caller • mattia polibio

019.

It was too quiet when Claudia had no company.
Her family home wasn't necessary small but when it felt like it was just her around, it felt too big, too lonely. There were four rooms, only two were still used, well since her dad barely came home, you could narrow it down to just the one. Claudia contemplated asking if they could buy a pet, or visit the local animal shelter, just so she had someone to come home to.

She was sat with a few of her most fluffiest blankets on the couch, sweet popcorn in her lap and the Harry Potter movies lay on the table. Claudia decided to bring her self to the living room, she had this house to herself but still stayed hidden in her room. Now onto the fourth movie, she heard the front door click and shoes kicked off in the hall.

Her father stood in the hall, face hidden by the darkness, there was a sense that the only darkness in the room wasn't the lighting. Claudia paused the television, placing the bowl down besides the pile of movies and turned to face the large figure.

"Pa? Is everything okay?"

"Tesoro.." His accent was still thickly Italian, but you could hear the disrupt emotion in his voice. "..Your Uncle has been transferred to the hospital, he just isn't getting better. They have advised we start to bid our goodbyes."

Time stopped.

Her Uncle was the more carefree brother, sneaking sweets to young Claudia, letting her stay up late when babysitting, buying her the most messiest Christmas presents. He always told her dad to loosen up a bit as he was dangling Claudia upside down, spinning her around, swinging pillows around expensive ornaments.

A tear fell down her cheek, memories running through her head, how much it was going to hurt to lose such an amazing man. With means of comfort, her dad stroked her back, not being the most affectionate, he too was silently crying with her.

——————

Beeping of the heart machine was the only sound.
Claudia rested on the side of the hospital bed, hand holding on to the large one of her uncle's, his eyes were closed and face looked pale. She wanted to take a solo visit to see him, to be in his company one last time and to say goodbye.

"Zio, I love you. You kept the fun when Pa tried to drain it. I wish.. I wish you could just hold on. I met a boy, he is simply the sweetest, you should be there to protect me when i eventually tell Pa." Claudia smiled with teary eyes as she felt a squeeze on her hand. "I wish you didn't have to leave us, leave Dad. I am going to miss you and forever will love you Zio."

Claudia stood up and kissed her uncle on his forehead, letting go of his hand and headed for the door.

That's when the flatline of the monitor followed.