Made of Steel

54. I need her

Adriano Di Lauro

I read the messages without believing it. How is it possible that she has seen my stupid face all this time? No, I refuse to believe it. She loves me... We have a son and we are about to have a little girl. It is impossible.

"Adriano...", she stops short when she sees her cell phone in my hands.

"Give me a good explanation for this, Stella," I demand. "Tell me it's a joke."

The solitary tear on his cheek coupled with her lowered head shatters my hopes. "I am sorry."

"Are you sorry?" I don't know if I exclaim or snort. "How could you?!"

"You're drowning me, Adriano!" she yells out of her mind. "You are cold, uncaring; you don't love me, but you won't let me go."

"I don't love you?!", the rage grows more intense with each passing second. "I live to you and for you. I have given you everything, Stella! You are the only woman in my life."

"Well, you don't show it and to be honest, I don't care. I deserve to be happy next to a man who knows how to love me..."

"Will you be happy leaving your life full of riches? Leaving your children? Our children!", I add red with anger. "How can you even think of abandoning them?"

"It's for the best!", she replies without any remorse. "I will not be a good mother, Adriano. Being the Man of Steel was to big for me. I would have preferred you not to find out, but..."

"Sure, a letter was the right choice."

"So are the things."

"Well, I'm not going to allow it", I grab her shoulders to shake her, "do you hear me?"

"You can't stop me!", She resists my grasp. "Let me go!"

"No!"

She inadvertently makes a sudden movement that takes us against the wall.

Then chaos breaks loose.

There is blood, too much blood...

From one moment to another I find myself wandering in the corridor of a hospital.

"The baby was born in perfect condition despite being premature," a doctor tells me.

"What about my wife?" Her smile fades from her face and I fear the worst. "Where is my wife?! Stella?!"

"I'm sorry, she didn't resist the delivery..."

No. She's dead... It was my fault.

What have I done?

I must die with her, I want to.

I am despicable.

'I was yours even before we got married, Adriano', a sweet voice comes to mind, but I ignore it.

I can not go on. I destroy everything I touch...

'You have saved me in every possible way,' the same voice replies.

It isn't true. Love destroys. I will never love again...

'You must wake up, my man of steel'

I do not want...

'I need you'

Those words seem magical, as memories come to mind like snapshots.

Cassandra... My wife loves me, she makes me strong, she loves my children, she needs me and I... need her.

My eyes snap open, only to be met by the most spectacular emeralds I have ever seen.

"Oh my Gosh!", the sobs are not long in coming as I familiarize myself with the surroundings. "You've awakened!"