Angry boy
Nicco hugs me, saying everything is alright and that it will hurt a little to remove the bullet from my arm, but that I'll be fine.
Matteo goes out to get the necessary equipment to remove the bullet, and when he opens the door, I hear voices in the hallway.
My arm starts to ache, but when Matteo returns, I seriously consider leaving the bullet in my arm forever.
He applies local anesthesia to the wound, and Nicco has to hold me while I writhe in pain.
Lorenzo watches everything from his chair, giving me worried glances, and Dante is standing in the doorway, preventing anyone outside from entering.
"Sister, I'll need to remove the bullet carefully, but the anesthesia should already be taking effect," Matteo explains, approaching my arm with the forceps.
Nicco hugs me by the shoulders to keep me still, and Lorenzo has to hold my legs when I try to move away from Matteo, who has the forceps inside the wound.
I'm almost certain the anesthesia was water, because I feel every movement Matteo makes to remove the bullet from my arm.
"It hurts," I sob loudly.
"I did it, bambina," Matteo says with the bullet between the forceps.
"Great," I say, feeling nauseous. "I need to vomit."
Quickly, a trash can is placed in front of me and I vomit the contents of my stomach.
Matteo holds my hair and Nicco strokes my back until I'm finished.
Lorenzo hands me a tissue to wipe my mouth and I lean back on the sofa so Matteo can suture my arm.
When he finishes, I lie in Nicco's lap, who gently strokes my head, while Matteo cleans the dried blood from my ear, which, thankfully, won't need stitches.
"Elena, why is your chest red? Are you having an allergic reaction?" Matteo asks, and I shake my head no.
“I spilled hot coffee, so I missed class after lunch. I was trying to soothe the burning sensation,” I reply with my eyes closed.
“I’ll bring some ointment to help with the redness,” he says, and I just nod.
I end up falling asleep while Nicco strokes my head.
I wake up with a sharp pain in my arm that makes me groan.
“There are pills on your bedside table,” Leonardo’s voice is cold as always, and I realize he’s sitting in the armchair in front of the window.
I take the pills and look at him confused.
“What are you doing here?” The question doesn’t have the hatred I used to feel for him, but rather curiosity.
“I needed to make sure you were okay,” he says without looking at me.
His tone is calm and almost sad.
I get out of bed, realizing I’m in my pajamas, and sit on the edge of the closed window, right in front of him. "I'm fine, Leonardo," I reply, looking into his eyes. He seems empty, distant, and dejected. "But you're not."
He looks at me intently and then smiles sadly.
"You shouldn't worry about that," he says, and I can't help but roll my eyes.
"You hurt me, and your words hurt me, but I know you're not the monster you want everyone to believe you are," I say sincerely.
"Are you sure maybe I'm not, sister?" he asks thoughtfully.
"We all make mistakes; what we do afterward is what differentiates us from monsters," I say, taking his hand. "You're my brother, and yes, you hurt me, but I think you've suffered enough."
"Are you forgiving me, sister?" he asks incredulously. "Forgiveness is never about the others who hurt you, but about yourself, brother," I say calmly. "It's a process that can take time, but it helps."
“I’m so sorry for everything I said about you, for the words that hurt you,” he says, tears in his eyes. “I know this can never be erased, but I sincerely hope you forgive me.”
“It will never be erased, but with time it can be forgotten and overcome,” I say, getting up from the window. “Let’s learn to live together as decent people and, in time, as brothers.”
He stands up and extends his hand to me.
I smile, remembering the first deal I made with him.
"Deal," he says when I shake his hand, smiling. "Now get ready for dinner."
Leonardo leaves me alone in the room, and I feel an enormous relief that this is resolved.
I decide not to change clothes, so I put on a winter robe over my pajamas and go down to the kitchen.
Nonna hugs me as soon as I enter and carefully assesses me; I hear her cursing in Italian, which makes us laugh.
We eat almost in silence. I know everyone is thinking about how they're going to deal with the situation, and I don't blame them. I myself want to kill whoever shot me.
"I want to open a business," I say, and I hear at least three pieces of cutlery fall onto the plates.
I look at everyone, who stare at me with surprise and nothing more.
"Why?" Grandpa asks.
“Because it’s the family business and I want to be a part of it, I know I have potential and I’m almost as smart as Vicente,” I say, and Vicente agrees with the last part: “Besides, I want to learn how to protect myself.”
“You’re too young to join,” says Uncle Carlo, and I smile at him.
“I’ll be sixteen in six months, and I know that’s the age the boys joined, and by seventeen they were already in their positions,” I say, crossing my hands on the table.
My Uncle Carlo smiles, knowing it won’t be so easy to make me give up.
“We can start with self-defense classes, and when your birthday comes, we’ll talk about the rest,” says Grandpa, showing he’s willing to make a deal with me.
“I accept the proposal, provided that when I turn sixteen, you respect my decision and teach and help me,” I say inflexibly.
Everyone falls silent as Grandpa conducts the negotiation.
"Deal closed, Elena Valentini," he says, smiling.
"It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Grandpa," I say, smiling at him.
The others remain silent.
"How does she manage that?" Luca asks, and everyone laughs.
"Because she's his favorite," Angelo replies, and I smile at my brothers.
"Advantages, boys, advantages," I say, smiling.
My grandfather hears everything and doesn't deny it.
After dinner, I sit in the living room and watch movies with my brothers. Bruno and Luca choose a horror movie, hoping to scare me.
In the end, they're trembling, and Antoni and I laugh at their faces.
"You need more than that to scare me," I say, laughing.
"Don't worry, bambina," Luca says, and I look at him suspiciously.
“If you try anything, don’t complain about the consequences,” I say, using the same tone I’ve seen Lorenzo and the other older children use.
Luca looks at me proudly and smiles.
“You’re learning, Ms. Valentini,” he says, and I nod.
“Now, off to bed, it’s late and you have school tomorrow,” says Bruno, and I stare at him confused.
“I’m going to school tomorrow?” I ask, surprised.
“What happened today won’t happen again, bambina,” says Dante, entering the room followed by Matteo and Lorenzo. “Security has been reinforced, so don’t worry.”
“Unless you don’t feel comfortable going,” says Matteo calmly, sitting down next to me on the sofa.
“I’m fine, I just didn’t think you’d let me come back so soon,” I say, looking at them.
“We know you don’t like being locked up at home,” says Lorenzo, making a face.
I imagine it must be difficult for them to let me go out and be in danger again, but I can't give up the freedom I have just because of their fear. Otherwise, this will never change.
"I promise I'll be careful and won't put myself in danger," I say to reassure them.
Well, at least I can say I tried.