Chapter 28: There's something you're not telling me

Ana
The sounds of the city blended with the constant murmur of people around us as Valeria and I walked through the bustling streets lined with shops. Despite all the chaos and confusion filling my mind, an afternoon of shopping was a welcome distraction.
"Do you like this dress?" Valeria asked, holding a beautiful red dress against her body.
I observed her for a moment, trying to decipher if this type of activity was something we used to do together.
"It's pretty," I replied, smiling. "But Valeria, I need to talk to you."
Valeria looked at me curiously, setting the dress aside and approaching me.
"Of course, Ana. What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts.
"Since I woke up, it's been hard to understand everything that's happening. They told me I'm the leader of a mafia, that my parents died, and that my grandfather left me in charge. But I don't remember any of that."
Valeria nodded, her expression turning serious.
"I know, Ana. It must be very confusing for you. But I'm here to help you in any way I can."
"Thank you. But I need to know more. What kind of person was I before the accident? How did I handle all of this?"
Valeria sighed, looking around as if searching for the right words.
"You were strong, determined. You always knew what to do and how to handle every situation. You didn't let anyone intimidate you." Valeria paused and then continued. "But you were also fair. You cared deeply about the people who worked for you and always tried to do the right thing."
"What about Paolo?" I asked, trying to recall something about him. "What kind of relationship did I have with him?"
Valeria seemed to hesitate for a moment before responding.
"Paolo was..." I frowned. "Paolo is a complicated man. You had a professional relationship, but there was also something more. Something that wasn't always easy to understand."
"Something more?" I repeated, intrigued. "Like what?"
Valeria looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the topic.
"I don't know all the details, Ana. I know you hated him for some reason, that he was an enemy, the rival of the mafia you now lead."
I nodded, although her answer didn't leave me entirely satisfied.
"Valeria, is there something you're not telling me?"
She sighed again, visibly tense.
"Ana, I don't want you to feel more confused than you already are. I just want you to focus on recovering and remembering little by little."
"But I need to know," I insisted. "Is there anything else I should know about my life, about our relationship?"
Valeria looked at me sadly, as if she was struggling internally.
"There are things, Ana. Things that can be painful to remember. But I promise you that when you're ready, I'll tell you everything."
I looked at her, trying to discern if I could fully trust her words. There was something about her tone, her gaze, that made me doubt. But at the same time, I had no one else to trust right now.
"Alright. I trust you, Valeria. I just hope that when you tell me everything, it won't be too late."
She nodded, smiling slightly.
"Thank you for trusting me, Ana. I'll do everything I can to help you remember and understand your life."
We continued walking through the streets, stopping occasionally to look at a store or try on a garment. However, my mind couldn't stop thinking about what Valeria had said and what she hadn't said. There was so much I didn't understand, so much I needed to remember.
"Do you remember this place?" Valeria asked, pointing to a small cafe at the end of the street.
I shook my head, feeling a pang of frustration.
"No, I don't remember it," I admitted.
"We used to come here all the time. It was one of your favorite places."
I looked at the cafe, trying to force my mind to remember something, anything. But there was only a void.
"Let's go in," I said, wishing that maybe, just maybe, something in that place could trigger a memory.
We sat at a table by the window, and Valeria ordered our usual coffees. While we waited, I watched the people passing by, wondering if I had ever been like them, with a normal life and no worries.
"Ana, I know this is hard," Valeria said, breaking the silence. "But you're doing a great job. You're being incredibly strong."
"I don't feel strong," I admitted. "I feel lost, like I'm living someone else's life."
"That's normal. But little by little, you'll start to remember. And when you do, you'll know exactly who you are and what you need to do."
I nodded, trying to cling to her words of hope. But deep down, I couldn't help but feel that something very important was out of my reach, something only I could uncover.
When the coffees arrived, I took a sip and let the flavor wash over me. There was something vaguely familiar about it, but not enough to trigger a specific memory.
"Valeria, thank you for being here with me. I don't know what I would do without you."
"I'll always be here for you, Ana. No matter what."
