Look at her and --

***

COMFORT ME IN SUFFERING

Comfort Me In Suffering prayer for healing

Loving God, I pray that you will comfort me in my suffering, lend skill to the hands of my healers, and bless the means used for my cure. Give me such confidence in the power of your grace, that even when I am afraid, I may put my whole trust in you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

— Enriching Our Worship 2

***

-Mr. Pagolo… - A male voice echoed in the dark room which’s only source of light was solely the moonlight coming from the window. It landed on the body lying on the bright white sheets. A shuffle was heard, then a cough.

-Why do you sound so sad, bastard? – He spoke with his voice low, it was painful for him to speak, his throat completely sore. He coughed again. A burn mark was spreading from his neck, to his chest and along his shoulder. It was disgusting. It was bright red and the skin was extremely wrinkled. There were a few bubbles filled with pus. The man looked away, clenching his jaw. –Finally… - Pagolo spoke again. He was stopping a lot more frequently to take deep breaths. – A celebration… - He started again. – A war is about to begin. – He finished before he fell into deep slumber. The man stayed in the room for a while but eventually left without a sound.

***

Ave’s eyes fluttered open. The light was hurting her eyes but she fought against the need to close them. When she gathered all her senses she looked to her left. She seemed to be in her room. Slowly she turned her head to the right. Georgio was peacefully reading a book by her side. Long and deep, dark circles were hanging under his eyes as if he hadn’t slept in days.

Ave was delighted to find out that she wasn’t alone and proceeded to go back to sleep. She hadn’t had her eyes closed even for a minute before they shot open again, turning sharply to the right.

-You seem to be awake… - Georgio spoke, not looking away from his book. Ave just stared at him with eyes wide in shock. She tried at least sitting in her bed but moving her legs seemed impossible. The pain was like an electroshock that travelled thorough her whole body. She hissed in pain. Georgio peaked over his book before closing it with a big sigh.

-How did you get out? –He asked leaning his elbow on the chair. He leaned his head on his other hand. His face looked extremely uninterested but he was quite curious from the inside. She faced the ceiling silently for not too long.

-…I used a homemade bomb. – She admitted closing her eyes. Georgio jerked an eyebrow up.

-Aluminum and potassium hydroxide? – He asked in what seemed to be disbelief. No wonder her wounds were like that. Ave sighed.

-  I was lucky that I was in a situation where I could use it, that’s all… - Her eyes were kind of worried. She knew she had done her best to finish the job, however…. She doubted she had killed Pagolo. In the end she was no help… The consequences… - Where’s Leo? – She asked looking to her left.

- Sleeping. – She looked at Georgio. It was her turn to jerk an eyebrow up. – He stayed by you side for good 3 days without a blink of sleep. I took his shift from there. The boy was miserable. – Georgio chuckled, Ave averted her eyes, parting her lips to say something but instead she bit them closed. Georgio looked at her with a bit of pity. – He seemed quite mad. – He added. Silence. – No one would want to see their wife hurt, of course. – He shrugged. Ave wore such a confused look on her face until it snapped into laughter. She laughed her heart out. Georgio looked at her as if she had gone mad.

-YOU… - She started, her bursts of laughter interrupting her. – You thought… - She laughed again. It was his turn to be confused. She calmed down brushing a tear away. – Is this how it looks like? – She asked as if the ceiling.

-Honestly? No. More like you are his mom. – Georgio chuckled. Ave answered with the same chuckle.

-Close. – She said. – We are siblings. - Georgio’s eyes were about to get out of their orbits.

-Noooo… - He mouthed. She glared at him and he put his hands up in defeat. – Forgive my mortal mistake. – He spoke aloud this time.

-Anyway, I will go get Leo. – Georgio got up and walked to the door.

-What about? – Ave asked.

-‘Cuz you’re awake, duh. – He rolled his eyes as if her question was the dumbest of all. Ave rolled her eyes at him waving at him to leave already.

A few minutes later the door opened with a bang. And Ave swore she would have jumped out her bed if her legs moved.

-Ave?? – Leo looked at her in disbelief like she was Mary the virgin right before him. She was so dumbfounded that she even kept a straight face when he shook her shoulders in happiness.

- You act as if I came straight from the realm of the dead. – She looked at him sternly. He chuckled.

- I am just happy you are okay. – He said with a bright smile which made Ave’s features soften. – Now! – Leo exclaimed. – It is time for a bath. – “I spoke too early…” Ave thought, an irritation mark on her forehead.

-NO!

-Are you a slot? You’ve been lying in here for a week. You are basically rotting. – Leo fought back. Ave was surprised by his words. Maybe they have spent too much time together… She sweat dropped.

