Runaway Bride

A week later...

“Careful. Step, another one. We’re almost to the entrance.”

“Shut up, please!” I snap at Dawson.

I’m annoyed and unhappy with life.

It’s been a week since the surgery, and I still haven’t recovered my vision. Expectations for doing so were between 20 and 30%. The odds of staying this way forever were even higher than the odds of fixing it.

Why didn’t this happen to a murderer? To a criminal? To a corrupt person? Why, as cliché as it sounds, do bad things happen to good people?

While it is true that I have not been a saint, I do not deserve a wreath of flowers, and I do not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. However, I find it ridiculous, absurd, and even cruel that I, who have not intentionally caused harm to any person in my twenty-seven years of age, should be the one to receive this disgrace. Because it is what it is! My brain can’t help but think of how many people inhabit this world who are more deserving of misfortune in their lives than I am.

“You’re blind. You’re not a fucking idiot. If I tell you there’s a step, you lift your foot. One after another, and you walk. Nothing else. You limit yourself to that.”

“Don’t fuck with me, Dawson. I’m not in the mood,” I grumble.

I can’t believe he’s talking to me that way, even though that’s what I need right now.

When I don’t realize it, my brother knows what I need in my life. Now all I need is someone who won’t let me fall, who won’t let this ruin me, because I know for a fact that I can almost put my hands in the fire for it. I know I’m on the verge of a breakdown, and acknowledging it doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t tear a piece out of my body. I know depression firsthand; I lived it and felt it. She’s been a part of me since Arianna decided to leave my son’s and my side.

“I’m not either. I intended to be well away from here by this date.” He points me to another step.

Who’s the hell idea was it to put so many goddamn steps in the entryway?! Ah, yes, it was mine. What an idiot!

“I didn’t ask you to stay.” Then, bored and tired of being led by the hand to my own house, I grudgingly reply. “I didn’t ask you to delay your plans or stay the whole week at the clinic. You could have left. I know you intend to marry that young lady.”

“Two things, the first; you don’t have to ask me to stay, it’s implied and very much mine. You are my brother. The truth is that at this instant, I have no other place I want to be. No matter how I talk to you, how I treat you now... I know you are a tough nut to crack. You’re a tough guy, much tougher than me. You have kept your cool and your life intact since Arianna’s sudden and selfish death. I admire you and always will.”

I’m about to burst into tears like a fucking pussy. This man I’ve always labeled as crazy-headed and carefree has hit the nail right on the head. I can’t let myself be ruined. My son and my sanity depend on it.

worry about a thing,” he asserts as

you, Dawson,” I say with a lump in my throat. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for

you run away from me. I’m the real thorn in your ass.” We stop, and he releases me.

the second thing?” he

“What?”

First, the one who

don’t know her... You may have a thousand notions about Teresa and me, but the truth is that I haven’t stopped thinking about her since I met

you done?” Donatella’s voice makes me turn my head,

of my childhood, of my whole life, is still there and waiting for

receive a warm hug I

Dante’s age.

into raising and caring for Dante. I also closed the door of my heart and

though she can’t see me because she has her face tucked into my chest, I

haven’t stopped praying since Dawson called, saying you were going into surgery. I was praying for everything to go well.” He pulls away from my

my current condition. I don’t want anyone’s grief. It’s unnecessary. But

Dawson and me that it was

Mrs. Tatiana is on the balcony with little Dante. We were really

that, and memories of Arianna suddenly

see her storming out of the room after being in labor for hours. “What are you doing? Get back

white dress with thin, delicate sleeves, just like her. It came down to her feet, hid her heels, and let her silhouette show a little, for it was semi-transparent, like almost everything she wore. She wanted to give birth in the castle and refused to go to the hospital. She did not want to be seen in any medical facility. No one knew during her nine months that she was pregnant. I don’t know how I didn’t realize at the time that something was wrong with

me to walk to move from

the car. He hasn’t moved. Dawson takes it upon himself to carry me and instruct me when to climb each step. I thank him silently. It is enough

hear

angelic voice. I will no longer be able to hide my facade

Tatiana,” I greet and standstill since I don’t know

the hell is wrong with

because of