Chapter 38 Marianna

• One of my eyes is too swollen to see so I open the other one, just as something warm flows down into my hair. And then his weight is gone and Paulo is standing over me. Even through my one eye, I can see how furious he is. Relief floods me but I'm also angry. At him, at the dead asshole, fucking Padre, and even De Luca. Why didn't he stop me and demand to know where we were going? Wasn't he holding us hostage? I'm furious but as I lie there with a swollen face and blood in my hair, a sort of calm washes over me. This is the push I needed.
• "You move and I won't hesitate to put one in you," Paulo says and I assume he's talking to Padre. I'm lying on the ground naked, with blood all over my face and hair and Padre has the audacity to laugh. Not chuckle but a full blown out belly laugh. I guess this is one of his hobbies. Inflicting pain and watching people suffer.
• Paulo slips a T-shirt over my head, I assume his, then carries me out. I feel like I'm floating and all too soon I black out. When I open my eyes again, I'm in a white room with a beeping sound that's coming from somewhere above me. Or is it beside me? I can't tell. My entire face hurts, I have a splitting headache but aside from that, I think I'm fine. I don't know why this hits me now but I realize without Paulo, I would probably be dead. Not physically but emotionally. And I feel so relieved that tears decide to make an appearance. I can't remember the last time I cried. I'm always holding myself back so I don't come off as weak but right now I can't hold them back even if I tried to. I grab the sheets covering me, turn to my right side, and let the dam open. That's how Paulo finds me.