quiet evening after their return from the hospital, Maria and Salima sat on a bench near the entrance. They exchanged phone numbers and promised to keep in touch, even after Maria and her son left the country.
Reihana and her mother returned to their home in the countryside. In her quiet room, Reihana took out the notebook she had found earlier and began reading it again. She was analyzing every word, every line, as if searching for a hidden thread connecting those words to what she had seen and felt. She didn't know whether she was reading a diary of pain… or a confession before death.
Minutes passed quickly until her mother called her for dinner. They sat in silence, the only sound being that of clinking spoons. Reihana then went to bed, her mind full of thoughts and longing. She fell asleep on a pillow heavy with unanswered questions.
The next morning, Salima's phone rang. It was Maria on the other end:
— "How are you both? I just wanted to let you know that we'll be returning to Italy in five days… I hope we can meet one last time at the hospital before we leave."
Salima agreed, and they scheduled the final meeting.
---
The five days passed, and the awaited day arrived.
Reihana stood before the mirror, wearing a pink dress. She styled her hair in an elegant bun, letting two soft strands fall on either side of her face, adding a special touch of delicacy and beauty. She grabbed her handbag and left with her mother for the hospital.
About fifteen minutes later, Maria arrived with Matteo. The farewell began with smiles, but was filled with emotions too difficult to express. The mothers chatted, the child laughed, but Reihana kept staring at Matteo's face as if trying to imprint his features in her heart.
When it was time to leave, Maria said:
— "We should go… it's a long trip."
Reihana hugged Maria, then embraced Matteo tightly, as if she didn't want to let him go. The child didn't want to leave either, clinging to her with his small arms.
At that moment, a nurse came rushing in, her voice tense:
— "Ma'am… your husband is asking to see you immediately… his condition is deteriorating."
Reihana froze. She looked at her mother, then at Maria. Her tears began to fall silently, and Matteo began to cry as well.
At the same time, Leonardo arrived. Worry was clearly written on his face as he took in the scene before him: tears, confusion, tension.
He approached his mother and whispered:
— "What's going on?"
Maria replied quietly:
— "It seems the lady's husband is about to pass away…"
He didn't respond. He just furrowed his brows and walked with them.
They all headed toward the patient's room. Salima and Reihana entered first to say their goodbyes. The father was weak, his voice faint, but he was fully conscious. He spoke to his wife and daughter with touching words, tears rolling down his cheeks.
After several painful minutes of silence, he whispered to Salima:
— "I want to see Mrs. Maria… and her son."
Salima was surprised by his request but followed through without hesitation.
Maria, Leonardo, and the child entered the room. The man looked at Leonardo and extended his trembling hand toward him.
He said in a weak but pleading voice:
— "I am a man on the edge of death… I leave behind a wife and daughter with nothing but debt. We're tired of what people say: Why isn't my daughter married? Why is she still alone?"
He sighed slowly, then added:
— "I have a request… marry her. Pay my debts and consider it her dowry… Just let me die in peace."
Leonardo was taken aback, pulling his hand away sharply for a moment, but he remained standing, seeing in this man the image of someone collapsing while trying to secure his daughter's future. He saw sorrow, and manhood, in his plea.
He didn't respond immediately, but then said in a low voice:
— "Alright… I'll think about it."
Then he left the room.
---
Fifteen minutes later, the nurse returned, her face pale:
— "He... has passed away."
Reihana screamed in tears, collapsing into her mother's arms, while Maria tried to comfort them. Even Leonardo, despite his silence, felt something choking him from the inside… something he couldn't yet understand… but it began to unsettle him.
The chapter ended with the sound of weeping, but behind those tears… was a promise of a fate yet to be written.