Chapter 35

How significantly can one choice change a life? Standing in the doorway and looking down at the bruised figure laying still on the cold concrete floor, Luca felt himself forgetting to breathe for a faint moment. He knew if he took one step over the invisible line that was drawn between him, and her his life would be over. ‘Mine or hers? Mine or hers? He kept repeating the phrase in his mind even though he already knew the answer to it. His hands trembled at his side as his feet slowly crossed the line, he was so desperately anxious to cross throughout his life. Was the iceberg he built around his heart broken down piece by piece by her when he did not notice?

Maisie’s eyes shot open, and he stopped. Lifeless eyes stared back at him. They were dull, the light that they once held was gone broken to pieces.

“M - Maisie,” The voice that left his lips even sounded foreign to him.

She did not move. She did not speak but only stared back at him emotionlessly. Her face was bruised, her lips swollen, she looked unrecognizable.

“I - I’m sorr,” he stopped himself before the words would fully be spoken out. He was only supposed to say it in his mind, he never meant to speak it out loud. ‘What would his apologies help now?’ he thought to himself.

His feet and body started moving on their own before he could even comprehend what he was doing. He quickly took off his jacket and covered her with it. He picked her up and hurried out of the room. He did not know what he was doing. He did not plan this out at all but only knew at that moment that he had to get her out before Leo or anyone else returned. Fortunately, the hallway was empty. Luca opened the steel door that separated them from outside. Droplets fell upon his face. The loads had darkened the skies. Thunder echoed in the distance as the lightning made its light.

“Have I ever done anything good in his life?’ Luca thought to himself.

Sometimes he wondered why he was even born since his existence on earth only harmed more than good.

Looking down at her in his arms he whispered,

“I will be selfish once again and save you not for yourself but for me”.

Without wasting any more time Luca rushed toward his car ignoring the men that have noticed him and started shouting. He quickly wiped the droplets from his face as he closed the back door and quickly got into the driver's seat and sped off.

Luca looked in the rearview mirror as he slowly drove away at the gurney that was rushed into the hospital by the doctors and nurses. His heart felt emptier than it ever felt. He never once knew love or happiness before he met her. Sure enough, she was different. She changed something in him that he was unaware of. Unfortunately, one’s eyes only open when it’s too late. Too late to turn back time and change the past. She made him whole. She made the spark that died that day of his mother’s death took flame again. But now he was the murderer of her spark. He killed hers by handing her over to Leo. Luca’s eyes stared forward at the heavy rain that fell against the road.

Luca knew he was dead. Leo would have sent his men. Orders would be given to kill him at sight.

The roar of the engine mixed with the sound of the rain sounded in the background. He laid his arms on the steering wheel and looked left. Left would take him home. The home he had known since he was seven. His head turned right. The traffic light had long ago turned green and the cars behind him sounded their horns angrily requesting him to move. Turning right he could change the course of his life. Choosing right he would have to forever be on the run and never again be able to see her, he would never get to touch her lips as she smiled at him with that glint in her eyes. The traffic light turned yellow. He knew what he had to do. Without using his signals Luca turned left and led the road led him to his death.

A lot of men were standing outside. Drenching themself in the rain, but no one would dare to complain since Leo was outside with them. Luca was instantly noticed as he entered the gates. Leo was furious. He yanked out his gun and aimed it directly at Luca. Luca stopped the car and looked straight at Leo feeling no fear as he stared into the hole of the gun.

“Bang” The sound echoed through the sky.

Luca closed his eyes on reflex but felt no pain. His eyes shot open then widened when he noticed Leo was the one sliding to the floor.

Everyone was paying attention to Leo, and no one noticed the other car that had pulled up behind Luca.

Cars started piling in and surrounding them. Men climbed out and directly started shooting.

Luca watched his “brothers” dropped down one after the other. This was his brothers, even though they were going to kill him he could not watch them die without doing anything Luca climbed out and instantly felt the bullet as it pierced into his shoulder.

He grabbed his shoulder. He was instantly pressed against the open door.

“Where the fuck is my sister?” Kevin screamed through clenched teeth in Luca’s face.

‘She’s safe.” Luca mumbled. The heavy downpour of rain made the sound even more difficult to hear.

“Where?” Kevin shouted.

With his last strength, Luca grabbed Kevin by the collar and pulled him closer.

“She’s safe. She's -She’s at the memorial hospital.” Kevin pushed Luca back and instantly shot him in the forehead upon hearing his answer.

“I’ve seen a million faces, a million different faces. Each one mirrored the falsity of this world, and then I met yours, and truthfully it was the first time it felt like home.

I remember now what it felt like to hold you,

I remember now what it was like to stare blindly into your eyes for what felt like an eternity.

How could I have forgotten and been so blind?

I was a fool. I let you slip through my fingers and ruin the beauty that you were.

If there’s another life, I promise to find you again and this time I will love you.

I will find you and love you.