Choices

[Giovanni Cavelli]

Luciano entered the hospital and it looked as if there had been some commotion. A janitor was cleaning the floor where a plant had fallen. He looked around, but couldn't see his Uncle anywhere and short of asking the staff if they had seen him, there wasn't much more that he could do besides watch. He decided that outside would give him a better vantage point and he hoped his Uncle hadn't been released already.

Luciano exited the hospital and crossed the street, looking in shop windows and using the reflection on them to keep tabs on the hospital entrance. Occasionally, he would enter a store and "browse" but always kept an eye on the hospital.

Time went by and Luciano kept moving. He became more frustrated as time passed, but he tried to keep his patience. He would have done well too if not for the feminine form he saw approaching him from the hotel he was staying at.

"Luciano, you fucking asshole."
Sofia or whatever her name was, said, moving quickly to intercept him. "What you think you can just leave me there like I'm some fucking whore. What the hell is wrong with you?"


Luciano wasn't really bothered that she was upset. He was more bothered that people were beginning to take notice of the situation. If Uncle Francesco was out, he would notice him.

"Listen, Sofia, I had..."


Luciano's statement was interrupted by an ear ringing slap across the right side of his face. He saw stars and stumbled back against the wall of the shop.

"My name is Stefinia you son of a bitch. Stay the hell away from me."


With that Stefina left the area and several of the people near her applauded her actions. Luciano regained his balance and as he did a muscular man pushed him back against the wall.

"Stay there asshole,"
the man commanded him.

Luciano rested on the wall for a few moments while the crowd dispersed. This wasn't turning out to be the day he had wanted it to be.