In Your Clutches

Part 33: An Unbearable Pain

AMELIA

It was raining outside.

Not hard raining but just a light spray that trickled over the cemetery. Rufina held my hand as we walked across the pathway towards the small gathering of mourners. We didn't go to the church service or anything. Not knowing what was going to happen, we just came here.

As I looked ahead, I felt grateful to at least accompany my husband on his parent's death anniversary. I wasn't sure if that was because Asher was told by Rufina, to let me come. Maybe Asher or Riccardo didn't want me here. I didn't know.

The priest finished a prayer when we reached there. It was Asher's parent's death anniversary that day. His mom's in particular but they did the rituals on the same day. Rufina had told me about today's programme. I had a single red rose in my hand that I wanted to give to my husband's parents respectively. I wanted to say goodbye properly. They wouldn't see me.

Never could.

But I only had single rose and I kept staring at it wondering whose grave should i keep it on. I looked over my shoulder to watch Rufina pull out a red rose from her gown pocket. She offered it to me and i smiled at her.

I understood his grief and pain. I understood that he was upset with me, but what I wouldn't allow him to do was make me feel worse than I already did. I felt like such an idiot, thinking low of Asher and keeping his mother's only thing he had, from him.

I looked at Asher as Rufina pulled me to a stop just ahead of the bare crowd. He dipped his head, and I could see his eyes moisten. He looked at me with a hardened gaze that flicked between me and Rufina. I wondered if he regretted the decision of bringing me here but he should've known better. I lost my mother, too, and I never even got to see her. But he lost both of them.

Rufina released my hand and gave me a confirming nod. I continued the rest of the way up to Asher. I headed straight up to him. All this while, I could see Riccardo's hard-burning gaze on me. Turning away from him, I faced the cemetery, covered with fresh flowers, where Maria Salvatore was laid to rest forever. I never thought I would experience this day. I walked right up to Asher and laid the rose on top of the grave. I did likewise for her husband, Giovanni Salvatore.

He placed his hand on the cool wet surface of the grave and stayed like that for a few moments. Then, slowly, a tear trailed down his cheek. They weren't there, and he yearned them to see them, to meet them. He squeezed his eyes shut and that was when I went towards him and clutched his hand. He lifted his head and I found myself deep into Asher's silver gaze, which was marred with agony. I covered his hand with mine, giving him a gentle squeeze, and that was how he found the strength to walk. To walk away.

I stayed in that position for sometime, thinking, while Asher left my side and disappeared somewhere. I figured he needed some space, and didn't follow him.

"Every day, we have to live with an unbearable pain in our hearts." A deep voice resonated behind me and I flinched. Riccardo.

"My nephew lost both his parents. I lost my brother, and a woman who was a good friend of mine, just like a sister." He continued and I frowned. Where was this leading to?

Getting up from my spot, I faced him. "I'm truly sorry for your loss. People say it gets better with time, I really hope so, too, even though it all seems like a lie sometimes." I whispered.

He passed me a grave look. "They were murdered."

My eyes widened at his blunt reply. "But why would anyone do that? They seemed like such nice people."

"Money blinds the nicest of the men. Wealth, power, respect. What else?" He laughed, but his laugh had no humour. I gulped.

"Who-who did it?" I managed to squeak.