Page 187 of The One
He’s about to say something big, something that’s going to change everything. Then a flicker of realization hits me.
“No. Just no.” My voice cracks before I can stop it.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I try to process this, but it’s like everything is happening too fast.
My brother, my best friend, the one who has always been there for me, he’s about to break my heart.
He looks at me, his eyes unwavering. His voice softens, and I know it’s coming.
“I’ve decided to give my heart to Ella.”
I can barely breathe. The words don’t make sense. I shake my head, but even as I do, the weight of what he’s saying settles over me.
Still, my mind refuses to believe what I just heard.
“Say again?” I can barely manage the words.
It’s like my whole body is bracing for impact, and it still hits me harder than I expect.
“I’m sorry for the burden I’m placing on your shoulders, but I need to save her. Teo, the day I met Ella was the day I was actually born. Looking back at my life before her, I merely existed.”
I want to scream at him, but I can’t. The words are caught in my throat as he continues.
“I would have loved nothing more than to make a life with her, have a dozen babies, and just be happy.” He pauses, his eyes clouding over with grief.
I stare at him, wanting to argue. But how can I?
Since Mari has become mine, I get what he’s saying, what he’s feeling.
He continues, his voice rough. “The day I realized I can’t have that with her was the day I died. Without her, life means nothing. And even if we find new lungs for me, that’s what I would face.”
My chest aches. I want to tell him I’ll fix this, but I’m not sure I can.
“But God, the universe, or whoever is in charge, has been merciful. I’ve been given this unique chance to live on in her, be part of her until her last breath and we meet again. I cannot imagine a better way to go.”
His words hit me harder than anything I’ve ever heard. I’m watching my brother make the decision to walk away from everything, from me.
I see the pain in his eyes, but more so the determination.
My lips are pressed together in a tight line, and I fight the urge to scream, to cry, to do anything to make this make sense. But I can’t.
“When?” I manage to choke out. It’s the only thing I can say, because I need to know when I’m going to lose him.
“The day after tomorrow.”
The finality of his words makes my head spin. It’s like the world is crumbling beneath my feet, and it is.
I put my hand over my eyes, trying to stop the surge of tears at my overwhelming sense of loss.
“Fuck!” I whisper. “How do you expect me to go on without you? We’ve always done this together. I’ve never wanted to be the Don.”
He gives me a look I can’t quite read.
“Then don’t be. I’ve learned something these past few months. Teo, you need to do the things that make you happy. This family business we inherited and uphold is not amongst them.”
I laugh bitterly and repeat the words we’ve heard all our lives. “You’re born intola famiglia, you’ll die inla famiglia.” It’s a fact.
But he doesn’t back down. “There is a way,” he tells me. “I developed it after Ella ran. But it’s too late for me now. I’m going to die inla famiglia, butyouwon’t have to.”
