Gio’s words kept echoing in my mind, and as I continued to hurt myself, I gasped and turned the car onto a dark road. I truly had no idea where I was. This might be for the best, so Gio wouldn’t find me easily. I convinced myself not to think about it anymore. Gio wouldn’t search for me. He didn’t care anymore; he wanted to end it.
I pulled over in a large park. Before stepping out of the car, I glanced at my bracelet. I remembered that Gio gave it to me. I swiftly removed it, along with my necklace, leaving everything in the car. There was only one family in the park, and no one else was around. I sat down far away from them, allowing myself to calm down.
I stared at the now darkening sky while seated on a bench. The park had beautiful lights, but I couldn’t appreciate them due to the heavy emotions I was carrying.
I watched children playing and managed a sad smile to myself. I thought Gio and I would still have a family, but apparently not. None of our plans would materialize.
“Liar,” I whispered to myself, referring to Gio. “You’re a liar.”
All I felt now was anger and pain. Is it always going to be like this? Will I always be hurt by the men in my life? First, it was my father, who physically hurt me. Now, it’s Gio, who has hurt me emotionally. If I had to choose, I’d rather be hurt physically. At least that heals quickly. When it’s your heart that’s hurt, I don’t know how long I’ll feel the pain.
A family I had been watching left. The children were smiling, holding hands with their parents.
“Hello, Millie.”
All my thoughts disappeared, and my eyes widened when I heard that voice. I almost choked on my saliva and clutched the edge of my seat tightly.
I slowly turned to him, and even though it was somewhat dim where he was standing, I could still see his face clearly.
I immediately stood up and took a step away from him. What was he doing here? How did he get here?
“Is that how you greet your father?”
I shivered when he smiled at me. He was here! My father was here!
I remembered what he had said during my last visit to him, that if he ever got out of prison, he would come back for Gio and me. And here he was.
“How did you get out, Pa?” I knew he didn’t post bail. Was he released, or did he escape?
My heart was pounding rapidly. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t. My knees felt weak, and it was as if my feet were glued to the ground.
“Does it matter?” I was frightened by his smile. “Aren’t you going to hug your father? Aren’t you happy that we’ve seen each other again? You never visit me in prison, so I came to see you myself.”
I had to open my mouth slightly because I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
I closed my eyes. Calm down, Millie. You’re not the same Millie that he used to hurt. You can stand up to him now.
I clenched my trembling hands and looked back at my father. His smile became even more unsettling.
No! Out of all people, it’s my father whom I can’t possibly confront. Even though I’ve changed so much, seeing him free and capable of hurting me again is intimidating.
It’s like I’ve reverted to the old me when I’m facing my father, helpless and weak. My tears weren’t falling, probably because I was tired of crying.
“What do you want?” When I regained my strength, I cautiously stepped back and looked for the right moment to run away from him.
“Nothing, really. I just wanted to see my child. Is that so wrong?”
I knew there was an underlying meaning to his words, and that’s what made me step back again. I stepped on a dry leaf, which made a noise. I looked at my father, and his gaze turned dark. I quickly turned away from him and ran as fast as I could.
I thought I could escape my father and reach my car, but I couldn’t. My father overtook me and roughly pulled me. He pointed a gun at me, making me stop my attempts to escape.
“I am not going to abduct you, my child…” The way he said “my child” was sickening. I knew that wasn’t what he wanted to convey, but he wanted to irritate and provoke me. “We just need to have a little chat, you and I. Come with me.”
He held me by my hair and walked us in the opposite direction from my car. I saw a car that puzzled me, wondering whose it was. He pushed me inside and quickly locked the door so I couldn’t get out. He then got into the car.
He started the car, and we drove away.
How did he get a car? He didn’t have money, and he didn’t have access to his bank accounts due to his imprisonment. How did he manage to have a car?
“I won’t hurt you, Millie, so listen to what I have to say, like the good daughter you are.”
He still had the gun, and every time I saw it, I felt like he could use it on me without any hesitation. “Help me with Gio Locatelli, your husband.”
I furrowed my brow at what he said. What kind of help was he talking about, and why did he think I’d help him?
“I need money, and your husband has plenty, doesn’t he? If you help me, he’ll probably give you whatever you want.”
“How did you get out, Pa?” I didn’t want to hear what he was saying. It seemed like money was still his main concern.
He looked at me, and I could tell he was irritated by my reaction.
“I escaped!” He shouted at me. He pressed the gun against my head.
“How did you escape?! The security is tight there!” I couldn’t help but shout, perhaps out of fear and desperation to get away from him.
My father smiled, but he didn’t respond. He continued driving, and I had no idea where we were headed. All I knew was that there was a cliff on our side, and the sea below.
“Listen to me, Amelie! Give me some money, use your husband for your benefit. I’ll go into hiding once I get what I want, and I won’t bother you as long as I have money.”
My eyes burned with anger. He hadn’t changed at all! No matter what had been done to him, he seemed to have taken on my mother’s behavior, or maybe even worse!
“I won’t obey you, Pa! I won’t do that, especially to Gio. I won’t use anyone, and I won’t exploit Gio. Go back to prison.”
“Look at this little bitch, huh! Experiencing a brief taste of freedom and she’s already forgotten her fear of me! You’re lucky I’m driving!”