Omertà, Aufiero's Return

Epilogue

December 8th, 2016

"Noni, are you ready to leave?"

"Not yet ma"

I sighed and sat back on the couch. I swear this boy takes forever to get dressed. Five minutes later he came running from his room. "I'm all ready" He says. I smile at him and grab my purse.

"Can I sit up front?"

I nod and unlock the doors. "I cant wait to tell daddy about yesterday. He's going to be so proud of me"

"He is. You make him proud everyday"

Noni smiles and puts on his seatbelt. "I cant wait til we get there"

I didn't respond. I briefly closed my eyes and plugged the aux cord into my phone. I was in need of some gospel music. Better by Jessica Reedy had been my go to song lately and you best believe I had it on repeat the whole car ride.

Noni wakes up as we reach our destination. A big smile appears on his face. He tries to open the door but I keep pressing the lock.

"Mommy, can we get out now. Im ready to see daddy"

"Just wait" I say.

We sit in the car for a little bit longer. I needed to get my self together. My emotions always take over me when we come here.

As soon as I unlock the doors, Noni jumps out the car. He begans to run up the sidewalk.

"Stop running before you fall" I yell.

He freezes and waits for me to walk next to him.

He knows his way around the place now. We've been here so many times Im surprised it took him this long to remember how to get there.

Noni looks back and smiles at me and I feel my emotions getting the best of me.

Here we go.

Flashback

The doctors finally told me I could go see Aufiero. My heart is racing. I dont know how he looks. I prepare for the worst as I walk in.

I let out a breath of relief as I look at ny husband lying in a hospital bed wide awake. I could tell he was in pain but at least he was alive. He gave me a forced smile. I walked next to his bed and bent over to kiss his cheek. He winced and my heart dropped.

"Its okay Noelle" He whispered. His voice is extremly raspy. "You look beautiful"

"Aufiero" I say with a chuckle. He interlocks his fingers with mine.
He closes his eyes and for a second I thought he died right then and there but he opened them. "I cant stay long. I habe to pick Noni up. I could come back tonight if you'd like."

"No dont. The doctors say I need to rest. Come in the morning before you take him to school"

"Okay. I will."

After a bit of a struggle, he sits up. "I love you Noelle"

"I love you too"

"Forever?"

"Forever and always"

This time, I kiss his lips. He weakly smiles into the kiss breaking it. "Go get my son. Don't leave him waiting."

I smile and lean up. "Okay. I'll see you in the morning then"

"Tell Noni I love him"

"Will do Aufiero. Get some rest."

Flashback over

I wiped away the falling tears from my eyes. The wind began to blow making me shiver. I walked over to Noni and sat down next to him

Beloved Son, Father, and Husband.

Aufiero Nicholas Di Laura

August 29, 1988 - October 1st 2016

Noni sat with his hand on Aufiero's headstone. I closed my eyes and continued to let the tears fall while I listened to Noni talk to him.

"And they called my name and I walked on stage and I got a trophy for being the best student for the month. And I got other trophies because I was really good in reading. Grandma Eva says you were good in reading too. I think I wanna be just like you when I grow up. I thought I wanted to be like mommy but no. She's cries all the time and you said big boys don't cry."

I laugh and nudge him. "Do you want to talk to dad?" I nod and he scoots over so I could get closer.

I run my fingers over his name. I thought I was feel a piece of him but I didn't. Sighing, I swallowed and began to talk.

"Hi. It's been wild. I keep thinking you're going to come home but you don't. Sometimes I end up sleeping in Noni's room cause I get scared all alone in our room. That's normal though. Right? I don't know. I just really miss you. I miss everything about you and to know I wont ever see you again kills me." I stopped to wipe my face. "Anyways, I still pray for you every night. I hope you're having a good time up there in heaven. Tell Jesus I said hey"

Noni laughs and I laugh too.

"Our son is so smart. But you already knew that. He's starting to favor you a lot more. I dont know if Im just seeing it because you're not here anymore or... I dont know. Your parents are doing okay. They come by a lot. We've been eating dinner there every Sunday night. Your sister moved to Texas. She just kinda up and left after your funeral. The boys check on us a lot. We're really thankful for them. As for me, Im slowly managing but I'll be fine. These things take time yknow."

Lighting flashed in the sky. "We have to go" Noni tells me.

"Anyways, I guess we're gonna leave now. I love you"

"I love you too Dad" Noni yells. I chuckle. We both sit and stare at his headstone for a bit longer. The wind blows some pieces of grass and flowers onto us. A white rose petal lands on my hand.

Flashback

"These are my favorite flowers." Aufiero said to me. I smiled. "White roses. Why?"

"They were my grandma's favorite. She grew them in her backyard. She'd make me pick some whenever we were having big family dinners and she'd put them in the middle of the table. That was one of my last days with her"
I didn't respond verbally. I just kissed his cheek. He snaked his arm around my waist. "Lets go"

Flashback over

A sense of comfort and content came about. It was like I felt him next to me which was comforting and scary at the same time. I set the petal on top of his headstone and stood up.

"Cmon, lets go home"

Yikes. So. The end. 🌚
You guys probably didn't expect that right? Lol. Surprise. I guess. 💀 Anyways, I just wanted to say thank you ti everyone for reading and especially to everyone thats commented. Some if you guys are hilarious. I will be starting a new story soon. Its told from a homeless man's perspective so if you're interested in reading that, be on the lookout for that soon.

Make sure to vote and comment. And recommend this and the first Omerta story to people.

Love you guys.

-Lolaaa.