Italy

Lucia loved the garden; it was light, warm and beautiful, so different to the place where she spent most of her childhood. It was the garden that had been the place that her Nonno had taken her to show her he was different, that the world was more beautiful than that place.

Carefully she plucked the perfectly ripe tomatoes that she and Nonna were going to use for dinner that night. Glancing down at the basket of fruit she realised that she had picked too many, grabbing one to eat raw she turned back to the house.

Sat just outside was her twin, Francesca, sat painting as she did most days. Spotting her sister looking Francesca waved cheerfully. Francesca was smiling, she was always smiling, she felt that if she didn't then Lucia would worry and be sad and Lucia had been sad for too long. Despite this, Lucia knew most of the smiles were fake.

Walking up to where her sister was sat she glanced at the painting; it was of two girls, about ten years old, they were grubby, naked, stick thin and clinging to each other as if all they had in the world was the other. One was slightly behind the other her fear clear, the other was in front snarling in an animalistic threat but her fear could be seen in her eyes. The painting was dark with the exception of a square of light where the image of a man was silhouetted, a policeman's hat could be faintly made out in his hand.

Lucia stared at the painting of all the things her sister could've painted she chose that. Yes it was the day things got better, the day they discovered there was more to the world than darkness and him. But, it was also something she would rather forget.

It was the reason Francesca was afraid that she would lose people in a world that was too big and was afraid when people were angry. The reason Lucia couldn't stand enclosed spaces and was constantly afraid of being trapped again.

"What do you think sorella?" Francesca asked,

"I don't know Fran..." Lucia replied quietly, "The painting itself is brilliant, but, why of all fucking things did you have to paint that?"

Francesca just shrugged already used to her sister's swearing.

"It was on my mind today, I mean I think about it all the time, but today it just wouldn't leave me alone."

Lucia sighed and started to walk into the house pausing at the door she said "You should forget it, its over."

"I know, but I cant." For a second Francesca's smile faltered "Are you saying you have sorella?"

Lucia continued into the house, she didn't need to answer the question Francesca already knew the answer was no.

In the kitchen her Nonna was stood preparing the ingredients for the night's cooking with her Nonno sat to the side where he had been watching the girls outside. He smiled at Lucia as she put the tomatoes on the counter.

"Did you see Fran's painting?" He asked.

"I did." She turned to see her sister come in, "I think it's..." but her sentence was cut off as a shooting pain through her head caused her legs to crumble.

As she fell she felt her Nonno's strong arms catch her and saw her sister collapse too. Their Nonna rushing to her side. The last thing she heard before she passed out was her Nonno begging her to tell him what's wrong.

Translations: Italian

Sorella: Sister

Nonno: Grandpa

Nonna: Grandma

Translations come from the internet so please tell me if they are wrong.