Chapter 317 - That bullet was for me - mdtres
Veronica
I woke up not feeling Roland beside me. I got out of bed and went to Victoria's room. For the past twenty days, we've separated the kids. The little girl sleeps in an enchanted princess room, a creation of Roland's, and she is happy. If there's one thing I must say, it's that my daughter is very feminine.
I watched her sleep, gave her a kiss, and then went to the boys' room. For now, the three of them are sleeping together. When we gave them the room, both Dante and Enrique held Liam's hand and led him to the middle crib. That afternoon, Roland hugged me from behind as we watched their brothers take care of their little brother.
They can fight, because they do, especially Dante and Enrique, sometimes with Liam. When the three of them are stubborn, Victoria will hit them with whatever she has in her hand to quiet them down.
She's hit them with the teddy bear, with the Barbie, and yes, the three of them grumble but listen to her. According to Roland, it's a typical scene between him and me, where he says he always ends up losing. The three of them are sound asleep. Last week they turned two. I left and headed to the balcony at the back of the house, the one that overlooks the stables, and there I saw Roland sitting on the furniture.
"Honey..."
"You didn't have to get up, my love."
"You know I sleep cuddled in your arms. What's wrong?"
"It's been four months and Aníbal is still the same. I still have faith. I saw the miracle in you. I fervently believe in the Lord God. But I'm afraid Shirly will sign the papers to disconnect him."
"You have to let him go, Roland." He started to shake his head. "You know that's not Aníbal's wish. Shirly is going to sign the papers." He looked at me terrified. "Yes. That's what Shirly is doing, letting him go, little by little, and the day she's ready, she'll sign the papers."
"Veronica..."
It broke my heart to see him like this, wanting to cry but not doing it because I was there. I hugged him.
"Let him go, my love. Say goodbye to your brother. All of you need to let him go. It's beautiful how you take care of him, that he's always accompanied, that you tell him everything.
"But you have to accept that Aníbal is no longer here." When I said that, Roland held me tightly and cried. "We were all going to talk to you about it. We see you suffering, and it's not good either.
"Cry, honey. The soul only heals by crying, and that's what Shirly has been doing. She reads the letter Aníbal left her every day and cries. At least now she looks hopeful. Yesterday we bought clothes for Gregorio, and we saw her happy. She's focusing her happiness and hope on her son. Aníbal left you a nephew." Roland hugged me even tighter.
"Miracles exist, beautiful."
"And don't you think this has been one? God has given us time to say goodbye to him, so the departure isn't as painful."
"I don't agree with you. But I won't oppose Shirly's decision either. I've already begged her a lot to let him live."
"He's not living, Roland."
……
Roland
I'm in the office with Rogelio. We promoted him to foreman of El Encanto. The young man knows how to do his job well and reports to me.
"Boss, the steers are ready for the auction."
"Perfect."
"And the breeding that Mr. Aníbal wanted to start has begun."
"Excellent! Him and his pigs."
I got a message on my phone from our private chat. It was a message from Alfredo informing me that Shirly had signed the papers to disconnect Aníbal. A chill ran through my body. I ran out and grabbed the first keys I saw in the garage. It was a motorcycle. No, no, no, Lord God.
I arrived like a madman and ran to my brother's room. It was true he hadn't shown any improvement, but...
"I figured you'd come, and I don't think the rest will take long." Shirly kissed Aníbal on the lips. My hands were shaking. "Go with God, my love. But if you can do what you wrote, I'd love for you to be my ghost guardian." I have no idea what she means.
"And regarding the other thing, the answer is never, because no one will have your eyes, that mischievousness, or least of all what you were so proud of. I will always love you and will only live for Gregorio."
Miguel, Simón, Gustavo, and Arnold rushed in, just in time to see Shirly kiss her husband again. Daniel and Kevin entered next, and Alfredo had taken a position by the bed with Dr. Jones since I arrived.
"Shirly..." She shook her head.
"I'm ready to let him go. Roland, I know you could keep him alive forever, but that wouldn't be Aníbal. He loves being free; here, I'm just tying him down. He left this for you all. I signed the papers for his cremation, and I can't bear to watch it.
"I want to live with the memory as if he's on a mission. Please, just give me the ashes."
I couldn't cry; I was still waiting... Where's your miracle, Lord? She handed me the letter and walked out the door with her seven-month pregnant belly, earning my admiration because I wouldn't have the guts to sign that. I recognized that my love was somewhat selfish. I looked at the letter, opened it, and began to read.
To my Brothers,
If you are reading this, it means I am no longer with you, and I hope I fulfilled my wish to die for one of the three people who came into my life during the worst time of my existence. Don't feel guilty. For me, giving my life for a friend is an honorable death...
I couldn't continue. Simón took the paper, his voice trembling as well, but he continued reading.
I don't know what the future holds, if we all grow old, but I dream of that happening someday. I hope to live it, sitting in that gazebo at Gustavo's ranch, watching our grandchildren run around. To be able to look at you and say, "You have been the best brothers life has given me." If I die before that happens, I have written it down for you, and I ask you to look after my wife and children, as well as my sister and nephews.
It has undoubtedly been a privilege to serve you, Roland. It has been an honor to follow your orders, Simón and Miguel, and it has been wonderful to have you as my brothers. We earned our place alongside those men who saved us in some way. I want to tell you, without sounding cheesy, that I love you, that you are the brothers I chose. Take care of my family, make sure they stay on the right path. That is, if I die before.
I love and respect you all... Aníbal, alias Churrusco.
Arnold was the first to break down in tears. I went over to my friend, where Jones and Alfredo were, and I removed the wedding ring. I looked at each of them.
"Is there no hope?" I asked.
"Roland, everything humanly possible has been done," Jones replied.
"Well, in that case, everything has been said. You know what to do." I handed the ring to Simón. "This should be given to Shirly." I looked at Jones and Alfredo. I turned to leave the room.
"Roland..." I looked at the doctor.
"I know, Jones. Everything humanly possible has been done." Now, only what the Lord can do remains.
Aníbal's funeral was on a Thursday at three in the afternoon. I had cried enough in solitude. Here, I stood serious while the priest delivered the service by the stream. Shirly buried his ashes and planted a tree over them.
"You will never die, my love. I will bring our child here, so become a beautiful tree and give us shade when we come to visit you."
Karen helped her up. We were all saying our goodbyes; none of us were crying anymore.
"Roland." Veronica, with tears in her eyes, took my hand. "Are you going to say something? The guys don't want to speak." I looked at my wife and nodded.
"Aníbal..."
The memory of that night when we passed that corner on 19th Street, while the traffic light was red, and I saw him, shivering from the cold, something stirred in my soul. I looked at Simón, who looked back at me after seeing where I had looked. He got out of the car, and Miguel pulled over to wait for him to get back in... I couldn't speak, so I felt the urge to shout, "THAT BULLET WAS MEANT FOR ME." I turned around and headed to the car. I didn't want to be there anymore.
"Roland."
Father Gabriel, who had come to baptize Arnold's, Gustavo's, and Daniel's children, ended up officiating the funeral.
"I know life goes on, Father. I know things happen for a reason. I know everything has a purpose."
"I can sense you are more resigned from what you are telling me."
"That's right. Life goes on."