- I can do it on my own. – She stated confidently.

- Ooooh? Is it so? – Leo crossed his arms over his chest. – Please go ahead. – He moved to the side, away from the bed so she could get up. Ave scoffed. It was painful but her legs were on the ground. She stood up and before she could even proceed to take a step forward, she was falling. Leo caught her I his arms and looked at her questionably. She looked away in embarrassment.

Leo sighed and picked her up bridal style. Ave protested since she wasn’t a baby.

-Calm down. – Leo said running the bath. – I won’t touch you or something. I will be here in case you need help. – He looked down at her, his arms on his waist. She frowned. She was sitting on the floor since her wounds were bad enough for her to be incapable to stand up. She had given up already, anyway.

The room was filled with silence; the only sound that could be heard was the running water. Both of them wore an extremely thoughtful face.

-You and your father… - She started, earning Leo’s attention.

-Yeah… - He said looking down.

- I am sorry. – She spoke again, so ashamed she couldn’t look at him.

-You know what you did, right? – Leo spoke looking at her seriously. She nodded.

- We’re going to war, aren’t we? – She said, a sad smile spreading across her lips.

The room sank into sadness.

***

-What a view now. – Georgio whistled from the step door.

- Bastard… - Ave hissed at him. – Where’s Leo? – She asked with a mad expression.

-Oh, ma’am, you aren’t glad by the circumstances, you get to spend time with me? – He asked clenching his chest with a forced hurt expression. Ave looked at him expressionless as if a statue.

-Where’s Leo? – She asked again. Georgio rolled his eyes, sighing.

-You’re annoying, you know? – She glared at him intensely. – Downstairs obviously. – He waved his hands like a child.

-I will join him from there. – She stated.

-Are you dumb? – And she once again glared. – Are you begging for the whole city’s attention? Leo will be the main attraction of this party feast. – Ave looked away defeated by his argument. – You will have to bear with my company. – She groaned. He extended his hand for her to take. – Ma’am, believe me, I don’t enjoy your company at all.  – Georgio said with a charming smile, causing an irritation mark to appear. Nonetheless, she placed her palm in his. – But you know… - He said with soft eyes. – When you were sleeping, it was good. – Ave listened patiently, interested in what he had to say. – You looked like you were dead and- He was interrupted by a pinch on the hand.

-Bastard… - Ave muttered.

-You know, I gotta carry you all the way downstairs, Mrs. Wheelchair in need!! – Georgio exclaimed and she scoffed angrily.

***

‘’So this big room was actually beautiful.’’ Ave had never seen it like this. Maybe it was the lights that made it bright, the chandeliers that weren’t just hanging like ghosts from the ceiling. Maybe it was the crowd of people, the fact that it was so lively, filled with laughter that made it look so appealing. She clinged onto Georgio, grabbing the end of his suit, holding it tightly with her fist. He looked down at her and back at the crowd. His face was straight and unwelcoming. He held her by the waist, covering her from the sight of the people as much as possible from seeing her hobbling. Finally he sat her on chair in the corner of the room. He grabbed a glass of wine and leaned against the wall.

Ave stretched her hand to take the glass but he slapped her hand away. She put her hand to her chest with surprise.

-         You are hurt. It isn’t good. – He said, taking a sip from his glass. He was looking at the crowd. Ave tried to find a way to entertain herself so she tried finding what he was looking at. Her gaze wandered across the crowd and dancing partners. Then she found Leo in the crowd. He was wearing that brilliant smile on his face. To everyone he might have seemed fine, splendid if not. However, she knew. She knew  whole lot better. He was tired, overly exhausted. He didn’t want to be there. There were many things he would have preferred to do. Then she looked at the Don. He stood right behind him. And… he looked like the proudest father.

Georgio stared at Ave whose face was turning long and blue. He quickly walked towards the buffet and took a tray of glasses filled with wine.

-Ma’am, there was no need for the long face. – He got her out of her trance. – Here. – He placed the tray before her. – Don’t tell Leo. – He added and smirked. Ave took a glass and finished it in one breath. It was bitter like vinegar. She hated the taste. Her lips curled up in disgust and at the rim of her eyes there were tears. She took another glass and did the same. Georgio stared at her in both awe and pity. But he averted his gaze at the crowd again. Ave looked back at him. He was looking across the crowd again. Ah, yes, there stood Leo. Despite feeling the alcohol kicking in, it stroked her. Of course, after all, he-

AN: I am uploading one more chapter today due to the delayed upload. I hope you enjoy it and if you did pleaseconsider supporting me <3 See you on the next update.