Cosimo watched as the coffin was raised to the ground, he rubbed his tears in absolute fear; his father hated tears be seen in front of anyone and scolded him. He must not be emotional, he told himself.  

But he missed her so much, he wanted her here. But she was gone, and he was now along. Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was comforting.

His mother used to do that while he was younger, and it comforted him. 

It was not his father, for he would never do this. It was his cousin, Federico, who looked at him. 

There was silence throughout the entire service, once it ended his father had turned. 

“It’s time to go.” 

“I don’t want to.” He had insisted. Perhaps all he wanted was to spend more time with his mother. Even if all that was left was a grave. 

“I’ll stay here with him.” Federico offered. 

“Just a moment, better that you cry in front of her than at home.” He looked at him as he walked. 

“I can make my way home, get him home once he’s done.” The man left. 

He was still crying, right now, as it was all a tombstone and the coffin buried under dirt. Next to it, was an even smaller coffin that was buried the day.

A brother that he would never knew, his father told him. hard While his mother in a feverish state, before she passed her mourned it. Cosimo had seen her last, praying that he would live. 

His distant cousin, almost an uncle. He gave him a pitying look, before putting a hand.

“It’s alright to cry,” he said he looked. “I lost my father when I was young, and it was better after I cried. I did the same when my mother did too, it’s hard to lose your mother.” 

He already did, he had wailed, with his feet on the ground. He would miss her, more than he already had now. With her, he could always be himself, he never felt pressured.

After he had let it all out, he looked up, slowly getting up. His clothes were now dirty, but he didn’t mind. 

There was his cousin too, a sweet girl whose his mother pitied while still alive. 

There was his cousin too, a sweet girl whose his mother pities. 

Restituta had lost both her parents, although under the care of her uncle right now. But she had stayed with him. 

Her brother Alfonso had remained with his aunt, for fear of his age. 

Her eyes had understanding in them as she stepped forward. Federico held his hand. 

"I know," she said. Making her seem older when she was younger than him. 

“Thank you,” he said. He learned to do it too, wiping away his tears. They had ended, and his sadness had not quite gone. But it was better now that he cried. 

He looked at her, feeling more comforted now that he heard it from her. 

“I know what it’s like to lose someone, and it’s terrible” Restituta did, with her kind eyes. 

“You ‘re an orphan,” he said. “I still have a father.” 

“You might as well be, isn’t it?” She leaned in. 

He couldn’t disagree, but he was still under his father’s command. And likely would be till he was of age. But he wanted to cry, and he no longer cared what he thought. He was old enough to be outside, to watch as it happened. 

But his sisters who were mere children, they were being watched by their aunt, Giulia. He had promised that he would send her off, and take them here.

They were still waiting for him. 

“Thank you, for everything.” He thanked them, finding comfort. “I have to go back, either way, there’s still my sisters.” 

“It’s something that one should do, losing a mother is never an easy thing.” Federico assured him. 

Cosimo found the strength in himself to go home, even if he knew that his father would be far from happy. He had let his emotions shown. 

He had promised his mother, that when she died, he’ll look after them. And he’ll keep it too.