David and Goliath

ROSALINA'S POV

(Eighteen years old)

After Papa's death, I spent the rest of my years with my grandparents. The warmth that I had felt in our home faded away over time because I was discovering more about the illegal activities my family did to earn money, to bring food to our table, and to provide for me.

My whole life was practically built upon piles and piles of blood-money.

The more I learned about my family's wrongdoings, the more I figured out why Mamma left us.

Nonna was the only one who ever talked about her when we were in privacy. Otherwise, Nonno would get livid for uttering her name. My Mamma was the bringer of shame to our family and to my Papa, and Nonno regarded her as good as dead.

That's how Nonno expressed his hatred, by forcing everyone to forget about the person who crossed him. Because they weren't worthy of living, not even in our heads.

I was dying to see my mamma. Not just because I still loved her, but because I needed answers for why she did what she did