The Don

71

Kiara

The streets were busy so I decided to go off road to avoid anyone reporting a run away nurse on the highway. The first person I encountered was an elderly homeless man who probably lost track of the last time he showered. I took his stench before I took in his appearance. Imagine I tackled the poor man to the ground desperate for the dirty clothes on his back. It made no sense to ask nicely he would not doubt ignore me or ask for something in return like food, money or drugs. I just needed an outfit change as soon as possible. Unfortunately for me, despite the training I undergone with Dario, my body was weak so and this man was not only taller but bigger than me so he overpowered me easily. He punched me several times in the face and I tumbled onto my back groaning in pain. I start kicking and thrashing wildly when I felt him touch my clothes. There's no way I'm getting assaulted by a vagrant. I kicked him hard where the sun doesn't shine and watched him fall to his knees holding his dirty jewels for dear life. I ceased the opportunity and ran like my life depended on it because today it really did. I wasn't too certain where I was but I figured it wasn't far off from the city. My face was in pain and I could feel it growing swollen. I can't believe my current predicament.
I had been on my feet for hours and it was growing dark. I had no clue where I was headed and I had no real plan. I just had a goal and that was to be free. I was not goin back to the Romano estate. I made up my mind and there was no turning back now. After everything that I've been through I don't deserve to be tied to that family any longer. I feel selfish for even thinking that way knowing it means my son may never see his mother again. I never loved a human being as much as I love Matteo that's why my heart aches so much at the thought of never seeing him again, never holding him again and missing all his milestones in life. My heart aches knowing he'll be growing without either of his parents. No matter how I felt towards Dario, it actually bothers me a bit that the choice to rip him out of Matteo's life was not mine.  I keep taking loss after loss and it's been draining these past few years. Every time I felt like I was adjusting to this lifestyle, like I could survive it after all something terrible came knocking on my doorstep. I was taking 1 step forward to take 10 right back and it wasn't fair. I had nobody and the only person I had, the only persons I truly cared for, the ones who held my heart in their hands were the same ones I was trying to leave behind. I knew there was a chance that they would never forgive me. Matteo might grow up to resent his mother and Kiana, oh God she was right to blame me for what she's been through at the hands of Rafael. She was dragged into this because of me. Yet, Rafael is dead and I am still leaving her all alone in a world she has nothing to do with, a world she wants nothing to do with and worse with the responsibility of raising a child—my child.

Kiana had always been my human diary, my shoulder to lean on, my comforter, friend and sister. I knew I would always have a friend with Kiana in my life. She was the best and I had such big dreams for us. Back in America, we had a shitty life but we had each other so we were content, it was enough for us. We were young adults who loved alcohol, sex and parties and we spent everyday in each other's presence. We did everything together and rightfully so considering that we were roommates. We studied together, cooked together, slept together, laughed together and when times were bad we even cried together. It all made us become even closer and made our friendship stronger. There wasn't anything we wouldn't get through as long as we had each other. Honestly, Kiana has been like my soul mate from the moment I met her. We just instantly clicked and I can't imagine my life without her. Maybe I should just head back to the mansion and cry in my best friend's arms once again. I may very well be wasting my time and energy looking for a way out of this hell hole. Afterall, how far could I get without someone recognizing the wife of Dario Romano, a missing person at that. Dario took the right precautions in ensuring I would be stuck to him for life. The minute I try to leave Italy, Marcel would probably be alerted and although he knows I have every right to leave given the situation I doubt he would simply allow me to leave of my own free will. Even if he did, I have no money, no passport and very little hope. I feel as broken as I probably look right now. That's when it hit me like a rush. There might be a way after all.
*
*
I can't believe I walked all the way to the city on bare feet. I'm even too afraid to look at them knowing I probably sustained a number of blisters and bruises. It had been two days since I fled the hospital and I am currently in an alleyway digging the trashcans like a raccoon in search of food. I haven't eaten since and my stomach had been screaming at me. I never thought I would resort to this but I have been creeping in the shadows for two days with no money and no food. It is the longest that I have been without food in my system for a long period and honestly I don't believe I can go any longer without passing out of exhaustion, hunger and dehydration. I sank my teeth into the first piece of decent-ish looking food I got my hands on then crossed the street with my eyes casted down. I walked for miles until I stopped for another food break. I was lucky this time as I reached a huge bin right behind a popular bakery that Dario took me to once. There's no doubt I'll score something to eat here. I shrieked seeing the huge rats I was in competition with as they scurried along like a family doing grocery shopping. Everything I ate earlier immediately came up as I emptied my stomach on the ground and on my toes. I was a mess—a dirty mess. I was in need of a shower or a nice warm bath—maybe even both if the opportunity presented itself. This must be my karma for trying to leave my son behind. I sighed and found myself climbing the bin reaching in it for anything that could hold me ANYTHING AT ALL. I was able to get a half eaten cannoli and threw it in my mouth without so much as a thought. It was delicious to say the least. I reached further into the bin blindly unable to see much with my little height even despite standing on my tip toes. Something sharp pricked me and I grabbed it seeing it was a broken scissors. I could use this as a weapon. I reached down from the bin and an idea hit me. Without a mirror or any sense of direction I began cutting my hair as I sat besides the bin. If I needed to blend it I had to not look like Kiara Romano. I contemplated this long and hard but I couldn't continue to roam the streets in this nurse' uniform. I didn't want it to come to this but as a last resort it would have to do. The male vagrants do it so maybe I can bare it. I stripped out of the nurse dress leaving me in the vest I had on when I woke up in the hospital and the boxer panty I have been wearing for over four days now—at least it's not a thong. Walking through the city I ignored the judgmental and hungry looks I received from people as I walked by barely clothed. I needed to get to my destination as soon as possible if I had any chance of making it out alive. Nighttime had fallen yet again and I found myself in an area I had never been to. Still, it doesn't take a genius to know a pimp lane when I see one. The prostitutes were practically flagging down every car that drove by. I crossed the road towards them earning some laughs and disgusted looks as I passed by. One street worker was just hopping out of a beat up looking car and it was about to drive off until I managed to stop the driver.
"Per favore, per favore, ho bisogno di un passaggio. È un'emergenza."
(Please, please, I need a ride. It's an emergency.)
"Come sembro una puttana di taxi? Allontana la tua puzza dalla mia macchina!" And he sped off. Embarrassing. Fucking asshole.
(What do I look like a taxi whore? Get your stink out of my car!)