47

The next morning, as I woke up, I realized Marco was no longer beside me. My instinct told me he had probably left for work. But there was a heaviness weighing on me, the residue of the conversation we had the previous night. I was grateful that he had opened up to me, allowing me a glimpse into the painful memories he carried. However, it also saddened me deeply to think that such a tragic event had shaped his childhood.

To imagine a young child, barely ten years old, compelled to witness the murder of his own grandparents - it was beyond comprehension. The sheer brutality and trauma inflicted upon him remains unimaginable.

Despite our different upbringings, the experience of watching loved ones perish right before your eyes, especially when they sacrificed themselves to protect you, leaves a profound scar. I wish I could have conveyed to Marco that he bears no blame for what occurred. But the truth is, no matter how many reassurances I offer, he continues to shoulder the burden of g