82. Mother's Plan

When Carlo opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was an intense white light, stark and endless, as though he were suspended in a pure void—a sensation so surreal he almost thought he’d reached heaven.

But the sharp, searing pain in his body quickly pulled him back to reality. His vision gradually focused, and he noticed his right leg bound tightly in plaster, suspended in mid-air, while a thick bandage wrapped around his head sent waves of heat and pressure. Any slight movement caused his head to throb as if it would split open.

Nearby, he could hear Valentina’s soft sobs, as if she had been crying for hours. Her voice was weak, yet tinged with relentless sorrow. When she saw Carlo was awake, her quiet sobbing turned into relieved, almost frantic weeping as she clasped his hand, tears streaming down her face. “Son, you’re finally awake. I’m so sorry. I never thought things would turn out like this... I almost—almost lost you.”

The meaning of her words eluded him, but Carlo gripped