JOSEPHINE

The drive home was silent. Even Riccardo had turned off the radio, and while I couldn't gauge what was going on with the other two, I felt strangely at peace with myself. There were no more secrets. Nothing I had to hide.

All that remained was the shattered parts of me: the nightmares, the memories, the fear.

Riccardo parked the car, and we walked into the house without exchanging a word. Vito seemed to have been waiting for us; as soon as he saw us, concern etched across his face, he stood up. "Are you guys okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

I glanced at the two of them. The way they looked at their brother gave me a glimmer of hope that maybe things could get better. "I think you should talk alone," I replied quietly, feeling an ache in my chest. I needed space to breathe, to process everything that had just unfolded. And they needed it too.

As I climbed the stairs, the silence of the house hung heavily in the air, but I felt a strange lightness wash over me. Showing them where I came from felt liberating, even if just for a moment. It hadn't been easy, but now, I could breathe a little easier.

Once in my room, I closed the door and collapsed onto my bed, feeling tired. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push aside thoughts of the nightmares and dark memories that loomed like shadows in my mind. But they lingered stubbornly, ready to pounce.After a while a soft knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts.

"Can I come in?" Valentino's voice called through the closed door, gentle yet cautious. I hesitated for a moment, then told him to come in. He opened the door and stepped inside, immediately casting his gaze downward, as if unsure how to approach me. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay," he said, sitting on the edge of my bed, his presence a comforting anchor. I nodded, though I wasn't entirely sure that was true. "You don't have to pretend in front of me, you know that, right?"

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, easing some of the tension I felt."I'm getting there," I murmured. "What about you?"

Valentino looked up, a faint smile on his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm okay. My ego is a bit bruised, but nothing permanent, so no worries." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm here if you want to talk, and I'll be here if you don't," he said quietly, his sincerity shining through.

"Thank you, Nino. I'm sorry for running off and causing you trouble. You didn't deserve that."

Valentino shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You don't have to apologize for needing space, Josephine. I should have paid better attention. I didn't realize how overwhelmed you were."

"I just—everything felt too much, and I panicked," I admitted, looking down at my hands. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"I know," he said softly. "But next time, just tell me. I want to be there for you, even when things get tough." He ruffled my hair playfully, a gesture that felt strangely comforting amidst the chaos. "Anyway, I have something prepared outside. Thinking back, I'm not sure if it was a good idea, but maybe you should see for yourself." He stood up and extended his hand to me, his eyes full of encouragement.

"What is it?" I asked, curiosity piqued despite the heaviness in my heart.

Valentino grinned slightly, mischief sparkling in his eyes—a welcome distraction. "You'll see outside. Come on, before it starts snowing again."

I followed him outside, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the sight of a campfire crackling in the fire pit. The sky was already dark and I could see the stars over us. "Are you roasting marshmallows or something? Why is there a fire here?" I stepped closer, feeling the warmth of the flames wrap around me, offering a brief reprieve from the cold.

"Something like that." He pulled out a box that I recognized all too well, my heart sinking at the sight. I stumbled back a few steps, nervous and uncertain. Why was it here? What was he planning to do with it? He placed the box in front of me, his gaze steady and reassuring. "I thought maybe you'd want to burn his things. As a symbolic gesture." I glanced back at the box, a mix of fear and exhilaration stirring within me. "Was this a dumb idea?" Instead of answering, I picked up the first dress, feeling its weight in my hands. The fabric felt both familiar and foreign. "I'm inside if you need me."

With a determined flick of my wrist, I tossed it into the flames. "This is for how you used me." I watched, entranced, as the fire devoured it, each flicker reflecting my pain and anger. The flames roared, and for a moment, it felt like they echoed my voice, drowning out the shame he left behind.

I picked up the next dress. It was deep red, a color that reminded me of all the times he silenced me. "This is for all the times you made me feel invisible." I hurled it into the fire, watching as it curled and crumbled.

The next dress was a delicate white, a symbol of my innocence as he had said. "This is for the childhood you stole from me." I felt a piece of my pain transfer into the heat as the fabric disappeared, the flames licking at it hungrily, as if they too wanted to eradicate that part of my past.

"This is for the shame you instilled in me." I tossed it into the fire.

I grasped another dress that reminded me of a particularly painful moment. "This is for the isolation you forced upon me." It fell into the glow, and I watched the flames tear it apart.

The next dress I held was the last one he had given me—a hideous reminder of my entrapment. "This is for the dreams you took from me."

I took another dress, its dark fabric resonating with the memories I wanted to escape. "This is for the control you had over my life."

"This is for the fear you instilled in me," I murmured, my voice rising above the crackling fire.

"This is for the nights I couldn't sleep while you haunted me." The smoke rose into the cold night air, and I took a deep breath, expelling the last remnants of him with each throw.

I grasped the next dress, its fabric almost calling out to me. "This is for all the moments I felt alone." With a quick motion, I sent it into the flames.

One by one, I threw each dress into the fire. I sensed that Valentino, even if he wasn't standing right next to me, was still there, supporting me.

"This is for the hope I want to find again," I whispered, tossing the final dress into the fire. As it ignited, I watched the flames consume the last remnants of my past, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

As I stood there silently, feeling the warmth of the fire, I suddenly felt an arm around me and turned to see Vito standing next to me. Behind him were Domenico, Matteo, Riccardo, and Valentino. They were all still here. And so was I.

I looked up at the stars and thought of my parents. They might be up there, watching over me, and I hoped they could see that I was no longer alone. Maybe their parents were there too; I hoped they could see how well their sons have grown. They would be so proud of the men they've become.

Gently, Vito pressed a kiss to the crown of my head, and Domenico draped his jacket around my shoulders. I wiped away a tear from my cheek and felt a genuine smile begin to form. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of their love and support, I realized how far I had come. This must have been the progress Dr. Bradford meant.

I took a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs, and looked back at the fire, its flames dancing as if celebrating my newfound strength. 'I'm ready.' I whispered silently to the stars, hoping they would hear me. Together, we would face whatever lay ahead. Together, we would heal.



Hello there :-)

it's a short chapter, but I like the ending and so it ends there. Aaaaanyway, I finished writing this story. Chapter 41 will be the last plus an epilog.

However, since I can't say goodbye to my characters, I started writing a short stories (Mourning in Italy) which will be focusing on Josephines first trip to italy. It will be published with chapter 41. I can't make my mind up if I will write another one about her life in highschool or not, but my tendency goes to bonus chapters, not a whole story.

Aaaand I started another story called 'Impassive', which is a mafia romance.

Thats all, thank you for being here with me! :-)