The Mafia’s Forbidden Desire

ROSALINDA.

The muffled sound of distant noises and the rhythmic beeping of machinery I heard were unusual. I wondered who was making the noises and what machine was beeping as I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt so heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible force. With a great effort, I summoned the strength to force them open, and the world exploded into blinding lights, forcing me to quickly close my eyes.

What was happening?

The intensity was overwhelming, like staring directly into the heart of the sun. I tried to open my eyes again, but this time I squinted at first, and an indistinct glow of light pierced through. I slowly opened them wider until they adjusted to the onslaught of light. Everything was blurry at first, but gradually, shapes and colors began to emerge. It took me a minute to notice the unfamiliar surroundings.

Where was I? I thought. A hospital?

One of the nurses around rushed outside, and she soon returned with a doctor, and behind them were my family-Papà, Mama, Sofia, and Matteo.

What was happening? I panicked as I tried to sit up, but the throbbing ache that saturated my head forced me to lay back and cradle my head as I winced and groaned in pain.

“Don’t try to stand up. You haven’t fully recovered.” The doctor said, and I darted my gaze at him. “I’ll examine you now.” He continued as he approached me.

I glanced at my parents, my eyes darting anxiously between the both of them.

“Mama, Papà. What happened? What am I doing here?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

“You also can’t remember?” Mama asked, and I squinted, confused.

“I guess she’s experiencing retrograde amnesia, just like the other patient.” The doctor stated, further adding to my confusion.

Another patient? What were they talking about?

“What happened?” I asked again, and Papà opened his mouth to talk, but the doctor spoke before he could.

“You all would need to excuse us while I attend to her.”

“But-” Mama tried to protest, but the doctor cut her off.

“Please.”

I could see the worries etched on my family’s faces as they reluctantly turned around and started walking towards the door while glancing back.

Once they were finally out of the room, the doctor inched closer to me, checked the reading on the machine beside me, and began to ask questions.

“How do you feel?” He asked.

“I have a pounding headache, dizziness, my body is in pain, and I feel incredibly weak.”

“Do you feel confused?” He continued, jotting down notes.

“Not really. I just feel like a huge chunk of my memory has been cut out.” I told him.

“What is the last thing you can remember?” He asked.

“The last thing I recall is planning to meet my friend at Tasty Haven. I can’t remember if I met her or not,” I explained, and he nodded.

“What day was that?”

“Thursday, 15 August. Around 1 p. m., I think.”

“Year?”

“2019.” I told him, and he nodded.

“You are suffering from retrograde amnesia. It is a result of the impact of the accident. You’ve lost your memory of everything leading up to the accident.” He explained, and I squinted my eyes in perplexity.

“Accident? How? Where?”

“You were involved in a car crash, but you’ll recover soon. Fortunately, the impact wasn’t severe.” He assured me, and I nodded, my mind still wandering, trying to remember how I got into an accident and who I was with.

Giovanni. I suddenly remembered that I was supposed to go out with him. Could he be the one?

“Doctor. Who was in the car with me?” I quickly asked him.

“There is a man named Giovanni who I believe to be your cousin.” He told me, and worries coursed through me.

“Oh my God, is he okay?”

“Yes.” He nodded, and I let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ll call in your family now.” He added, and I nodded.

He offered a small smile before turning around and starting to walk out of the room, with the nurses trailing behind him.

My family came rushing in a few seconds later, and the worries that slated their faces earlier were still evident.

“Rosa.” My mom called as she came to a stop beside my bed, her hands cradling my face as tears started rolling down her eyes. “Thank you for coming back to me. Thank you.”

Sofia trudged to the other side of the bed, nestled in, and embraced me with tears rolling down her cheeks.

“I can’t even imagine life without you.” Sofia cried as she straightened back up. “Thank you for coming back to us, Rosa.”

As I stared at her with a lone tear rolling down my cheek, there was only one thing on my mind-I was glad she still cared about me.

“Do you really not remember anything?” Papà’s voice broke through, and I darted my gaze at him.

“I can’t.” My voice came out as a whisper.

“Think Rosalinda. The car is riddled with bullet holes. Try to remember something.” Papà urged.

So, it wasn’t just an accident. Could it be an attempt on our lives? I thought as I tried to pull back my memory, but my attempt to recall only intensified my headache, making me groan in pain as I clutched my head.

“I can’t remember.” I groaned.

“Try Rosalinda. Try!” He urged.

“Roberto!” Mama’s voice almost came out as a yell. “Allow her to recover before you start asking questions.”

He sighed exasperatedly as he scratched his temple. “Sorry. I was just worried. But I am glad you are okay.”

“Rosa.” Matteo called, a small smile touching his lips as he leaned in and patted my head. “Thank you for coming back to us.”

“You are welcome. I know you won’t be able to live without me, so I had to come back.” I teased, and he scoffed.

“You wish.”

A small smile touched my lips before I looked around, and when I didn’t see my dear son, I asked. “Where is Carlo?”

“He’s at home.” Mama informed me. “He’s fine; you don’t have to worry.”

I only nodded and smiled in response.

“We’ll bring him here tomorrow.” She added.

“No. Don’t. I don’t want him to see me like this. I’ll see him when I get discharged, which would be soon, right?” I raised a brow, expecting a response. I was sick of the hospital already. I wanted to go home.

“We don’t know. Until you recover and perhaps regain your memory.” Papà chimed in. “Don’t worry. You won’t be alone. Guards would be stationed at the door to protect you.”

“You’ll be okay, baby.” Mama added.

The door suddenly dinged open, and Giovanni slipped in with an intravenous pole.

“Giovanni.” I quickly called, a wide smile playing on my lips, relieved that he was okay.

“Giovanni! You should be on your bed.” Mama scolded, concerned that he was up and about.

“Don’t worry, pretty lady. I am fine.” He assured, winking at her before flicking his gaze at me.

“You are a chicken, Rosa. I heard it took you a long time to wake up.” He taunted with a mischievous grin on his face.

My body ached so much, but I managed to raise my middle finger up at him before mouthing. “Fuck you.”

“Chicken.” He teased again, and my lips curled into a small smile. I could never win against him.

“What happened, Gio?” I asked as curiosity and worries creeped in.

The smile on his face suddenly faded before shaking his head. “I don’t know. I am just as blank as you. I heard from the nurse that you also lost your memory.”

Giovanni also lost his memory. What could have happened? Who wanted us dead? Panic coursed through me as these thoughts raced through my mind.