The Tragedy of Marco

Chapter II: The Past

Mary Adams met Leonardo Garis in 1987. He was everything she has ever wished for. His eyes calmed her while his arms filled her with passion. Mary loved her Leo profoundly and for him, she was the goddess of love herself.

One summer day they were sitting on a hill, surrounded by giant oak trees. Even though nature prepared them a magnificent atmosphere, they didn't notice the birds singing nor the light breeze of June. Mary had eyes only of her lover, and as for himself ... he was nervously trying to find the right moment to speak to his Venus.

"Are you enjoying, my dear?"

"Oh Leo," said Mary joyfully. "It is wonderful."

"Mary, I love you," confessed Leonardo, now visibly nervous.

"I love you too, darling! Are you okay? You look very pale and you are sweating. Leo, is everything alright?"

Leonardo then stood up, coughed and prepared himself for a speech. Mary stood up too and looked him in the eyes.

"Honey, we can go home if you don't feel well," she said.

"No, no. I am fine. I need to tell you something."

Leonardo took her gentle hand in his and gazed deeply in Mary's eyes. In a moment he created a dazing atmosphere and the energy between the lovers became so thick both could physically feel it.

"Mary, ever since I first met you I have been madly in love with you. You have lightened a fire in me that cannot be extinguished. Because of you I want to become a better man, a man that you will love and be proud of. I don't know what force of nature sent you on my path and I am still not sure whether I deserve you or not, but I promise you, my love, that I will love and protect you till the end of the world. I will try to understand you and make you happy. I will do everything to make you smile every morning. And if you feel down, I will be there to listen to your silence until you fell asleep. I will not wipe your tears away, as sometimes they are the best you can do. But I will be there. I will be the shoulder to cry on. I will always be the warmth to lull you and make you feel loved. I might sound like a cliché promisor to you, but I swear on every god I have ever believed in, that I will try to make you the happiest woman alive. Because I love you, I love you more than Sun loves the Moon and I need you more than grass needs rain. I need you and I can't imagine a life without you."

With teary eyes he kneelt on one knee, took a simple wooden ring out of his pocket and continued.

"Mary Josephine Adams, will you marry me?"

*

Their wedding was modest and only the closest relatives and friends were invited. Leonardo wore suit and bow tie that his friends had helped him pick, and, to be honest, he looked magnificent. A little white rose boutonniere worn pinned on the label of his black tuxedo was cherry on top of a cake. Mary walked down the aisle in a white lace dress with white flowers embroidery. She looked like an angel blessed with a gift of youth and beauty or as Leo described it later; she was the most gorgeous of them all. She was his Aphrodite.

After a fortnight honeymoon trip they moved to a house in a lovely and relaxed neighbourhood. It was small, with two bedrooms, but Mary was determined to make it the best home for Leo as possible. Leonardo worked as a postman while Mary stayed home, taking care of the household. From time to time, she would organize a tea party and invite all the neighbours. Everybody loved the Garis couple. The positive energy around them was so strong you couldn't do anything else but smile.

Mary and Leonardo never had a lot of money and their life was empty of luxury. They struggled and worked hard to get all the necessities needed to start a family life, but at the end of the day, when they sat down on sofa and hugged, all the bad had been forgotten.

*

On 10th of March, 1989 Mary gave birth to a healthy boy. They named him Marco Sebastian. He had green eyes after his father and light brown, curly hair after his mother. Leonardo told all the neighbours that his Marco is the most beautiful son anyone has ever seen.

Marco grew quickly. After two years, Leo was already constructing him a bed while Mary was checking the newspaper for the best nursery. Soon after that Marco was in first grade of school. Mary now worked in a pastry shop and Leonardo often went there to greet his wife and have a piece of his favourite cheesecake.

Their family life was perfect and it seemed like they will have a happily ever after, but life is not a fairytale and long are gone the times of happy endings. There was a storm planned for Garis couple.