Luca reached out to hug me but since our hands were bound, we greeted each other by pressing our temples against each other—and for a brief, precious moment, it felt like all hope was not completely lost.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,” he said, lifting his head. Regret and sadness clouded his eyes like a mist.
“Oh, Luca,” I said, my voice tender, merely a whisper. I cupped his face in my hands tenderly and looked at his withdrawn eyes. “It wasn’t your fault,” I said, trying to console him.
He shook his head, gently pushing me away, he lowered it once more.
“It is,” he muttered, shrinking, curling himself into a round ball. “I couldn’t even save Mother.” His voice cracked, and tears brimmed in his eyes. “I watched her get killed.” The tears fell off his eyes like a scar.
I