As we enjoyed our coffees, I knew that this was just the beginning of a long journey towards recovery. And although there was still much I didn't understand, at least I knew I wasn't alone.
After our girls' day out, Valeria dropped me off at the front door of the house. I felt a little lighter, as if a small weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Although there were still many things I didn't understand, I was grateful for Valeria's support.
As I entered, I found Dante waiting for me in the living room. His face lit up when he saw me, and I noticed a mix of relief and concern in his eyes.
"How did it go?" he asked, getting up to greet me.
"It was a good outing," I replied, smiling. "Valeria and I had a nice time. She showed me some of the places we used to go. It's a bit overwhelming, but I'm glad to be with her."
Dante nodded, smiling too.
"I'm glad to hear that. It's important to surround yourself with people who love and support you."
We sat down on the couch and I got settled, looking at Dante.
"Dante, I need to ask you something else about Paolo," I said, trying to find the right words. "I feel like there's more you're not telling me."
Dante seemed to tense slightly, but kept his expression calm.
"Ana, I told you Paolo is not a good person," he replied, in a firm tone. "He's involved in dangerous things and I don't want you to put yourself at risk by remembering details that could hurt you."
I frowned, feeling like there was more behind his words.
"But if he was so involved in dangerous things, why was he with me?" I insisted. "What kind of relationship did we have?"
Dante looked away for a moment before answering.
"He had an influence over you," he said, his voice low. "You had a rivalry with him, you wanted to destroy him at all costs, you didn't want him anywhere near you, that was impossible to imagine. He saw things in you."
His words left me uneasy. There was something about his tone that I didn't quite believe.
"And what did he see in me?" I asked, trying to understand.
Dante sighed, meeting my eyes again.
"Ana, I don't want you to obsess over this," he said softly. "The important thing now is that you focus on recovering and moving on."
I nodded, although I wasn't satisfied with his answer. Something didn't add up, but I didn't know how to press further without risking our fragile trust.
"Alright, Dante. I hope that if you remember anything else, you'll tell me. I don't want to live in the dark about my own life."
Dante looked at me with a mix of sadness and determination.
"I promise I'll tell you everything I know when the time is right. For now, I just want you to feel safe and know that I'm here for you."
I gave him a small smile, grateful for his support.
That night, as I got ready for bed, I found myself thinking about Paolo and the supposed influence he had over me. There was something about the way Dante talked about him that didn't sit right with me. I felt like there was more to the story, something he wasn't willing to share.
I lay down in bed, staring at the ceiling and letting my thoughts wander. I wanted to remember, I needed to remember. But I knew that forcing memories wasn't the answer. I would have to be patient and wait for the pieces of the puzzle to start falling into place on their own.
Finally, I closed my eyes and let sleep engulf me, hoping that tomorrow would bring more answers and fewer questions.
The next morning, I woke up with a new sense of determination. While I still had many doubts, I wasn't going to let uncertainty stop me. I got up and got ready for the day, determined to move forward.
I went downstairs and found Dante in the kitchen, making breakfast. He smiled when he saw me.
"Good morning," he said. "I hope you slept well."
"Good morning," I replied, returning his smile. "I slept pretty well, thanks."
We sat down to breakfast and the conversation was light, although I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift back to Paolo and what Dante had told me the night before.
"Dante, I've been thinking about what you told me last night. I want to trust you, and I believe I do, but I need you to be honest with me."
Dante put down his coffee cup and looked at me seriously.
"Ana, I'm being as honest with you as I can be. I just want to protect you."
"I know that, and I appreciate it, but there's something about what you said about Paolo that doesn't add up. If he was really so dangerous, why did he keep me close? If he's my enemy, why did the doctor want to keep me updated on his condition in the hospital?"
Dante sighed, taking a moment before answering.
"Ana, sometimes in this world, things aren't black and white. There are a lot of gray areas, and Paolo was one of them. Not everything is as it seems."
I nodded, although his words didn't fully satisfy me. I knew I would have to be patient and wait for the memories to come back slowly. But until then, I would have to rely on my instincts and the people around me, even though they were making that a difficult task.