Page 26 of Memento Mori
When I knew she was safe, a wave of relief washed over me. I rose off her and looked at the surrounding chaos. Blood, bullet casings, and pandemonium.
“Tony!” Alessandro shouted.
I found my brother kneeling, with Laney in his arms. “Help me!” Alessandro yelled. “She’s been shot.”
“Go!” Aaliyah shouted.
Torn between leaving her, I hesitated. What if they started shooting again? What if next time she’s hit?
“I’m fine, Tony.” Aaliyah pushed me towards him. “Go help your brother.”
I pecked her on the lips then rushed to Laney’s side, but it was already too late. The bullet hit her in the neck. She had died within minutes.
“Alessandro...”
When he looked at me tears filled his eyes. It had been years since I saw my little brother cry. The last time had been when he took his first life at fourteen and that same distraught look swirled in his eyes like he knew today everything in his life had changed.
“I’m sorry, bro.” I firmly grabbed his shoulder. “She’s gone.”
He shook his head in disbelief and squeezed her unmoving body harder. “No, no, no.”
His pristine white tuxedo was now marred with vibrant red stains. It was heartbreaking to watch a grown man cry over someone he loved. While I didn’t know the specifics surrounding their relationship, he wouldn’t waste tears on someone who meant absolutely nothing to him.
“Tony!” Aaliyah shouted.
I twisted my head towards the sound of her panicked voice. As I watched her kneel beside my father, a wave of shock coursed through my body. His white tuxedo was stained with blood, and his once vibrant olive complexion now appeared lifeless.
I scrambled to his side, my heart pounding in my chest. He was lying prone just inside the entrance of the church. “Papa,” I said, my words carrying a hint of urgency and concern.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t move. The piercing wails of sirens blended with the anguished cries of despair. I gripped his lifeless hand, desperately hoping for any sign of a response, but there was none.
“Sir, I’m gonna need you to move.” I looked at the young man barely in his twenties as he sat a large duffle bag on the ground at his feet.
“Papa, stay with me.” I gripped his hand tighter, but there was still no response.
“Sir. You need you to move so I can do my job,” the man said with a little more urgency in his voice.
“Come on, my love,” Aaliyah said.
Aaliyah stood, her beautiful champagne colored dress ripped and stained with blood.
Anger surged through me. This was supposed to be a day of celebration not a day of mourning.
“I’m right here Papa,” I said moving out of the way.
I stayed with Aaliyah while the EMTs took care of my father. He looked like he was already dead because of his sickly complexion, but I saw the subtle rise and fall of his chest which gave me some hope he might survive this. He’d been shot before, but this was a kill shot. It was amazing he was still alive.
More medical professionals ascended the cathedral stairs, bringing a stretcher. They laid my father on it and descended the stairs, placing him in the back of the ambulance. After, I looked at the carnage surrounding us. Blood, bodies, and broken glass littered the steps. Despite Laney’s body being covered in a white sheet, Alessandro continued to hold her hand.
Chantal lowered herself beside him and whispered something in his ear. He lowered his head and shook it in disagreement. She said something else, and he took a deep breath then released it, and reluctantly let go of Laney’s hand before standing. She embraced him and I watched my grown ass brother sob into his big sister’s arms like he was a child.
“My mother?” I asked, never taking my eyes off my brother and sister.
“I don’t know, sweetheart.” Aaliyah tugged my arm. “Come on. We have to go to the hospital.”
We slowly descended the steps in a complete daze as I looked at the ambulance speed away with my father in the back clinging to life. The day I thought would be the happiest day of my life turned into a living nightmare. Nothing and I mean nothing would get in my way as soon as I found out who’d done this. The world had to burn for the wrongs done against me and my family today.
And I would gladly strike the motherfucking match.
