1 I

- Richard once said: "We are all evil in some form or another, are we not?".

- That idiot turned out to be right.

Maria Fontani started laughing terribly in the courtroom.

She became the most evil, but at the same time a just woman who sacrificed herself for her own future. When I looked at her face on the court, I realized how unhappy she was, the wrinkles made her beauty a thousand times better, the chestnut hair was white, the green, bright eyes were no longer smiling, she was very weak. I remember her lighting up my room with her charismatic and cunning nature. The scent of spring always wafted over her body, she could not stand it and always complained about her height, then we laughed a lot, we used Maria's height as an excuse, but she never got angry. I could never have imagined her gentle, tender hands being handcuffed.

- I had done justice, if it were not for you I would not have lost my loved ones, if not for you I had been able to live an innocent life. Are you happy? You can not be, I will not allow you to do that...

Maria's disgusted face was clearly visible on every family TV.

She stopped, bowed her head, laughed, raised her face, but as if she had shown us her true self, she was smiling, losing her hope, she was a serial killer combined with Satan, her eyes were telling that life would never be so bright anymore.

- Do you hear me? Anna has grown so beautiful, she has your eyes, she radiates warmth.

Whether she said it or not, a terrible commotion started in the court, starting with the jury everyone was approaching her, they did not shy away, even though they killed her with their bare hands, but she did not worry about it, she looked up as if looking up at the sky, seeing someone or something, she was smiling. Prayed? I do not know how she could have prayed after she committed.

Then no one thought about Maria's words, I always doubted that her death was shrouded in mystery and not the end, but the beginning was coming. On that day, no one behaved properly, journalists came from cities around the world, asked to see Maria, part of the people were fed with hatred, while the rest threw themselves in front of the court to watch everything.

But Anna, she really looked like her father, perhaps it calmed Maria.

Have you seen an angel in a human?

She was Anna, beautiful, smart, with dark chestnut hair, like her mother.

I heard from Maria, when she was carrying Anna in her womb, she prayed every day that the girl would look like her husband, in my opinion, this dream came true.

10 YEARS EARLIER

I ran, I ran to them, I saw how they approached, I knew if they caught me I could not escape alive, I ran with all my strength and effort, my legs were swell, I was bloody, beaten, my knee could not stand so much jogging. It was as if I had crossed the line of time, I found myself in front of the church, it was huge, beautifully embroidered, St. Patrick's Cathedral built in Gothic style, it was the main expression of the Virgin Mary, so high, you thought you would reach heaven, I felt safe here, I opened the door and went inside.

- Help me, please help me

I fell to my knees, I could not even stand, I cried and asked for help

- Madam, are you all right?

A young man, about 25 years old dressed in black approached me, took my hands, just then I saw his face, I remembered how he had changed, the hair falling on his forehead suits him well, his hands were so warm, I missed him, I was happy, then I smiled for the first time, the memories started to tingle in my head, I could not take my eyes off him and said:

- Matthew, help me, please, help me, armed people are trying to kill me, help me.

He looked at me in surprise, as if he knew me, but at the same time he could not, melancholy crept into his voice:

- How do you know my name?

I tried to stand up, I was about to fall but he catch me.

- Water, water.

Before the young father could help me enter the small room, I looked at the statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, but in my heart I did not ask them for anything, I was glad to see the Almighty God, unfortunately I was not worthy to ask for protection or forgiveness.

- What happened to you? Why were you treated like that?

- I can not tell you, it is only a matter of time, they will find me soon. I will endanger you too, sorry, it is better to go.

- No, God is with you, he will protect you, no one will dare to step on the doorstep, I will not leave you, I will be with you in times of sorrow.

God, how comforting his words were, but my heart felt bad.

I was quietly going to drink a glass of water, but they found me. They broke into the church, I was very scared, they rushed into the room, Father Matthew stepped forward, I hid behind him, oh, how I regret this behavior, he tried to talk sweet words to the hired killers, asked them to leave. One of them hit him in the face, started beating him, kicking legs non-stop, he did not resist, he was taking the shots as if he deserved it, but I knew he was stinging, screaming, or suffocating with anger, his throat was swollen, I could not stand it.

- No, stop, please, please stop!

I was screaming, tears were coming down my cheeks, I reached out to him, I wanted to stop them, they pushed me aside, they started beating me, they kicked me in the stomach, I felt the greatest pain, which suddenly weakened because Matthew covered me, he took the blows instead of me. I no longer had the strength, everything was happening because of me, then I felt the wrath of God.

- You have to let me go, today I am the one who should die!

I looked at his face, he no longer looked at me with regret, how I wanted to turn back time, I could not see anything from the innumerable tears, my decision would change everything, I had to do it, I had to put myself in danger so as not to harm the innocent. I spent my life in the ghetto, others locked me up as if I were their property, but I did not think about myself, because if I died now I would leave the world in peace.

-It is enough! I will go with you!

I shouted in a doomed voice, everyone stopped, Matthew looked at me, realized that I was confident in my decision and could not change my mind, removed his only and distinctive cross from his neck, wrapped it around my arm and said:

- It will protect you!

I took the cross and held it tightly, they put me on my feet, led me out of the room, but I could not take my eyes off Matthew, he was praying on his knees, I wanted to see his face for the last time, I could not hold back tears, I was angry with myself, I could not do anything, he could see me but I could no longer see his face, I wanted to apologize, then for the first time I was angry with God for doing nothing and allowing those animals to beat him, I thought it was my punishment, watching the pain of a loved one, I wanted to stay, I became very greedy in that moment, but I had the strength, it was my obsession, I could not do anything more than a painful smile, that day I hated everyone and everything.

I was powerless against the whole world, many people were unhappy because of me, what would have saved me if not the sacrifice of life, but at the last moment it was as if someone told me not to give up, there is someone who cares about you, do not give up because of him, fight, do not let things hurt you, be happy, make him happy, why do you do nothing? Do not think that any of your ways will be wrong, you must go to everything to be saved, you deserve love, forgive yourself, fix everything, fight for those who could not, pray for them, the God will help you, you are not alone, ask for help.

For 2 weeks after that Matthew heard nothing about me, maybe he even thought I was going to die, but I knew he was praying for me because I felt indescribable warmth in my body, it gave me strength, I had to survive, I could not allow myself to take me, my death meant the victory of the enemy. Terrible thoughts were running through my head, I was locked in a hotel room alone, I was talking to the cross believing that Matthew would hear my thoughts, he would see me, I will not give up, no, I will not die, I will fight, I will survive, I will come to you, thank to you, make you happy, I will rise from the ashes.

There are four of them, armed, I have no other way, I have to run away before they take me out of here, forgive me, I have to do what I do not want, the only way to prevent the torture of innocent people in the future is to kill them.

I kept telling myself that this was the right way, I was asking God for forgiveness because I was going to commit a wordless sin, I knew I was asking too much, I was greedy in the eyes of the God because I wanted to continue living. Then I realized that I did not remember the face of my parents, nor my dead friends, I was a non-existent person who could not save anyone, I had to grab something and at this time Matthew appeared, thanks to him I regained strength, he was the only one I wanted to protect, I realized how awful is lonely person, unloving, sinful.

I ended my 5 year suffering at midnight.

I ran.