Saved in Darkness

Chapter 17

Song above for Chapter: "All The Kings Horsemen"--Karmina

FEDERICO

I spent the hours driving to Skaneateles reading and re-reading the note Elenora gave Domani with the signed divorce papers. She included an ultrasound that confirms we were going to have twins and the wedding band she was still wearing.

Her note is short but direct.

Rico,

From the very beginning, I tried not to love you. Even after learning the truth about your intentions. Though we were apart all these months, you were always with me through our baby.

But the darkness and the hate in your heart that was not only planted but still nurtured by Rosetta's manipulations and lies has shut out what little you might have felt for me at one time. Yet, it doesn't change the fact that I'm still sorry I hurt you.

I know you well enough that there's no changing your mind about what I did, or what you think my father did to your parents so, I'm giving you what you want and 'setting you free' as you called it.

I hope once you discover the truth about everything, you'll be able to have some peace in your mind and in your heart, because you deserve that.

~Nora

Her words replay in my head as I stare out the window, rolling her wedding band in my fingers. Domani's voice breaks through my thoughts telling me we're here.

The town is not as small as I thought it would be, but I'm still shocked to find where Elenora has been living all this time.

"This is where she's been living?" Mostro voice's my thoughts, standing in the doorway of the tiny studio apartment.

I can hardly believe it myself. It's no bigger than four hundred square feet, however, the loft above the micro kitchen makes it look larger than it is. There are a lot of her touches in the way she's decorated, but the place is pretty bare.

Some of her photography equipment is set in a corner. It gives me a sense of relief that she's been able to maintain her craft during this time.

I make my way up to the loft, finding the small twin bed she's been sleeping in. Turning on the lamp I find a framed photo on the small nightstand. It's a picture she took of us when we were on the carriage ride she had surprised me with.

I sit on the bed, holding the frame as the vivid memory comes to my mind. It was a long and frustrating day after waking up thinking I had betrayed her with Angela.

But I remember the elation that came over me seeing her waiting outside the hotel with a big smile on her face. Her eyes were squinted like they are in the picture.

I don't even recognize myself in the picture; the smile on my face only adds to the pain inside of me. I set the frame down and pick up a small book that looks more like a photo album with a large envelope underneath. My name is written on it.

The dark blue cover of the album is engraved with, The story of you. I open the cover and find a small picture of Luca's hotel with a date underneath it—the date of the speed dating event.

I recognize her handwriting as she also added a note and a smile spreads on my face as I read: "It all started with a kiss..."

I flip the page, and there's an ultrasound with the two images within the picture circled. "There were two of you at first." She adds little hearts and smiley faces; my vision begins to blur.

There's only one little image in the ultrasound on the next page. "But...sometimes not all twins walk side by side, sometimes one has wings to fly."

The pictures that follow are of her standing in front of a mirror facing forward or to the side. She's written the date and the number of weeks she is in each photo, and also what she felt during that week in regards to symptoms, what she was craving, if anything.