As the Italian sun dipped below the horizon, casting its final golden glow on the beach, I knew it was time to say goodbye to the shores of Sampieri for the day and return to our cozy beach cottage just a short walk away.

Sicily had become more than just a destination for me; it had become a sanctuary. It was a place where time stood still, and worries melted like sand between my toes. Since the age of four, it had become a treasured tradition to spend each summer in this idyllic place, a holiday that would usually coincide perfectly with my birthday on the thirty-first of August.

But this year, our flight home fell on my birthday to ensure we would make it back for the start of the new school year. A heavy sigh escaped my lips at the realisation that we only had two short days before our departure. With a lingering gaze on the fading sun, I etched the memory into my mind to sustain me for the year.

I turned on my heel and climbed the worn cobblestone steps, each one urging my closer to the haven of cherished memories that was our cottage. But as I approached the weathered blue door, anticipation was replaced by an unsettling feeling.

Something was off.

I pushed the door open, expecting the familiar embrace of my mother's warmth, but instead, I was met with a sight that made my heart drop. My beautiful mother, her fiery auburn hair now dishevelled, and her usually vibrant green eyes clouded with fear. This wasn't the composed and nurturing figure I knew. She trembled before me, and a chill ran down my spine.

My gaze shifted to the corner of the room, where two boxes stood packed and ready, alongside our packed suitcases. Confusion and worry mingled in my mind, urging me to understand the unfolding chaos. What had happened in my absence? The knot of unease tightened in my stomach, surpassing the fading warmth of the afternoon sun.

Summoning the courage, I cautiously approached my mother, my voice barely a whisper in the tense air. "Mum," I called out, my words tinged with concern. "What's going on?"

Her gaze flickered to me from where she was hastily taping a cardboard box in the kitchen, a mix of desperation and determination in her eyes. She hurried over, gripping my hand tightly, her touch both reassuring and trembling.

"They found us," she confessed in a hushed voice, her words laced with fear, before guiding me toward the boxes.

A surge of panic washed over me, and I struggled to grasp the magnitude of her words. "Found?" I stumbled, my voice betraying my confusion.

Her response was swift and urgent. "Help me bring these boxes to the car," she commanded, her focus unwavering. Ignoring my questions, she ushered me to the task at hand, pushing open the door and hurrying outside.

"Mum!" I called out, grasping her arm to halt her frantic movements. She turned to me, surprise flickering across her face, as if realizing the distress she had caused. "Tell me what's going on," I pleaded, my voice tinged with a mix of fear and determination.

Her touch gentled, cupping my cheek briefly before reality forced its way back into her gaze. "I'll explain later, but you have to do what I say."

At my silent acknowledgement, she continued hastily gathering our bags, stuffing them into boot of our car with a sense of urgency. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I fastened my belt in a car whose engine was already humming with anticipation. We had sped from the driveway before I could have uttered another word.

My mind was unable to process the unfolding chaos, the reality of the situation eluding my grasp, becoming a whirlwind of jumbled thoughts and fragmented images. Amidst the chaos, I could only hold onto fragments of my mother's voice.

"Maddie!"

I shook myself, trying to regain a semblance of composure. Panic gripped me as I saw the terror etched on my mother's face, her eyes shifting rapidly between mine and the rear-view mirror.

"We're being followed."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of the unknown. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, but her urgency silenced me. Fear and uncertainty intertwined within me, turning my stomach into knots. I clutched the edge of the seat, my knuckles turning white as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

"In the glovebox, Maddie, there's an envelope," she said, her words rushed, urgency seeping through every syllable. "Take it, take it now."

I had never heard her adopt such a strict tone with me. Confusion and alarm mingled on my face, but the urgency in her eyes left me no choice. I reached for the glovebox, my fingers trembling as I retrieved the envelope. I held it in my hands, staring at it with a mix of confusion and trepidation.

"There are some euros in there. Enough to get you to Catania," she explained, her voice carrying a sense of desperation. "I need you to get on the 722 bus and go to a shop called 'Zecchi's.' It's an art shop. Do you understand?"

"Catania? Mum, that's hours away," I protested.

"Do you understand?".

"You're scaring me," I whispered, my voice quivering.

"Good. It means you'll listen. Now repeat what I said."

I took a shaky breath, my voice barely above a whisper. "The 722 to Zecchi's."

"Good. It's all in the envelope, but I don't want you relying on that."

She glanced behind her, her eyes scanning the road. "I think we've lost them but get down. They can't know you're in here."

I obeyed, my body curling in on itself as I huddled against the seat, making myself as small as possible. My heart hammered in my chest, the fear of being found overwhelming my senses.

"Good. Put the envelope in your pocket, and tell me what you're going to do again."

"But you've lost them. It's..."

"Maddie. Tell me," she interrupted, her voice leaving no room for argument.

I hesitated for a moment, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon me. "722, Zecchi's," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"Good. I'll meet you there when I can," she reassured me, her words laced with determination. "There's a woman called Isabel. She'll explain what she can until I get there."

"Why can't we go together?" I pleaded, desperation seeping into my voice.

Suddenly, a car sped out of a side road and followed behind us.

"That's why," my mother said tersely, her voice heavy with a mix of fear and determination.

I turned to look, my eyes widening in alarm, but before I could react, my mother pressed down on my head, forcing me to duck and hide. I pressed myself against the seat, my body trembling with fear, as the world outside blurred into a frenzy of motion and mum accelerated with a dizzying speed.

"Stay down until I tell you to jump out," she instructed urgently, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll lose them on the next corner, and then I need you to hide. Wait five minutes. Get on the bus. Don't wait any longer, Maddie, you hear?"

A sob threatened to escape, terror gripping me with an iron fist. "They'll find you," I whispered, the fear for my mother consuming my thoughts.

"It's not me they want," she said under her breath, but it wasn't enough to evade my ears in the deathly silence.

"Mum," I cried, my voice quivering with a blend of fear and despair.

"Promise me you won't follow me. No matter what."

I couldn't... I couldn't...

"Promise me, Maddie. Now," she pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion.

I took a shuddering breath, tears welling up in my eyes. "I promise, but.. but..."

She squeezed my hand tightly, her touch offering both solace and strength. "Shh. I love you so much. Don't ever forget that."

"Don't say that, Mum," I choked out, my voice filled with anguish.

"You might hate me, but I promise, everything we did was for you."

"What are you talking about?" I pleaded, confusion and shock intertwining within me.

Suddenly, she sharply turned the wheel, the car skidding around a corner before coming to a halt in a dimly lit alley. She yelled, "Out!"

The urgency in her voice propelled me into action. With trembling hands, I swung the door open and jumped out, clutching my rucksack tightly to my chest. My breath came in short gasps, and my vision blurred with tears as I watched my mother drive off into the night.

But only seconds later, the promise of a reunion in Catania was shattered. The screech of tires and the sickening sound of a collision filled the air. My heart clenched, and time seemed to slow as I witnessed the blinding flash of headlines and the devastating impact before me. The world spun into a chaotic blur, and an agonizing silent scream tore from my throat.

Panic, terror, and shock overwhelmed me, each emotion vying for control. I stood frozen in place for less than a moment, before breaking the promise I had made and running towards mum. But my journey was cut short when a blast echoed and the car blew up into flames. It sent me tumbling backwards by the impact.

The reality of the situation crashed down upon me, forcing me to confront the unimaginable. My mother was gone, and I was left alone in a world turned upside down.