On Your Knees

Chapter 8

It seemed as if the ground under our estate knew what had happened. The morning sky in Sicily wasn't it's typical bright blue; instead it was like the sky was mourning our loss with us. The clouds blocked the sun and light rain that fell cried with us.

Everyone was dressed in all black. My sisters, so loud and bubbly, we're now quiet and somber. Everything happened so quickly it was hard to take in that Papà was truly gone. Every time I glanced at my hands I saw it; his blood. My eyes were bloodshot. I had cried myself to sleep over the deaths of Matteo and Papà. I tried so hard to not think about it, telling myself I was stuck in a nightmare.

But it was time to face the music. Hand-in-hand, my sisters and I stood watching our beloved father get lowered into the ground. Our men were silent, some of the men we knew closely came up to us to offer their condolences. Even Helios and Hera had stayed.

Once Papà was lowered into the ground, Raphael got a shovel and began to bury Papà in his eternal resting place. A fresh wave of tears clouded my vision and I could hear my sisters' soft sniffles. When Raphael was finished Aria, Donnalee, and I walked up to Papà's grave. Each of us placed a single white rose on top of the fresh soil. Kissing my hand, I pressed it to his tombstone, giving Papà a final kiss goodbye.

Raphael quickly took us inside while leaving the other men to say their goodbyes. The house isn't filled with it's usual laughter and conversations. Instead, it's silent and still.

A sudden sob makes my head turn. Raphael is holding Aria to his chest, comforting her as best as he can. He quickly casts a glance my way and leads Aria out of the kitchen. Donnalee gets up from my side and walks over to the cabinet. "Water?" She asks.

"Please" I attempt a small smile. Donnalee gives me one back.

I thank her when she slides me my glass. We are in silence for a couple of minutes until Donnalee speaks. "We shouldn't be sulking around. You know how much Papà hated seeing us sad" She says.

I smile, remembering all of the times Papà was there to cheer us up whenever we were feeling upset. "Yeah, he would be scolding us right now" I chuckle out. Donnalee laughs, "Amora, fermati o ti mando a fare giri," She says, trying to mimic Papà's voice. (stop or I'm going to send you to run laps).

We start laughing and when we finish there's a smile on both of our faces. Donnalee wraps her arms around my neck, "You see, Mamà and Papà would have wanted the house to be filled with laughter not sorrow". I wrap my arms around Donnalee's body. "Yeah, they would have," I sigh, "But it's just hard to live knowing that they're both gone".

We hug in silence but feel someone wrap their arms around both of us. "Siamo forti. Siamo forti perché siamo Belfiores" Aria's voice says above us. (We are strong. We are strong because we are Belfiores).

"Ti amo Aria e Donnalee" My arms wrap around them tighter. (I love you Aria and Donnalee).

"Us too, Amora" Donnalee looks at both of us with a smile on our face. She lets out a small laugh, "Alright, enough crying for today. We have another meeting with Francesco tomorrow and we need to be prepared for what's coming".

A smirk slowly makes it's way onto my face. "Francesco sure seemed to take a liking to you sorella" I raise up my eyebrows in Donnalee's direction. Donnalee's face turns red and she starts to deny what I said. "It's not like that!"

Aria laughs and starts to tease Donnalee which makes her face even more red. Donnalee stands up and starts to walk out of the kitchen with her hands over her ears. "La la la. I can't hear you!"

I start laughing and Aria chases after her. "Donnalee wait up!". The smile on my face is still there when they both leave. I stand up and straighten my dress out.