The Death of Me | A mafia story

Chapter 48 - The sun, the sea and the sky

Alex's POV

It was beautiful.

The way the sun casted its golden rays upon the clouds, turning them bright red; fire red.

Looking towards the horizon, I could vividly see the fiery red orb slowly dip into the ocean as though engulfed by it. Mesmerized, I watched as the leaving sun dyed the heavens a bright orange and turned the ocean a deep blood red.

I sucked into a deep breath as I pulled my knees up and crossed my arms over them before i rested my head on the top. The side of my temple touched the skin of my arm while my eyes stayed focused on the scenery ahead of me.

I liked this place. I liked this house. I liked it here. His absence allowed a different type of freedom to rush through my veins. His absence gave me peace..something i didn't realize i was craving this long.

His absence — i closed my eyes and took in a fresh gulp of air — allowed me to finally breathe.

A hand on my shoulder pulled me out of my trance. It startled me, for a moment, it even scared me. I shook that thought away as i lifted my head up looking at the intruder that interrupted my moment of peace.

William gave me a small smile, nodding his head to the house, he said, "Come inside, dinner is ready."

I shook my head, "I am not hungry."

"But you are not eating well since you came back." He said, his eyebrows furrowing together in worry. Dad also used to worry when I didn't eat well.

Something heavy pulled at my chest. The thought alone reminded me of the weight i am still carrying. Of the nightmare i cannot escape, neither at day nor at night.

A long breath sneaked past my lips and I shook my head again before I turned it back and eyed the sun, the sea and the sky.

They were similar to us in a way.

The sun and the sky stayed together, hand by hand they went through the day. But when the night came, the sea pulled the sun down, tearing it away, leaving behind this bloody red lines, a living proof of its struggle.

"What did he do to you?" William said, it wasn't a question that he needed me to answer. It was a way of putting together words that showed worry, that showed fear, and that reflected care. The words hung in the air as he, minutes later, stood up and went back inside leaving me alone to my thoughts.

It's not what he did to me...It's what he made me do. It's the peace that he took away from me, it's the knife he made me hold, and the bullet he made me fire.

It's the promise that i made, the one i still carry over my shoulders, heavy, tiring, and hard for me to keep.

I blinked trying to kick every bad though away and trying to indulge myself into another moment of peace. The source of light had left us, sinking back into this raging sea. Night was ready to take on, darkness waiting the best moment to swoop in and envelop every corner.

I took in a deep breath, letting the fresh air back into my lungs. I was ready to get up and get inside but something stopped me. The sound of footsteps nearing made me freeze in my spot.