Chapter 2

A Year Later

It was windy, cloudy, and a bit grey. Myra found it not so soothing. She got the call at late night from the hospital. Dr. Blake called her to come over as soon as possible as they noticed some degradation in her mother's health. It's been 4 years since the mother and daughter duo fought together to win over this cancer. But destiny has always some other plans. Hurriedly she reached the hospital and stayed overnight. Not much improvement was there. She held her mom's hand as she could feel something is not right. Pulses were not good. She kissed her mom's knuckle. Her mom opened her eyes. 

"Myra, forgive me if you can for not giving you a complete family."

"Oh, Mio Dio mama. Stop saying that. I am happy with you. And you are enough for me. Stop saying that. Everything will be fine. You would be alright."

"Daughter, we came to this world for a purpose, we meet people also for a purpose. Once our purpose is done, our time also comes to leave the world. Never feel that you are alone. I have kept some documents in my wardrobe. Under the locker. You must have a look once."

"I would mom. But stop stressing. You would be fine. We would look together."

Myra was more worried about her mom's health rather than her words.

Minerva closed her eyes and tried to imagine the day for the first time she held Myra in her hand. The girl became so mature and big today. The small little doll grew up faster than her expectations. Maybe perks of being raised by a single mother. Since Myra turned 18, Minerva was diagnosed with cancer at her fourth stage. Still, she fought with her willpower and did everything for her mother. Arranging funds, getting her degree, completing college with the best degree, and so on. Minerva can see her daughter completely ready to survive any situation. But the world that Minerva showed her is not the ultimate. She can't deny the blood in her daughter's system that has a fair share from another country, another region. The world there is not so free or open like her current one. But she would leave this choice on her. She has every right to choose her path now. 

Myra slept there keeping her head on the bed without uttering any more words. One and the half-day her mother survived. Ultimately, she died due to cardiac arrest. In these four year whenever doctors said about this situation to her, she always ignored and believed that her mother would survive. But it's not always so easy to keep things picture-perfect. She didn't cry, didn't let her tear come down. She is strong inside and she promised not to cry. Myra finished the formalities in the hospital. Thanking Doctor Blake she moved out of the hospital. While standing on the road she felt the weather become greyer. Now she is left in this world alone. There is no one in front of her or no one at her back. She called her friend Lily to tell her the news.

"Hey, Lily. Are you busy these days?"

"Myra, dear. No. Do you need any help with Minerva aunt? I can attend the hospital if you are busy with something."

"No Lily. Mamma is no more. Can you come to my house?"

"Oh god Myra, I am coming." 

Disconnecting the call Myra remembered her struggle during the crisis.

Usually, during her crisis, Lily used to visit her mother and helped Myra a lot. Myra had to work a lot to pay the bills of the hospitals. She did her best. Only one particular amount was given by someone that she never could trace. When she was facing a huge crisis, one day while returning from her mom's cabin she bumped into a man. She was in too much hurry to run that she didn't notice the man. He was quite tall like her mother and aged 48 years or more. His face was sharp and the aura he had was quite cold and dangerous. People were looking at him with feared expressions. She looked at him said sorry for that unintentional movement.

"Stai bene ragazza?( Are you alright girl?)

"Si, sto bene." (Yes, I am fine.) Myra replied in Italian as she guessed right. He was an Italian.

"Are you in trouble? Is everything fine? Why are you in so much stress?"

The man looked at her with quite a confused look. His facial expression was screaming one fact that Myra resembles someone. The stress on Myra's face was quite visible to that stranger too. 

"Not exactly. I am just in a hurry. I came to meet my mother. She is here for treatment."

Myra hid her stress as much as she could.

"Which cabin? In case you need something, you can tell me."

Myra couldn't understand why on earth a stranger suddenly became so generous to help her out. Why did he even look at her with a bit shocked expression?

"No sir, it's fine. Thank you for asking."

"Pleasure. What's your name by the way?"

"Myra, Myra Moretti."

Hearing the name, the man's expression became stiff again. He smiled and gave a card to her mentioning in case she needed something, she could contact there.

After that day she never met that man, but a huge bill of her mother's chemo was paid in the hospital. She tried her level best to know the person behind this. But never did she get the chance to open the veil from that secret. It's like God had sent his angel to save her mom at that time. Myra decided to repay the amount via the contact card she received. She had a wild guess that maybe that man had paid as he asked about her mother. The name was printed on the visiting card as Luca Lombardi. She heard about the Lombardi enterprise, but she wasn't sure about the man she saw on that day. She tried to contact him by asking whether he had paid any bill or not. But he denied the fact. Till now she remained in the fog for that matter.

Myra's trails of thoughts got broken when she heard the doorbell ringing. Lily arrived quite fast. Opening the door Myra welcomed her inside. Lily hugged her tightly and started patting her back.

"Everything will be fine, Myra. Be strong. Don't feel that you are alone."

Lily might have expected her broken and crying but to her utmost shock, she saw her standing cold and calm.

"It's ok Lily. I need some help with the cremation ceremony of mom. You know I don't have many people. Would you come?"

"Is it an even question to ask? I would dear. Don't worry."

Reaching the graveyard Myra and Lily stood silently. Few of Myra's known people arrived there. Apart from that Dr. Blake had also arrived. It's been four years since Myra and Blake became close to each other. Since the treatment of her mother started, she was not that much strong. But with time and the assurance of Blake she grew into a stronger person. Though she was ready mentally for this day but somewhere deep in her heart she didn't want to be left alone. She decided to sit for some time in front of the grave. 

"Minerva Moretti. 1972-2020. The best mother of the world." 

Myra touched that once. She sat there alone. She sent back Lily cause she wanted to have some time alone.

"Hey, mama. I hope you are in the best place now. Away from pain and all. You are the best mom. I am your strong daughter mama."

A loud sob escaped her mouth. Fat tears started pouring down from eyes that were welled up there for so long. She felt broken, alone, and more precisely shaken badly after this sudden loss. She cried her heart out. She remembered every moment with her mom. Her childhood days, her teenage. Her mother raised her single-handed. She never let her feel the emptiness of not having a father. 

After crying for a long, she felt her surroundings getting dark. She understood it's time for her to move towards her house. While going back to her car she felt someone standing far away but his face was not clear that much. But she guessed that the person might be Luca Lombardi. Before she could register another thought the figure disappeared. As much as she remembered, there was not any chance, that the man Luca Lombardi would get the news of her mom's death. Myra thought that maybe she had seen somebody else there and her subconscious mind formed the structure of that man. She started her car's engine and left for her house.