Pieces of History

"What does it say?" EJ asked.

"It's difficult to read in this light but I think it's written in Italian and I can't read Italian", Sami handed the letter to EJ. He glimpsed at the letter and said:

"Yes it is in Italian. This is nothing more than a shopping list."

"What?" Sami screamed.

"I'm kidding", EJ retreated as Sami attacked him to get the the letter back, "Almost. This practically a list of Colleens divine features as Santo remembers her. Apparently love like theirs doesn't die easily."

"Does it say anything about why she died?"

"No it doesn't. This is his goodbye letter. He knows he's dying and is waiting to see her in heaven or in the next life. Just wanting to be with her", EJ was spelling out the content of the letter. Sami took the chest and flick through the letters.

"There are at least a hundred letters in here. How are we going to find out what happened?"

"By reading these letters. Don't give up now", his reassurance didn't have the effect he had been hoping for. Sami got up and crawled back to the door that led downstairs. She tried to push it open but it wouldn't budge.

"EJ! Come and help me with this door it's stuck", she called for him.

"That's impossible. The only way it could be stuck is if someone locked it or barricaded us in", EJ said making his way to Sami and the door. He tried to force the door open.

"It's stuck", he finally surrendered.

"Can't you pick the lock or something?" Sami looked up to him like he was her long lost personal hero and EJ didn't want to disappoint her.

"It's a different kind of lock but I'll try." It took only seconds for EJ to realize that the door wasn't locked but indeed barricaded but he wasn't ready to give up. He tried to push the door open again without succeeding.

"It's no use. I can't get it open."

"Well try harder!" she demanded but got a tired laughter as an answer, "What?"

"You've seen what I can do and I'm telling you I can't open this door", EJ replied, "I really wished I was the hero you need me to be right now but I'm not. If you have your cell phone call for help, if not I'll be over there reading the letters."

Sami saw the grief in his eyes before EJ turned away and went back to the chest and the letters. She felt the phone burning in her pocket but was reluctant to use it. She bit her lip before deciding to put herself back together and try to help EJ find the truth.

"Look at this", EJ burst out suddenly, "It says in here that Santo will never forget holding their dead daughter in his arms nor will he ever forget her last words to him."

"What else does it say?" Sami asked trying to see the letter but really only trying to get closer to EJ. He tried to pull back and said:

"Nothing interesting. Santo keeps explaining her how he's tried to move pass it all but he just can't forgive her family the way they treated her. These letters seem to be in order. Give me the first letter ever written. Maybe Santo wrote everything down in it." Sami took the chest and went trough the letters finding the one EJ had asked. She gave it EJ and leaned closer. Her eyes were fixed on the letter so she wasn't aware of the pain shining through in EJs eyes. He cleared his throat and began reading.

"This is it", he said a moment later, "This is the one we need."

"What does it say?"

"Wait a moment. Oh, this is too sad."

"What?"

"Just don't interrupt me now okay?" EJ pleaded before starting to translate the story, "Santo starts by begging for Colleens forgiveness. He's crushed thinking that she died believing that he had betrayed her trust and that she had thought even for a moment that he didn't really love her. He tries try give reasons why everything on his journey to her worked agains him and how her family thought it was necessary to have him thrown in jail for a rape. Santo explains that he'd happily endure the beatings again and again if it would bring Colleen back to him or if they would have enabled him to get to her quicker. He tells her how he went to her home looking for her but encountered her angry father and vindictive little brother with sharp fists. Little Shawn had kicked and hit him over and over and when Santo had tried to restrain him Colleens father had come to stop him. It had taken two neighbours to hold him back and stop him from killing Santo. Santo begged to meet Colleen again and it was then when he realized that her family had turned their backs on her and thrown her out. The Brady's had sent Colleen out to the cold rain the night before as she had returned disappointed from not finding Santo at the station. Broken Santo searched all their old hiding places and finally found Colleen in the gardeners shed. She had given birth to their daughter and was bleeding still. Colleen had come to for a moment and that's when she told that the child had never breathed. She begged Santo forgive Shawn for hitting her and killing their little Sarah. Colleen had promised that everything would change better now that Santo was there with her and that they would always have each other. That's all they needed. Then she died in his arms."

"She died in his arms?" Sami asked with a faint voice.

"Yes. Apparently the blow to her abdomen caused the early delivery and stillbirth. Everything went wrong and because she was alone she bled to death", EJ said trying to make out the words blurred by tears shed long ago.

"Are you sure she said Shawn hit her?" Sami asked to make sure what she had heard.

"That's what Santo wrote here."

"That would mean that my grandfather is responsible for his sisters and niece's death."

"Only according to this letter and what Santo thinks he heard her mumble", EJ confirmed.

"Are you really doubting his word?" EJ refused to answer Samis question. He didn't want to hurt her and if he'd admit his true feelings she would be hurt.

"EJ, you didn't answer me", Sami moved to meet his eyes directly, "EJ, are you doubting your fathers word?"