My Son Gets Another Mother

Lilibeth Domínguez

I'm on my way to a very nice coffee shop I found yesterday in Orvieto, Italy. It's a very peaceful place and I like it. I've been living here for just over a week now, as I have nothing holding me back in my home country. After the death of my parents, I felt so lonely that I needed to seek a new adventure, but I never thought that what I would experience in the following days would be more than just an adventure.

I leave the coffee shop with a delicious ice cream when I see a man who takes my breath away. He's sitting down, but I can tell he's over six feet tall, muscular, blue eyes that stand out against his tanned skin, especially with that jet-black hair. The woman accompanying him is beautiful in every sense of the word, with her reddish hair, fair skin, tall, and a great figure, as she catches the attention of every man passing by. our gazes meet for a few seconds, and I feel a flutter in my heart, but I'm the first to look away and then continue on my way.

It's been two days since my first encounter with that man, and I still can't forget those beautiful eyes and those lips that seemed to invite a kiss. I'm in the same coffee shop as that day, recording a short video to upload later to my social media because I don't like doing live streams. Suddenly, behind me, I hear many gunshots, and from their intensity, I deduce they're from a high-caliber weapon. People start running and screaming, trying to protect themselves, while the screeching of a van can be heard. I crouch down, and just as I'm about to run like everyone else, I realize that all the bullets were aimed at that luxurious van just a few steps away from where I am. Without warning, the back door opens, and I see a woman covered in blood falling, holding something in her arms.

I'm about to turn away when she notices me and looks at me with beautiful green eyes, pleading for my help. Like the fool I am, I don't hesitate to approach her. She lifts herself up slightly, and I see a baby about five months old in her arms. She's been trying to protect him all this time. I don't know if he's injured because he's crying with all his lungs. She hands him to me and tells me something I can't understand because I don't speak Italian. After this, she takes off a silver chain from her neck, which she hands to me, trying to push me away with her hands when we hear the noise of several cars trying to reach the place where we are. I turn around and run away from there, but not before giving one last look at the woman who has taken her last breath.

I run through the empty streets, as everyone has taken shelter in shops or their homes to stay safe. When I'm at a safe distance and think no one is following me, I check the baby I'm carrying in my arms. He's still crying, but fortunately, he's unharmed. I take off my jacket and wrap him in it. After about an hour of walking aimlessly, I don't know where to go, whether to my small hotel room or to hand this baby over to the authorities. I don't want to get into trouble, especially being a tourist.

I've decided to take him to the authorities when I hear shouts from men behind me and the noise of at least five vans. Fear invades me, and I think they're after this baby, so I have no choice but to run again. I've only gone a few meters when a van blocks my path. I think it's the end for us. A man gets out of the back, but due to nerves, I don't recognize him, also because tears blur my vision. I find myself surrounded by several men with long guns, and finally, when this man stands in front of me, I realize he's the same man from two days ago, and my soul sinks.