Nora Vitale.
Thirteen years ago.
I've always been a woman of the street, but that ended and changed when I fell in love and I got married to Peter vitale. Well, i didn't change completely, cause you can take me from the street but not out of me.
The beginning of my marriage, became the uproar and plan of my death. There was a law for street ladies that they weren't supposed to fall in love or even get married. But I chose to live above the law.
"Yo what's up nigga!" I said, shaking Diana, and then pulled her into a tight hug.
"Yo, it's been like how many years? How I've you been? I see you're enjoying your marriage so well" Diana said, smiling at me joyfully.
She was the only friend I had left, after leaving the street and getting married.
I turned around so she could see me properly.
"It's ten years and Hell yeah! I'm enjoying my marriage" I said happily.
"Guess what?" I asked, leaning forward and whispering in her ear.
"What?" She leaned forward without hesitation.
"He took me to the goddamn Bahamas for a vacation and I loved every bit of it " I whispered into her ear, giggling happily..
We walked the streets as we continued talking.
"Girl! I'm so happy for you. You get to live what you've always dreamed about." She said smiling
"I've got something to tell you tho" Diana said, her face etched with worry.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"You shouldn't come here anymore" Diana said, her voice filled with so much sadness.
I stopped walking and turned to look at her well to know the reason.
"Why is that?" I said with my hands folded on my chest.
"Have you gone to the Bahamas and forgotten about everything?" She asked rudely.
"Okay calm down, what's the matter?"
"The rule Nora! If they see you here they could kill you. You've got to stay low" Diana explained, her eyes speaking of the sadness more.
"Damn, I truly had forgotten about the whole rule. Thank you Diana. I've got to take my daughter and husband out of this place before it's too late" I said about running, when Diana grabbed my hand.
"You've got a daughter now? How much have i missed out on in your life" Diana said, her voice shocked.
"Yes, she's ten years old. We'll catch up and I'll tell you everything and anything. Gotta run now!" I said.
"In case I don't make it, make sure to keep an eye out for her please!" I pleaded.
"Why would you say something like that? You're gonna make it definitely " Diana said, her voice filled with worry and her eyes filled with something else. Her eyes only told the truth more, it was filled with determination for me.
"Thanks Diana" I said, running and waving at her. She waved back at me, with a smile on her face.
I got home and met Peter just sitting on the chair, pressing his phone and just living his best life and all I felt in that moment was guilt. I stood there just staring at him, he was absentminded that I stood there. In that moment all that flooded my mind was that I brought a life to him that he would have never wanted and all I wanted is to just run away from him, take this terrible life I had with me and run away from him. He didn't deserve any of it.
I clicked shut the apartment door behind me and a tired smile spread across my face.
"Hey babe, I'm back," I announced, walking towards him with open arms.
He looked up at me, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree. He swept me into a tight hug, the familiar scent of his cologne washing over me.
"I missed you already," he murmured, burying his face in my hair. His smile, wide and childlike could melt glaciers and it always had a way of melting away my stress anytime any day.
"You did?" I teased, nuzzling closer.
"It was just a few hours."
He pulled back, his eyes searching mine.
"Babe even a few hours feels like forever when you're not here" he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper in my ear.
After ten years, I loved how he loved me. He only changed for the better, loving me even deeper and I couldn't ask for a better person. It's no wonder that I could leave my past life and choose to build a life with him.
A pang of guilt twisted in my gut. I wanted to return his embrace wholeheartedly, to lose myself in his warmth, but the words of Diana hung over me like clouds in the sky.
"Yeah, I'm here now, tho—" I began, the words catching in my throat.
My reflection in his eyes, usually filled with love and amusement, flickered with a flicker of confusion. My smile faltered, a sudden sadness etching itself onto my face.
"I'm here now," I repeated, the words heavy with unspoken truth, "but for how long" I whispered underneath my breath.
He noticed the look on my face and broke the hug immediately.
"Nora, what's wrong? Did something happen to you when you went out?" He asked, looking over my body.
"Peter—" I said, trying to find the words but they weren't forthcoming.
"What's the matter Nora? Talk to me!" He said, directing me towards the sofa chair to sit.
I looked into his eyes, they screamed an endless love for me and Cassandra I could just feel it. A tear dropped from my eyes that I tried holding back.
He pulled me close, and hugged me in a tight embrace. I felt so much peace in his embrace and I didn't want to leave his embrace anymore. The honking and screaming of people drew me out of the fantasy I was having.
"Who are those people?" Peter said, walking to the house windows, he stood there frozen, with his reaction I knew the street guys had come for me.
I walked to the window to take a look, and saw my gang whom I was leading back then.
"Come out Nora, Come pay the price for your disobedience!" They all chorused loudly.
This was definitely the end for me no doubt about it. I took the phone and dialed my aunt who was watching over Cassandra.
"Watch over Cass for me, please do not tell her the streets killed me. I already have cancer so you might as well tell her I died of cancer" I said sobbing and ended the call not giving her an opportunity to say anything.
Peter looked at me sadly, his once happy face looked at me sadly and it broke me.
I walked towards the door and Peter tried to stop me.
"Please don't do this, don't go. I beg of you Nora!" He pleaded, I turned to look at him, shook him off and walked out the door.
"I love you Pete" I whispered.
I walked out of the house boldly not looking back, I could hear Peter crying behind me and the struggles of the men holding him back.
"Please don't do this to her, she doesn't deserve this at all!" Peter screamed trying to grab me, one of the men knocked him out and left him on the ground.
I was carried inside the car, as they covered my head with a sack. They drove away to one of the old warehouses. I could smell the dust of the building, they lifted up the sack cloth from my head and behold I was kneeling in front of a teenager who pointed a gun at my head.
"This is your first task that'll make me know if you're worthy to become the next mafia god, she's a scapegoat" a man said, whom I recognized was the boss talking, I suspect the teenager was his child.
The world went silent after a deafening crack that echoed the emptiness. My body, a moment ago a vessel of defiance, felt like a lead weight as it slammed against the unforgiving ground. A searing pain erupted in my chest, a hot poker twisting in my insides. A gasp escaped from my lips, choked by the metallic tang of blood that welled up in my throat.
"Weldon Son" the faint voice said, followed by a chuckle.
A crimson stain blossomed on my shirt, spreading with horrifying slowness. It was a chilling confirmation— the bullet had found its mark, piercing through my heart.
I crawled with my arms towards the door gasping for breath.
"Now finish the work!" He said, as the young boy walked up to me pointing the gun at my head.
I closed my eyes and imagined the beautiful smile that Cassandra always had on her face, this was indeed a beautiful way to die.
They could take my life but not the precious memories of my Angel.