LEA
I did not mean to scream out loud like that; my scream tore out of my throat before I could stop it. They came rushing from the kitchen to where I am standing, chairs scraping as if it were an emergency—or maybe it is. "Lea! Lea—what happened?" my mother gasped, her voice cracking and her face draining of color as if she had just seen a ghost. The moment I laid my eyes on both in front of me, I could feel my blood boil. How could they? My father reaches me first, gripping my shoulder. "Are you hurt?" Why is he even asking that? Of course I am hurt; those words I heard a moment ago cut straight through to my heart. How could they sell me, their only child? Calm down, Lea. Perhaps you misheard them—I tell myself that, but who am I fooling? I heard him clearly; I just cannot bring myself to believe it. I jerked away from my father's touch. Why is he even touching me? I am furious—I should have just slept to avoid all this.
"What did you just say? I heard you, Dad. What did you say?" I demanded. Their faces tell me everything I need to know. They are trying to act confused, but they know that I know. I can see it in my mother's eyes—she has never been good at hiding the truth, but right now she is trying really hard. "Marrying Massimo? Who is he and ...?" I murmured, my voice breaking, too heartbroken to even finish the sentence. Relax, Lea. Wait for them to tell you that it is a prank. My father lifted his hands defensively. "Lea, sweetheart, calm down; we will explain everything to you tomorrow. For now you need to rest."
"Rest?" I scoffed, shaking in disbelief. So they need time to generate lies. They just looked at me. They ushered me to my room like I was a child again, closing the door gently behind them. Sleep didn't come; I was busy making scenarios in my head. What if this Massimo is ugly? What if he never loves me or has another wife—or what if he is way older than me? My mind is racing with questions that I cannot answer right now.
I do not know how I managed to sleep, but somehow I did. I wake up to a warm and comforting smell drifting through the air. I guess my mother is already making breakfast. I quickly make my bed, take a shower, and head to the kitchen. "Good morning, Lee," she says and gives me a heartwarming smile. I give her a faint smile back. "Good morning, Mom and Dad," I murmured. They sigh. Well, at least they know why I am behaving this way. We eat quietly, no one saying anything to anyone and Dad not cracking his usual jokes. We finish eating, and I wash the dishes.
"Explain," I say coldly. And they did, shamefully so. I expected them to tell me it was all just a prank, and I was ready to laugh along with them. Instead they told me the truth—plain and painful. "Lea, years ago we borrowed money from the most feared Mafia lord; he is Massimo's father. We thought we were going to be able to pay it back. We just wanted you to go to school like other kids. You see, I was not working, nor was your mother. Years went by, and I wasn't getting any job. We reached an agreement with Massimo's father that you are going to marry Massimo when both of you are old enough," he sighs and continues to talk. "We are really sorry, Lea; there is nothing we can do. If you refuse, he is going to kill us. "Massimo is a much more dangerous man than his father," he says and looks at me with apologetic eyes.
I am trying to digest everything I just heard. So I am paying off a debt that I know nothing about. So they do not care about what I have to say or how I take this whole situation. I guess I have no right in this situation, and this saddens and frustrates me at once. I do not even know how I am supposed to feel—anger? Tangled with a shattered heart. I never thought my parents would be my first heartbreak. It is too much to hold in, so I let a river of tears stream down my chubby cheeks. It is finally sinking in … I am going to be married off to a mafia man. That is going to be my reality. I glance at my parents, fury written across my face. My mother reaches out to hug me, but I step back sharply.
I stand up to leave. I stand before our metal door and utter the words I never thought I would say one day. "I hate you, Mom, and I hate you, Dad." I storm out and slam the door so hard.
I didn't stop running until I reached Giulia's house. My knuckles were trembling as I knocked. I just hope that she is here; I just need someone to talk to. Gee opened the door, and her eyes widened as soon as she saw me. "Lea? You look like hell." —Come in.
Within minutes I am wrapped in her pink fluffy blanket. Giulia's mother is making tea for me while I tell them what happened. When I finished, Giulia's mother sighed. She sighed as though I had told her that I have been accepted to a fancy university. "Oh darling, being chosen by a mafia king is not the worst thing that could happen," she said, smiling. That is insane; I guess all parents have the same mind. I look at Gee. Her eyes are sparkling with excitement. "Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your place? -the stories Lea, those people have money, and they will make you their Mafia Queen."
Oh no, not her too. I thought she would side with me. "Those people are dangerous, Gee," I say, as though I am pleading for her to side with me. "I wouldn't mind someone dangerous falling in love with me," she says, giggling.
I can't believe that I am hearing any of this. I do not want to hear more, so I stand up to leave. "I have to go now, Gee. See you around." I didn't even wait for her response. They are all trying to convince me that being married off is not a bad thing; they do not understand how I am feeling. Somehow, I never asked them… how much they owed. How much my life and freedom were worth. I walk to Alessio's place.
His mother opened the door, warm as always. "Lea! Come in, you look pale."
Alessio met me in the hallway, worry already etched on his face. The second he touched my arms, the words spilled out—everything. The promise. The arrangement. The wedding. I couldn't hold myself; I felt safe and heard.
when I finished, his jaw was rigid. He looks really angry. I have never seen him angry before.
"You can't stay here," he whispered urgently. "Go home, pack your bags, and leave. Tonight. I'll get you money. There's a town two hours from here—you can disappear for a while." "You really think I can escape?" I asked. I now have hope. I am not going to marry anyone other than Alessio! " You have to try. He said,
At home, I walked in with a fragile smile, pretending the anger had drained away. My parents looked too relieved to question it.
That night, when the house settled and silence wrapped the walls, I packed a few clothes. Three trousers, dresses, and shirts. I have never traveled before, so I do not have a huge bag. I will use the plastics I carry the stock with. I take a few minutes packing all necessities. I slipped out through my window with nothing.
The roads were darker than I expected. Every sound seemed amplified. I kept my head down, walking fast, heart racing. I have never walked alone at this time. I have to keep going before they notice. A group of boys emerged from the shadows—laughing and staggering, they looked happier than I was. I can't help but feel scared when two of them approach me.
"Hey," one of them slurred. "You lost, sweetheart?" I spun to run, but another grabbed her arm. I panic; I do not know what to do. "Please leave me alone," I say with tears threatening to come out. I cannot cry in front of them; they will think I am weak. "Let's see what you gave in that bag," one of them says; he looks older than all of them. He grabs my plastic bag and throws it on the floor. My clothes are scattered all over. I bend to pick them up, but one of the boys spanks my ass. They laugh at me. Now tears are streaming down my cheeks; I am really scared.
Then headlights flooded the street. A sleek black car stopped abruptly. The boys scattered like animals, disappearing into the night. A tall figure stepped out, coat whipping in the wind. "Lea, get in the car." My blood froze.