The Day I Left, My Brothers Fell Apart

Mario and Bruno took turns hurling accusations at me. Their merciless reproach rained on me like a torrent of rocks.

From the room across the corridor, Bianca's voice drifted over. "Mario? Bruno? Where are you? I need you with me."

They hurried back to her side right away, leaving me to suffer alone in the dank, suffocating room.

Mario had left behind the investigation report on the accident. With trembling hands, I picked it up.

It stated clearly that I had argued with Bianca inside the car and that I had deliberately swerved the steering wheel to threaten her. According to it, my reckless act was what caused the accident.

Summoning all my strength, I forced myself out of bed. I wanted to find my brothers and explain everything.

Bianca had just finished her skin treatment. Mario gently tucked a blanket behind her lower back and carefully adjusted it around her waist. Bruno was massaging her wrist, while Giuliano was busy pulling the curtains and fine-tuning the lighting to what he thought was the most comfortable.

My heart shattered in that instant. I turned to leave, but my foot accidentally struck the door as I spun around.

Mario noticed me, and a flash of irritation crossed his eyes.

He barked, "What are you doing here? Was the car accident not enough? Are you trying to hurt Bianca again?"

Bianca clutched Mario's sleeve and glanced at me with a pitiful expression. "Sofia, I promise I won't get on your nerves anymore. Please spare me. I still need to play the piano for our brothers."

Silently, I went up to the attic where we used to play together. There, I found the four small figurines that Mario, Bruno, Giuliano, and I had sculpted together on my birthday.

I threw them into the trash. They shattered into fragments, just like what remained of our relationship now.

…

After resting for a while and regaining some strength, I went to the storage room to pack my belongings.

My bookshelf had been filled with poetry collections Mario had bought for me. He used to say that he would invite poets to write exclusively for me if that was what I wanted.

Giuliano had given me countless bottles of perfume, saying he wanted me to experience the most beautiful scents in the world. As for Bruno, he had brought back limited-edition jewelry from all over the country. They were all souvenirs he picked up during his competitions abroad.

They had once wanted my entire life to revolve around them. But now, all of it felt like a burden.

I asked the maid to take everything out and throw them away.

As I cleared the last poetry book from the shelf, Mario stood at the door and stared at the empty space blankly. He looked like a wounded little boy.

"Why did you throw away the poetry books I gave you? Didn't you say you would treasure them for life?" he asked.

Bruno came to take a look after him.

His nose reddened as he questioned, "Didn't you love the necklace that I bought you from overseas the most?"

Giuliano rushed out and chased after the maid to ask where she had thrown my things. He even said he was willing to pay to buy them back.

I kept my head down and didn't bother explaining anything.

The next moment, I noticed the diamond earrings Bruno was holding.

"Are those for me?" I asked quietly.

Bruno's gaze wavered as he looked at Mario.

Clearly, they were not for me.

Mario cleared his throat and explained, "Bianca almost ended up disfigured. So, we're giving her some jewelry and taking photos with her to cheer her up."

Bruno hurriedly added, "I'll buy you something the next time I go for a competition. Don't be so self-centered now."