Deadly Poison ( Book 1 Of Mafiuso Series #1) ✔️

2. Stargazing

1 week later…….

I woke up asoon as the first rays of the sun petered inside my room. I lazed around for a bit before getting out of the bed. Then it hit me “fuck today is mom’s death anniversary”.

I cried for some time as the pain hit me again, you might think it would have gotten easier after 8 years. But no every time feels like the first time I heard the news and she was interred six feet under in the ground.

I quickly got out of bed, brushed my teeth and took a quick shower. I wore a black spaghetti dress, paired my outfit with black heels and braided my hair.

I quickly went down the stairs to find my brother ready to go, dressed in a black suit and black formal shoes ensemble, he also had a black tie on. “Do you want some breakfast?” he asked.
“I don’t have an appetite” I said.
“Let’s go then” he said coldly.
He might be acting all tough right now, but I know my brother deep down he is really hurting and in pain.

I sat in the front seat and my brother drove the car to the cemetery. I stopped him on the way to buy some lilies from the flower shop, my mother really loved lilies I wanted to put some on her grave.

The walk to her grave was solemn it felt like ages before we reached her grave.
We paid our respects, but I wanted some alone time with her so my brother waited inside the car as I sat beside my mom’s grave.

“Mom, how are you? I really missed you I wanted to come to your grave sooner, but I just could not muster up the courage. I cannot describe in words how much I miss you even though it’s been 8 years since you left our lives. Nothing is the same without you our lives have come to a standstill, not a single day goes by when me or Adriano don’t miss you, it’s difficult getting by without you. I have been making lots of progress in my interests and life and I promise I will come and talk to you, tell you more about what’s happening in my life whenever I am in town. I love you so much!”

After a long chat with her tombstone I gave her final goodbye kiss and joined my brother in the car. We drove to the Santa Maria church on Rome’s outskirt. Surrounded by lush green forests and located miles away from the civilization, it was our mom’s favourite church and being the religious person she was she would visit it every Sunday without fail.

We spent a few hours praying and enjoying the silence of the church, remembering childhood memories and happy times spent with our mother.
My brother even cried a little, which was a touching gesture because he never cries, always stoic and stone faced, and it was like a Christmas miracle.

My brother dropped me home and went on for work; it was almost midday by that time. I changed into my favourite bunny pajamas and started reading a book, what else could I do it was my vacations.

After some reading I started working on my hacking skills and got some good practice by checking security of some local websites, it was a fun exercise.
In the evening Emilia came into my room and asked how I was doing. I told her the truth, I was fine but I cannot just sit around here reading and doing programming, I needed something interesting and challenging to do. My brother wasn’t around too so it made it even more irritating staying alone bored.

“Well I have something interesting for you. There is famous rehab centre run by the world famous addiction expert Dr.Phillip Lahm. You can go volunteer there. One of my friends works there and it can be a new experience for you and it suits your personality because you are so kind and empathetic.”

“Sounds like a great idea. I will apply tomorrow itself” I said excitedly.
I was really excited by this new development, finally had something exciting and challenging come my way. We decided to celebrate.

I got a bottle of champagne from my brother’s cabinet and also got two flutes. “Aurora you we shouldn’t do this, your brother won’t like it if he finds out you drink, you are underage!” I shushed her paranoia and said “learn to take risks sometimes honey”.
After downing a few glasses we decided to watch some Netflix, I asked the maid to make some fried chicken with dips. We watched a few season of “Bojack Horseman”.

My brother must have come home in the evening and I only realized when the maid called me down for dinner. We were half-way through the dinner when he said “come on get up, come with me to the terrace”.
I was surprised, but decided not to protest and followed suit.

He had set up the telescope and a notepad already. Stargazing was one of my most favourite activities. Since I was old enough to talk and read I was into stars, my brother convinced my dad to get me a powerful telescope and since then I had spent most of my evenings gazing into the night sky. I was really good at, I was so good I could write down the name of most of the constellations and draw them too. I was familiar with most of them, thanks to years of practice!
“Tonight is a special night; tonight the Haley-Bopp comet would be visible in the night sky as it flies close to earth’s orbit. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity” he said

I had totally forgotten about this event! But he had remembered not only the date but also the timeline; he is the best brother ever! All my anger evaporated in a few minutes and we spent hours stargazing spending some quality sibling time.

“Sometimes we become too self-centered and overlook the bigger picture and how much we matter to people over little misunderstandings, its important to remove our rose-tinted glasses and observe the complexities closely”.