Her promise

The night was heavy, swollen with thunder, as if the sky itself had decided to spill all its grief over the city. Hammering rain was followed by loud thunder. Thick drops pounded against the asphalt, bursting into shallow puddles that were suddenly interrupted by footsteps that echoed through the silent and deserted street. Water was splashing over her shoes, wetting her cold legs. The speed of her steps was in rhythm with her rapid breathing. Someone had been following her for weeks and was now just behind her. When she got in front of the building of the apartment complex, she leaned on the wet and cold wall of red bricks, consoling herself a bit. Under a flickering light of a lamppost she spotted her sister running in her direction. A wet piece of paper clutched in her hand was the only thing she was holding on to. She knew her time here was done. Her heart felt it, her head confirmed it to her. Through whispers, a prayer slipped from her lips, and then she felt cold metal leaning on her head and the short click of the gun announcing the shot through her head. The last thing before she collapsed on the wet asphalt she saw was her sister's face. She felt her arms around her shoulders, her tears running down her cheeks. Calling all the leftover strength and life in herself, she muttered one name to her sister. "Roberto Moretti." ONE WEEK LATER Seven days. It felt like an eternity spent in pain and agony. The grief was too much and too big. She could hear the cars outside, children's laughs echoed in the park from across the street, people rumbled through the streets. Everything and everyone moved except her. Inside the apartment, time had thickened into something heavy and unmoving. Memories of that night were haunting her every hour, every minute and every second. Grief sat there with her like an unwelcome guest, clinging to every part of her being. Her phone buzzed for the sixth time that morning. She already knew who it was. There was no need to check it. The next second, a knock on the door followed by a familiar voice echoed through her apartment. "Selena, open up, or I am breaking the lock again!" Judith's voice rang through the door, dramatic and impatient. Softer voice followed her order. "Please, don't make her do that. I can't keep up with her tantrums anymore." Steven. Even through the closed door she could feel and see his worried face. Selena forced herself to stand, her body betraying her, and opened the door. Judith walked in first bringing a burst of perfume, curly hair and chaotic energy. "My God, Selena love, you look like you have crawled out of a war. When was the last time you slept? Or showered? Or blinked?" Steven slipped in behind her holding a bag of groceries and two cups of coffee. "Ignore her. She means no harm. Mostly." Judith glanced in his direction and pulled Selena onto her chest, caressing her cheek gently. Selena managed to give them a faint smile. "I am...I am fine. Really." "No, you are not." Steven said, softly placing groceries on the kitchen counter. "And you don't have to pretend with us." "We are here." Judith said softly, squeezing her until Selena felt something crack inside her. Like ice under the first touch of warmth. "Whether you want us or not." Judith locked her words, placing a kiss on top of her head. Steven joined them in a hug with his chin resting lightly on Selena's hair. Her throat tightened and she swallowed hard. Their warmth, their voices, Steven's cologne and Judith's sweet perfume made her feel comfortable. They stayed like that for a moment before Judith pulled back and looked at her, wiping away the tears from her face. "Okay. Step one: coffee. Step two: we are opening the curtains because this place looks like a haunted Airbnb." Within second, sunlight showered her, forcing her to blink a few times and adjusting her eyes to the light. Steven handed her a cup of coffee and sat beside her on the sofa. His posture was soft and careful, as if one wrong move might shatter her completely. "You don't have to talk," he said. "Just breathe." She listened to him. She breathed. Existed. Her friends filled the silence with small things — Judith kept complaining about her boss, Steven gossiping about the cute new barista. They were trying, and she was grateful, but grief was an ocean, and she was drowning. A heavy sigh escaped from the deepest part of her soul. Judith caressed her cheek and Steven took one of her cold hands in his, trying to comfort her. "Selena, there is no need in pointing that, but you do know you can count on both of us." "We are here." New tears filled her eyes when she slightly shook her head. That name, that same name. "Roberto Moretti." It was as if it finally got to her when she said it out loud for the first time. Judith and Steve were both confused, they didn't know anyone by that name. "Selena, who is that?" Judith's voice was gentle, her caressing stopped, and she looked at her friend waiting for the answer. Selena slowly stood up and looked at her friends. Something new woke up in her, new feelings were born, and she was determined to find the truth. "That man. Samantha told me his name before she died." On the last word her voice cracked and new teras started running down her cheeks, but she lifted her head and looked at them with determination in her eyes. "Selena, don't scare me." Steven got up from the sofa holding coffee in his hands." What are you talking about?" An equal wave of shock hit Judith as well when she stood up. "Do you think that...?" Steven assumed what she meant by that question and when Selena nodded, looking at Judith's pale face, he rubbed his face with his hand and sat back on the sofa looking at her with disbelief and shock in his eyes. Selena never told them anything that happened that night. She was too vulnerable and grief was eating her alive, but nevertheless, he could never imagine something like that. That night, exhaustion pulled her into bed like a weight tied to her ankles. She closed her eyes. The darkness behind her eyelids rippled then shifted. Suddenly she was standing in black heels, her body hugged by a black dress. A priest's voice echoed, people whispered condolences she couldn't hear. Her sister, in a casket, was lowered into the ground like a final, quiet goodbye. Samantha's picture sat framed next to the wreath of white lilies. Full of life, she was smiling — bright, fierce, alive. Then the scene changed. Rain. Cold. Her hands slipping on Samantha's body as she held her, screaming her name. Blood on her fingers, on the asphalt, rain drops erasing her tears. And then - The whisper. Barely a breath, barely a sound. "Roberto...Moretti..." Selena's eyes snapped open, her heart pounding wildly, sweat dripping down her skin. The room was dark, quiet, safe. But, nothing inside her felt safe. She pressed a trembling hand onto her chest. That name still echoed in her mind like a curse. And she knew. This wasn't over. It was only the beginning.