Chapter 56 Finally Reunited
Serena's POV
The air around us went dry immediately. Aunt Maria's most recent words still hung around my head even as they slowly moved away.
Dante was first, he looked reluctant to shift, probably cause of the gun mum held. But after a few seconds, he stepped out of the way.
Then Nico slowly took a step to his right, leaving me with no one to shield me from her eyes.
She didn't say anything at first. She just stared at me in a fixed position, before slowly widening her mouth.
I stood there feeling highly uncomfortable. Before me was once my world, my pride, my happiness.
A few months back, if I had this opportunity, I would already be in her arms by now. But now? Now I don't even know if she still knows me.
Mom slowly shook her head, like she was seeing a ghost. I gulped hard, already fearing the worse as she took a step closer.
I kept shifting my weight from one foot to another, even unable to maintain eye contact with her as I looked anywhere but her eyes.
“No,” was the first word she muttered after seeing her only child after nearly four years.
“No, it can't be you,” mom muttered again, making the ache in my chest grow. “It shouldn't be you. Serena?” She finally called my name.
“Yeah?” I replied, not sure whether she needed an answer.
“What are you doing all the way here?” She asked, shattering my heart into pieces.
“Mom, really?” I asked, holding back the tears. “It's been nearly four years since you last saw me and all you're going to ask is what I'm doing here?” I nearly yelled as a sob broke through.
I felt a strong hand wrapping around my shoulder and I looked down to see a specific pair of boots.
I looked up and met the reassuring eyes of Aunt Maria. She nodded down at me and rubbed my shoulder softly.
“You won't understand, my child. I'm sorry, but you shouldn't be here,” mom continued. “Where's your husband, Marco?”
A wave of anger rushed through me and before I could stop myself, I lunged forward at the woman I called my mother.
Dante was quick to step between us and hold me back.
“How could you be so heartless, mom?!” I yelled. “It's not enough that you sent me out in marriage without ever caring to text or call. Now I show up at your doorstep and all you can do is wish me back to him?!”
“Vanessa,” Aunt Maria cut in from behind. “I hope you now see how hard it is on those the decision must be made against,” she said.
“You won't understand, Serena,” mom said with a shake of her head. “Your aunt is right, we never understand how hard it is for the other person to make the decisions they have to make,” she explained weakly.
Dante let me go slowly and Aunt Maria came around me, wrapping her arms around me again, but firmer this time.
“I think I've caused more harm than good today already. It's best you all leave me to my solitude, be safe Serena,” she said and turned to go in again.
But Dante stepped forward and spoke before she could. “Mrs. Marceti,” he called, referring to my father's name. “I know a lot has happened and I'm not the right person to set things right here. But we didn't travel all the way here to fight at your doorstep, we came cause we needed your help. Serena needs your help,” he said softly.
“My help? She doesn't need my help. She's better off with her Aunt and apparently, you,” mom replied without turning around.
Dante looked over to me and gave me a short nod. I already knew what he expected from me.
I looked up at Aunt Maria, and she too gave me a simple nod before gently nudging me forward.
I slowly covered the short distance between myself and my mother. Then placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Mom? I'm sorry, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier and nearly attacking you,” I apologized.
“No, my daughter,” she replied with her back still facing me. “You had every right to react the way you did. I deserved every bit of that and more.”
I smiled and shook my head. “No, you don't. You are not a bad person mom,” I said softly.
“I just pointed a gun at my elder sister's face after nearly forty years of not seeing her,” mom said and I couldn't help the chuckle that followed.
“I forgive you by the way, baby sister!” Aunt Maria yelled from behind me cheerfully.
Mom shook her head and muttered under her breath but loud enough for me to hear. “If she calls me ‘baby sister’ again, I may just have to change my mind.”
“I heard that,” Aunt Maria responded and I caught the corner of mom's lips stretching into a smile.
“I wish we knew why everything happened to us, I wish we knew why life played out the way it did for us. But most times, we don't, but that doesn't mean we should forget what's most important,” I said, and paused, tugging at her shoulder to get her to turn.
She accepted and slowly turned till we were face to face. And I slowly took off the hoodie from her face, revealing an older version of the woman I longed to be like.
“Us. That is what's more important. We are family, we are one. No matter what happens, we should never turn on each,” I added softly.
“I'm sorry,” my mom said as I spotted tears at the corner of her eyes.
“Mom—” I tried to say but she cut me off.
“I'm really sorry for the years. I'm not your elder sister, I'm your mother. I should have been there for you regardless of the situation,” she admitted slowly.
“It’s alright mom, I understand,” I tried to console her, but she didn't let me.
“No, I failed you. I never tried to stop you from being handed out to a man I knew you didn't love or even know. And I never tried to reach out to you afterwards,” she sobbed out.
“Mom—”
“I was so blinded by tradition that I forgot my number one responsibility, which is to take care of my daughter. I'm so sorry, Serena,” she added, breaking into tears.
I pulled her into a hug, letting her cry on my shoulders as she shook violently. I rubbed the back of her hair and whispered soft words to her.
“It's alright, mom. I forgive you. I forgive you with all I've got. I love you mom, nothing can change that,” I muttered, leaning into her.
“I love you too, my daughter,” she replied, sobbing more as she hugged me tighter.
We remained like that for I don't know how long, but mom finally pulled back.
“You've grown, my child. You look more beautiful than I could ever remember,” she said with a smile on her face.
“You haven't aged a bit,” I returned with the same smile.
“You and I know that's not true,” she shot back and we both laughed. A warm feeling I had forgotten and now, I'm left wondering how I survived without it.
“I hate to break things up, but we actually have a big situation on our hands.”