Chapter 7 - THE CHILD WHO NEVER CAME HOME
Alessandro visited the veterinary clinic two weeks later.
Not to see me.
At least, that's what he claimed.
He arrived carrying a small black dog with a bandaged paw.
Dr. Lane looked at him.
“What happened?”
“Found him near the highway.”
I stared.
The dog was trembling.
I stepped forward.
“Let me help.”
Alessandro looked surprised.
“Madison.”
I smiled faintly.
“Hello.”
The dog had a minor paw injury and was dehydrated.
Dr. Lane treated him.
I helped clean his fur.
He licked my hand.
I laughed.
Alessandro watched quietly.
Afterward, we stood outside the clinic.
Snow had begun melting along the sidewalks.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Better.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
I hesitated.
“Thank you for the sweater.”
He smiled faintly.
“Rosa insisted.”
I laughed.
“Of course she did.”
For a moment, we stood in silence.
Then I asked:
“Was Lucia really your niece?”
His expression changed.
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't—”
“No.”
He looked toward the street.
“You deserve an answer.”
Lucia had been five when she died.
Her father, Alessandro's younger brother, had been driving her home from a birthday party.
A vehicle crossed the center line.
The crash killed both of them.
Alessandro had arrived at the scene before the ambulance.
He'd tried to help.
But there was nothing he could do.
“I couldn't save them,” he said quietly.
I looked at him.
“I'm sorry.”
He nodded.
“When I saw you in the snow, I thought of Lucia.”
My chest tightened.
He continued.
“I knew I couldn't leave you there.”
Tears filled my eyes.
For the first time, I understood why he'd stopped.
It wasn't because he was powerful.
It wasn't because he wanted something.
May you like
It was because he'd once lost people he loved on a winter road.
And he couldn't bear to watch it happen again.
