Grave of the Mafia’s Love Chapter 09
According to Helen, I was a person of
extraordinary resilience.
Whether it was not getting into college or working
ten–hour shifts on a factory assembly line, I never
cried.
“She said she had run out of tears long ago.”
“At the time, I thought she still hated me.”
“Later on, I actually hoped she would hate me. At
least that way, she’d still try to keep going.”
Chemotherapy was painful, but the fear of the
unknown was even worse.
Death was just around the corner, yet I was in
excruciating pain.
I lay in my hospital bed, gasping in despair; I didn’t
even have the strength to hate.
I held Helen’s hand and begged her to take me out.
The weather was beautiful. We took a walk on the
lawn. Helen didn’t say a word; I did all the talking.
I talked about that security guard who seemed
grumpy on the outside but was actually really
nice.
The olive tree that the principal cherished died because the PE teacher overwatered it.
To cheer me up, Julian told me all sorts of juicy
gossip.
Unlike other boys, he could even make an ordinary story come alive and be entertaining.
I smiled, then forced myself to turn the corners of my mouth downward.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t believe him either…”
Helen looked at me with a complex expression.
“Sylvia…”
Dozens of drones took to the sky, forming various
patterns in the air.
That was Julian’s grand engagement party.
The names Julian Vance and Mia Thornton
appeared side by side.
“It looks perfect.”
I shrugged.
Helen placed her hand on my shoulder and spoke
softly.
“If none of that had happened, the two of you
would be just as happy.”
I shook my head and smiled.
“No. Our lives have always been different.”
“Whether that happened or not, we couldn’t be
together.”
“I realized that a long time ago. It’s not too late
yet.”
Over the next few days, I didn’t mention Julian’s
name again.
Eventually, I couldn’t even eat or sleep.
Then one day, I was able to walk again. I ate a big
meal.
I held my tablet and carefully selected an urn for
myself.
Helen wiped my face; her eyes were red, and she
said nothing.
We both knew I was about to be free.
It didn’t take me long to choose the epitaph; I just
asked Helen to write something simple.
At the time, I didn’t know that Julian would come
by often.
He would sit there for hours on end, keeping me
from getting any rest.
At that thought, I shot him a fierce glare.
That’s when I realized he was crying.
He fought back his sobs, but eventually broke.
down; his voice was hoarse and broken, and it felt
as if someone had ripped his heart out.
I pursed my lips and got ready to leave.
The next moment, Julian reached out a hand,
stretching it straight toward me.
I was startled and instinctively stepped back.
Later, I realized he couldn’t see me. It was pure
coincidence.
Just then, Julian called my name.
“Sylvia… is that you?”
