The Little Book of the Dead - Sabatina and Silvano

 

You livefor a new life, I am going to die, Fabrizio.
Before, I had been in the bedroom, caressing my father, kissing his hair—goodsmell, like a baby.
He smiled at me, serene. Go, go, be happy. 
I left him lying in the bed. His last words.

 

Then I wentto my mother. I kissed her and left. Her eyes—her death inside.
I opened the door and disappeared.

They diedtwo months later.

 

I saw themmany times during the last years, walking with me, touching me.
At night, they stay hidden behind a door.
My father sometimes comes to my bed and touches me, at night.

They werewaiting for me behind a bend in the winding path that crosses the forest duringthe pandemic.
I turned, and they were there together under a tree, smiling at me.

I traveledto them in dreams and returned to Empoli, in the tomb-house, where they stilllive—dead—and are waiting for me, silent but happy, their son.

I prayedthey leave me in peace. I did all I could. Yet it was too much what they askedfor. It was unbearable to serve them twenty-four-seven and never sleep. Ibordered on folly.
They grew like vampires, sucking all my energy.

Now, nowthat my life has changed, I see the vacuum they left.
I look for the arm I once had; I feel it is still there, but it is not anymore.
Nothing is like before.