Page 41 of Vita Mia

“No. No, sweetheart, you know the truth. Leo is dead.”

“I just want to be sure. Maybe he got out. Somehow?”

“I know honey. We’re sure. He’s gone.”

“Please go,” Belinda mumbled.

“Belinda, you have to let us help you.”

“Get out!” she screamed at them.

Mirabella glanced to Kyra and Jamie. “Can you two wait outside? Let me talk to her?”

“Sure. We love you,” Kyra said and kissed Belinda.

“Feel better, dove,” Jamie said and kissed Belinda goodbye. Jamie left with Kyra. Mirabella reached for Belinda’s hand. Belinda snatched it away. “What do you want Mirabella? I already told Renaldo the truth. It was my fault. I told mama what I did. I confessed it to the police. I’m the one that taught Eve to play with those matches. When she said she played with fire, I didn’t care. I didn’t even question it. And now Leo’s dead,” Belinda broke down in heavy sobs. She was inconsolable. Mirabella pulled her into her arms and tried her best to comfort her.

“Listen honey, it was a horrible accident. You saved Eve’s life. And Leo saved yours.”

“Don’t you see? I didn’t. He did it all. He found Eve, and he broke the window. He told us to jump. Why did he have to die that way? In a fire? Hadn’t he suffered enough? Why did this happen to him? All my life I’ve destroyed things, and the people who care about me. I’m evil. Just like mama said. I’m evil.”

“No, you’re not sweetie, I’ve met evil before. Trust me, you’re just a tortured young woman who made mistakes.”

Belinda wept and wept. Snot dripped from her nose. She wailed against God and everyone. “He told me he loved me.” She repeated. “He knew he was going to die. He knew it. He made me go first, because he knew. I can’t live with it Mirabella. Not this time. I can’t live with myself. I have messed up so many lives, this one hurts too bad. I can’t take it.”

“Minnie, is coming here and your father too. They’ll arrive in the morning.”

“Noooooo!” Belinda pleaded. “Not mama! I can’t face mama. Pleaaasee! She always said this would happen to me! She always said it would. She always knew I was a disaster and she was right. Now Leo is dead, and Cecilia... it’s all because me.”

Mirabella grabbed her face. “Snap out of it. You’re stronger than this!”

“Nooooooooo!” Belinda screamed. The shouting brought Kyra and Jamie back in the room. Belinda began to fight Mirabella and kick in the bed. She went wild, screaming that she was a murderer. Nothing they said could console her.

“Get the nurse,” Mirabella yelled over Belinda’s shrill shrieks. Belinda thrashed about. Mirabella and Kyra held her down to keep her from hurting herself. She was threatening that she would. That she killed him. She said it was her fault.

Three nurses rushed inside. The male nurse strapped Belinda’s wrists to the bed. And the other nurse injected a sedative into her IV. Mirabella stepped back watching it all go down.

“How bad has she been?” Kyra asked.

“She’s back and forth. I thought she was improving. But I guess... she’s still in shock. I’m hoping when Minnie arrives she can help me comfort her.”

Kyra nodded. “Me too. You need some clinical advice. The stress and trauma is taking a toll on her mentally. She could have PTSD.”

“Ladies, we need you to leave while we get her calm. Donna Battaglia can you come back in an hour?”

“I don’t want her over medicated. You’ve been sedating her for a week and she’s not eating. It’s not helping.”

“Of course,, the doctor can speak with you about her care.”

Mirabella glanced to the bed once more. She shook her head sadly. She felt so unsure. Belinda just moaned and turned her head back and forth.

“I’ll be back, honey.” Mirabella said to her. She glanced to the male nurse. “If you’re sedating her must you tie her to the bed like a criminal? Just watch over her and make sure she rests.”

“It’s for her own safety.”

“Don’t strap her in. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Stay with her until I return.”

The nurse looked hesitant and then nodded. He removed the cuffs from her wrists. Belinda turned over to her side and drew her knees up to her chest while she wept.

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