I recognize as Holly's cries.

"I don't know, angelo ," he replies as I feel pressure on my right hand.

They sound so sad….

I try to squeeze my hand, but my body won't comply, and fear builds again.

What happened to me?

Where am I?

"She needs to wake up, Leo. If she doesn't…." Her words trail off, and Leonardo finishes, "We'll lose Romeo. I know, angelo , I know."

The pressure builds on my hand as a new fear rises, and worry hits.

Romeo….

"Why don't you wanna play, Mamma?" the little boy asks, and I look his way. He tilts his head, and instantly, he looks like Rome.

From the blue eyes and the pointed nose, to the expression on his face.

He's looking at me like I'm his world.

"Are you still tired, Mamma?" he asks, and I go to speak, but nothing comes out, my voice not working.

The little boy grins. "Let's go play on the swings, Mamma, come on…."

He runs off into the distance, and I go to take a step, but everything goes black….

"He won't come in the room…" a new voice mutters, a voice I believe is Mama's.

"I know. We've tried, but he can't bring himself to come in here," Mamma Russo replies, sadness in her voice.

Who won't come in the room? What room?

Beep, beep, beep….

Am I in the hospital?

"He blames himself," my mama whispers. "But he's not to blame for this. I am…."

"Catch me, Mamma…." The little boy giggles, and I turn quickly behind me to see him running toward a swing set.

He's in blue shorts and a black T-shirt, and can't be any older than six.

He's beautiful….

"You killed my daughter…" a voice that sounds like Aunt Agy whispers, confusing me. She sobs, "I-I, I didn't want her, Elena, I just wanted your father, but-but I have to avenge her, I-I don’t want to, but I need to…."

Beep, beep, beep…

She cries softly, beeping echoing in my head. I try to open my eyes, to ask what she means, when I feel light pressure on my face before my father's voice booms, "What the fuck!" and the pressure disappears, everything going black again, the cries and shouts disappearing, peace overtaking me, and I welcome it.

"I love you, Mamma," the little boy rasps, resting his head on my lap, causing me to look down in shock.

He looks so innocent.

His eyes close, and I lift my hand, my fingers going into his hair, and my tears fall.

Up close, I can see some of my features. He has freckles on his nose, my chubby cheeks, and lips.

He's so precious, so beautiful….

Beeping echoes again, and I don't know whether to curse or welcome it.

I now know I'm in hospital, but I don't understand why.

"What's happening, please,” I hear, and the urge to open my eyes hits me hard.

Romeo….

There’s nothing but pain in his voice, and I feel my heart rate pick up; he needs me…. Why can't I move? Why can't I wake up?

What happened to me?

Please….

"We have to deliver; the baby is in distress," a voice I don't recognize says.

Crying and screaming hit me, making my head throb before everything goes fuzzy again, blackness taking hold, and hope builds that I'll get to see the little boy again, the little boy I've just realized is my son.

"Hey sestra …."

I turn around in shock. We're in my classroom.

She smiles slightly at me, but my eyes go to the floor, her body lying there unmoved, eyes open….

Oh God, I killed her, I….

"It's okay, Elena…" she whispers, and my tears fall.

I shake my head, still not able to speak.

She was my sister, and I killed her….

"It is…. I deserved this. I was spoilt and thought I deserved everything when, really, I should have been grateful to have what I had to begin with—a loving family willing to do anything for me." I sob, bringing my hand up to my mouth as Liliya suddenly stands before me.

She lifts her hand, caressing my cheek, but I don't feel it; I just feel cold….

She smiles sad. "I should have treated you better, and I can't apologize enough for everything. I know I don't deserve it, but I need you to do something for me." I sob some more, and she says, "Fight, Elena. Don't leave that man who loves you, who fought to have you. Don't leave your son. Fight, please. Don't let my actions do this to you…."

Her figure becomes blurry, and her voice fades as she whispers, "Fight, sestra …."

Everything goes black again, but this time, I hear nothing, feel nothing, only darkness….