: Oh, Mother: Chapter I :
Blue and black marks covered various parts of her aching body. The left side of her cheek started to swell up slightly. Her full lower lip was busted and covered slightly with dried blood. She limped tiredly into an alleyway, seeking shelter for herself and the little bundle she held in her arms. She saw a pile of crates that were placed against the wall and she laid the infant gently down upon them. She smiled through teary eyes as she lovingly smoothed the blanket around the small child. The baby, no more than eight months old, scrunched up its tiny nose and let a small sneeze escape. She giggled and ran her hand softly over the soft, dewy strands of its raven head down to a plump rosy cheek. The infant, sensing the sadness coming from its mother, started to whimper quietly; tears forming in its wide emerald eyes. She smiled and laid a soothing hand upon its cheek and bent down to place a kiss gently on its forehead.
"Shhh…" She whispered, "Va bene il mio amore…non c e niente da temere il mio angelo."
Its okay my love…there is nothing to fear my angel
She remained bent over the child, her long wavy hair creating a curtain around them like a waterfall; soft and soothing. She bundled the infant up more in the comforting warmth of its blanket.
"My beautiful baby boy," She whispered to him in her Italian accent; thick and melodic, "I'm so sorry that we must part; but I must do what is best for you. I love you so much…"
She choked on the last words and stopped long enough to collect herself. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to escape. She suddenly felt a tiny hand wrapping around her finger and opened her eyes to see her little boy smiling at her; a small yawn escaping his mouth. She lovingly brought that little hand up to her lips, placing a gentle kiss on his tiny fingers. She smiled through her tears and summed up the strength to continue.
"Just looking into your emerald eyes, I could already see the fire in them. You're going to be a little trouble maker, my little angel; but you're also going to be an honorable and noble man. I know in my heart that your future is going to be filled with love. There will also be many trials that I have no doubt you will overcome. No matter where I am, I will always be with you in spirit if not in body."
A distant sound caught her attention and she knew she had only precious moments to spend with her son. She reached into the pocket of her red coat and pulled out a small photograph and tucked it carefully into her son's blanket. Letting the tears finally fall, she leant over and gave her son one last lingering kiss on his forehead.
"Never forget me…" She whispered.
She stood up and quickly made her way towards the back of the alley and hid around the corner. She heard her child start to cry and she felt her heart break; every instinct telling her to go to him and gather him into her arms.
"Hey there little one, what are you doing out here all alone?"
She peeked around the corner and was happy to see that it was the same cop that patrolled the area every day. That was the reason as to why she chose that specific time and place. She had known that her son would be found by this cop and placed into safe hands. She took one last look and smiled to her son one last time.
As the cop stood up, he failed to notice the picture that fluttered silently to the ground. A picture of a beautiful olive-skinned young woman with long, wavy black locks and the same emerald eyes as the infant he held in his arms. Within that picture, the young girl held that same infant lovingly in her arms, hope for both their futures shining brightly in her green eyes…
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