IN LOVE FOR A GANGSTER

ANNE I woke up scared this morning in the same way that I've woken up every day since my mother's death, with memories of her dominating my mind. They were good and happy memories. I wish my mother was still alive and here with me. Sometimes I wake up crying when I realize that I'll probably never see her again. Although it's been almost six months since her death, the longing is still enormous. I miss her desperately every day, but unfortunately, cancer killed her, and that has left a big void inside my heart. I dry the tears that run down my face and sigh, trying to calm the sobs caused by my crying. My fingers pull a small photo from my pillow, and I feel like crying more. I sleep with this picture under my pillow every night because it somehow makes me feel closer to my mother. I feel more tears wetting my face as I touch my mother's face through the picture. "I miss you..." I whisper, putting the photo under my pillow again. I get up from my small bed and walk to the only window in my room, pull aside the light curtains, and watch the busy streets in the same way I do every day, like a little morning ritual. Furthermore, I go to the bathroom to change my clothes and do my morning toiletries, putting on one of the few jeans I have and a warm sweater. When I get back to my room, a noise stops me in my tracks. It's a loud voice coming from downstairs. I walk quickly to the window and see that a black car is in the driveway. I widen my eyes when I see two large men in black clothes take my father out of the house. Likewise, I watch as he tries to resist, but the men are too strong. I feel despair growing inside me as I run out of the house quickly. "Stop, what are you doing?" I shout as I run to my father, but one of the men approaches me and grabs my arm tightly. "Don't touch my daughter!", my father shouts, trying to get loose and come towards me, but the other tall man continues to hold him. "Let me go!" I use all my strength to push the man in front of me, but he continues to hold me tight. "I'm sorry, girl. But we're following orders from someone important, and I need to take your father with us," the red-haired man says, and I'm completely confused at that moment. "Take him? He didn't do anything, please!" "Darling, listen to me..." my father calls me, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes at that moment. "It's going to be all right. Now go back and get into the house," I nod and run to him. The men don't stop us; they just watch the scene in silence, as if they were letting me and my father say goodbye. I hugged my father tightly, feeling hot tears wetting my face. "I'm sorry, darling; remember that debt I took on to pay for your mother's treatment?" he says, and I nod. "It's too high, and with the money I earn, it's not enough to pay for everything, so they have to take me..." "No, please!" I cry, feeling his fingers dry my face lovingly. "I probably won't come back, but you have to go on, child; I love you..." He kisses my forehead as I cry. The men in black approach again, but I hold on to my father, not wanting to let him go. I know what this is and how it will all end. My father could be killed or injured, and I can't let that happen. "Please don't take him; we'll pay the debt, please!", I shout, crying at the same time. "We're just following orders, girl!" I notice a gun on the red-haired man's hip, and I despair. "He's the only person I have; don't take him; I'm begging you..." "Anne, come into the house, darling," my father orders, but I refuse again. The other man drags my father back to the car, and on impulse, I approach him and hit him hard in the face, biting my lip at the pain I feel in my hand from the punch. He turns his face and glares at me, coming closer and closer to me, and out of instinct, I move away quickly. "Get her out of here, or I'll do it, and I won't be gentle!" the man says to the red-haired man, who grabs my arm again, trying to lead me back into the house. Losing my mother has broken my heart in such a painful way that I won't be able to bear another major loss. I can't let that happen. "Take me away!" I shout, and everyone stares at me like I'm crazy. "Don't do it, Anne; come home, darling!" "Take me away; let my father go, please!" The man shakes his head, looking at me with a wry smile. "It doesn't work that way, girl!" "Then make it work, please, take me away and let my father go!" I say with fury and determination at the same time. It's crazy, I know, maybe I'm not reasoning correctly, but it's the only choice I have at the moment. I can't let my father die like this. The red-haired man looks at me one last time before letting go of my arm. My father looks at me with disappointment, but I can't let that get to me now. "I'll call the boss!" The man pulls his cell phone out of his pocket and walks away. My father runs up to me and hugs me. I rest my head on his shoulder and hug him back. "Do you have any idea what you're doing, Anne? Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?" he asks, shaking my shoulders, his eyes full of tears. "You won't do this, Anne; I won't let it happen," he says, letting a tear run down his cheek. "Let me save you, Dad. You've protected me before; let me repay you. I've already lost my mother, and I can't lose you too." "I can't lose you either, Anne. This is crazy; they're dangerous, and their boss is very ruthless. I don't even want to think about what they're going to do to you..." "I love you, Dad." I kissed his cheek with affection and sadness at the same time. "I beg you, don't do this, Anne," he says, looking at me, crying. The man in black clothes approaches us again. I feel my body trembling. I'm scared and very nervous, but I need to be strong at this moment. "The boss wants to meet the girl; come with us!" he points at me. "No!" my father shouts and tries to hit the man who raises his gun and points it in his direction. "The girl is coming with us; that's Mr. Vitalle's order!" I shouted, standing in front of him and trying to calm my father down. "Take care, Dad..." I whisper, allowing the tears to wet my face quickly. "You'll still come back to our house, daughter; you'll still come back to me..." "I hope so, Dad..." As I'm taken to the car, my eyes fixate on my father's sad face, an image I'll never forget. Inside the car, I try to organize my thoughts. I think about what I've just done; there's no doubt about it. I'm entering a dangerous zone myself, and I hope everything turns out all right.