Anpu

"Bambina. Casa ne pensidella vita?" Her grandfather asked. (Child. What do you think of life?) "Nonno life is a big piece of shit." He chuckled, "Why?" "You know why." He stared at her waiting for her to continue. She sighed, "Because of Janet and Alfonzo," she spoke her parent's legal names, "as well as the people who claim to be my brothers." "Per quanto riguarda me? Non conto come persona?" He asked with a pout. (What about me? Don't I count as a person?) She looked at him surprised. "Nonno? Well, Nonno is the only person who ever showed me the light. So of course you're the only one who has a place reserved in my heart." She smiled as she finished. He looked at her, taken aback by her honesty.  Looking toward the sunset always reminded him of his love. She always tried to capture the beautiful colors onto a canvas. His granddaughter looked at him. His face looked happy but his eyes showed how much longing he had for his love. "Nonno?" "Hmm?" "Do you miss her?" she asked, avoiding eye contact. "Who? Your Nonna?" her silence signaled he was right. "Of course. It's a shame you didn't get to meet her. She would have loved you." "What was she like?" "Hmmm. It'd take me a while to fully describe her, but if I had to I'd say she captivating and demanded the attention of everyone wherever she went." his sad eyes were replaced with love. How much does he want to see her? As she continued to look at him she grew sad. 'If only someone loved me like that. If only my eyes were normal. If I was normal would everyone love me too?' Tears filled her eyes, she turned away from her grandfather and wiped her face, leaving red stains on her hands and face. "Nonno? Why don't my parents love me? Why wasn't I born normal?" she began to cry again. "Bambina mia... Sei bellissima cosi some sei. Non permettere a messuno di dirti qualcosta di diverso. Va bene?" (My child... You are beautiful just as you are. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Alright?) she sniffled and nodded her head. Her grandfather looked at her.  Both her eyes were pure black, and every time she cried her blood would leave stains trailing down her cheeks. Combined with her pale complexion and odd hair color people thought she was a freak, and every chance they got they'd bully her. Especially my good-for-nothing son and his bitchy wife. He sighed, trying to think what went wrong. "Let's go make dinner Anpu."