Death Is Easy, Life Is Hard

8~ Reana

Knocking three times on the door of my destination, I step back and wait.

It opens a couple seconds later, revealing a woman in her middle thirties with dark brown hair.

"Bella?" She asks

My eyes start to water when I remember the last time I saw her and she opens her arms to me.

I waste no time and run into them.

"Shh, bambina. Shh, it's okay" she soothes, running her fingers through my hair

Reana is Ethan's mom, and one of the only other people that know about Hayley and Hunter.

She was there for everything. Every mood swing I went through when Ethan wasn't there, every breakdown I had when was scared about being a mother, just everything.

I guess old habits die hard.

She was there when they were taken.

"They're a year old. I missed their birthday" I sob into her shoulder

"I know tesoro" she says softly

"Come inside bambina" she says letting me go

I follow her inside and she closes the door.

She leads me to the kitchen and tells me to sit down on a stool while she makes tea.

"Tea? Really?" I ask and she laughs

"Old habits die hard bambina" she says

"Yeah, they do" I say quietly

I hear her take in a breath, but she doesn't say anything.

After about five minutes, the tea's done. She pours two cups and sets one in front of me.

"Now let's start with why are you here. In the states I mean" she says

"Well, it started a couple days ago. Cops finally stormed the ring and I had already finished my fights" I start

For about the next 30 minutes I tell her everything, well almost, that happened in the past 3 or 4 days.

She makes a couple comments and we discuss some things here and there, but for the most part, she just let's me talk to her.

"So when is Isa coming by? I miss my other unbiological daughter" she asks, making me laugh

"I'll have to ask her. I didn't tell her it was you I was coming to see" I say

"And why is it that you came by?" She asks

"It was actually Isa that gave me the idea. I told her what happened and she said that I should talk to someone who went through it" I respond

"I couldn't and can't go see ethan since he's in italy and I start school tomorrow, and you're less than an hour away. Plus, you get what it's like. You went through it other than just with me" I continue, looking at the cup instead of her

"Yes, I did. And I didn't go back to who I used to be, even when I did eventually get Ethan back" she says

"I also have an idea of the thoughts you have" she adds making me look up at her

"Come with me" she says getting up

I follow her swiftly, wanting to know what she's wanting to show me, and she walks through the house to a hallway.

She walks down the hall and stands before a picture while I wait at the start of the hall, not sure now that I want to see whatever it is.

"You know, I took this picture a couple days after they were born. And this one the first time you were holding the both of them, this one with all four of you" she says running her fingers over different frames