Chapter 5 - THE MOTHER WHO NEVER REALLY LEFT
Vincent found the box in the attic.
He had packed Catherine's photographs himself.
Family vacations.
Birthdays.
Christmas mornings.
Ordinary afternoons.
He carried the box downstairs.
Maria saw him.
Her eyes filled.
“Mr. Romano.”
He nodded.
“I think it's time.”
Together, they began returning the photographs to the walls.
One by one.
Catherine laughing in the kitchen.
Luca asleep on her shoulder.
Vincent holding both of them at the beach.
When Luca came downstairs, he stopped.
His eyes widened.
He looked from one photograph to another.
Then ran toward the hallway.
Vincent watched.
Luca touched the frame showing Catherine holding him as a baby.
His small hand trembled.
Vincent knelt beside him.
“That's Mommy.”
Luca nodded.
Vincent swallowed.
“I took the pictures down because they made me sad.”
His voice broke.
“But I shouldn't have.”
Luca looked at him.
Vincent continued.
“I'm sorry.”
The boy stared.
Then leaned against his father.
Vincent wrapped an arm around him.
For the first time, they stood together in front of Catherine's photographs.
Not pretending she had never existed.
Not hiding the pain.
Simply remembering.
That evening, Emily arrived.
She saw the hallway.
Her face softened.
“They're beautiful.”
Vincent nodded.
“Catherine loved taking pictures.”
Emily smiled.
“I can tell.”
Luca ran toward her carrying a drawing.
A green dragon.
A beach.
Three people.
Emily studied it.
“Is this your family?”
Luca nodded.
She smiled.
“It's wonderful.”
Vincent looked at the drawing.
Three people.
Not two.
May you like
Luca hadn't erased his mother.
He had simply found a way to keep her with him.
