Page 65 of The Sound in Silence

But instead of slowing, it’s maintaining its speed. It’s coming too close for a safe stop. I don’t know how to drive, but even I can distinguish that. It’s basic math.

“Mom.” I reach over, turning the music down. “Mom, I think someone’s about to hit us.”

Closer…The vehicle is white. A van. I can’t make out the driver due to the angles. Still not slowing…

“Mom!”

“Ariella, you’re being sil—”

Crash!

Metal scraping against metal.

Tires squealing.

Mom screaming.

Control robbed.

Our car being shoved into oncoming traffic—

Honking. So many honks…

Crash!

“Mom!”

The last spark are her eyes. Blue like mine and Della’s.

An apology within them.

A final message: I love you.

The flash of headlights beyond her shoulder. When they turn off, her eyes shut, and my body slams forward, head smashing against the front dash.

And then…it’s over.

Erico

Her scream is what I’ll hear in my dreams every night until my soul exits this world.

Guttural, tortured—a yell—a howl—a plea from a girl to her mother.

Ariella drops forward, sobbing into the grass at their mother’s gravestone as Della hugs her from the side.

I step forward, needing to hold her myself, to care for her, but am quickly blocked by Nico’s arm. Without looking away from the sisters, he shakes his head and murmurs, “Leave them. They need this. They deserve to be alone.”

At first, I snarl and am about to shove him away, but then, when after a long minute she lifts herself from the grass and falls into her sister’s arms, I realize he’s right.

“Believe me, this is extremely difficult for me to watch too. I’d like nothing more than to go hold Della and reassure her she’s okay, but for now, there’s someone else she needs more, and I can accept that.” Dropping his arm, he tips his head to the side. “Come, let’s walk and leave them be.”

I hesitate, glancing back to ensure Jack and Nico’s driver are still standing by the cemetery’s entrance. Satisfied no one’s getting by them, I follow Nico, shoving my hands inside my slacks after a final look to Ariella.

“Originally, we mentioned an annual trip on the anniversary,” Nico starts, “but if there’s a time she really needs to visit, when the grief is hitting harder, just message. Let’s be honest, both of them lost a mother that day, but Ariella was affected most.”

“You’re not half-bad, Corsetti, despite what my father says about you.” At the very least, he cares so much for his family, including his extended family.

He chuckles. “Yes, I’m sure your father’s descriptions of me are colourful. Either way, I’m pleased that we’ve found this common ground.”

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