The Slap That Ended Us

Sally and I were childhood sweethearts. We met when we were three years old.His parents and mine had been close friends for years. The Morelli family and the Vitale family were two of the oldest powers in New Yiz. We had been working side by side for decades, living on the same private estate as next-door neighbors.I had been in love with Sally for as long as I could remember.When I was in school, I was always getting picked on by the other boys. One of them was the worst. He sat behind me and pulled my hair, stuffed disgusting things into my backpack, and cornered me on my way home from school.I went to my teacher in tears. She talked to him about it, but then turned around and told me with a smile that he only did it because he liked me.I did not believe that for a second, and the boy did not change.I went home and told my parents. They were furious.Don Tony Morelli, Sally's father, happened to be visiting our house at the time. When he heard what was going on, he calle

I left the party before it was over and told the driver to take me straight back to the Vitale estate. The moment I got to my room, I tore the place apart. I ripped through the bookshelves, the closets, the storage cabinets, pulling everything out until the room was a mess.I grabbed a large cardboard box and dug out every single thing Sally had ever given me, throwing it all inside.The necklace he gave me for my 12th birthday, the custom bracelet he shyly pressed into my hand on Valentine's Day when I turned 13, the jacket he got me for New Year's when I was 15 that he picked out without me having to say a word because he just knew I would love it, and the diary with the pink cover that he gave me when I was ten. I had filled every page with my girlhood secrets and daydreams.It took an entire box to fit it all.Once I was sure I had not missed a single thing, I carried the box downstairs, marched right up to the front of the Morelli estate in full view of their guards and staff,

"Sally and I actually like each other. This is a real relationship. Not like some people, who cling to a guy under the excuse of being childhood sweethearts and let their families arrange a marriage for them." Fiona sat on Sally's lap, grinning as she said it.Then, she added, with a pointed look in my direction, "Oh, and I know how much you women love to gossip behind people's backs, but I'd appreciate it if certain people stopped calling me a homewrecker. I waited until Sally was single before I got with him."Sally's expression did not change.Some people at the party offered their congratulations. Others stole glances at me. Everyone knew Sally and I were childhood sweethearts. Everyone knew we were supposed to get married. In my entire life, Sally was the only boy I had ever been close to.I had been taught from a young age to keep my distance from outsiders, especially people from other families. He used to be the same way with me.My best friend, Lucia Ferraro, looked at

We turned toward the sound. Sally had shattered a glass. His face was pale. It took him a long moment to react before he slowly crouched down to pick up the broken pieces from the floor.As he was picking them up, Fiona walked over and let out a gasp. "Sal! Your hand!"That was when I noticed. Sally's fingers had been cut by the glass. Bright red blood ran down his hand and dripped from his fingertips.He stared at his own hand, dazed, as if his mind was somewhere else entirely."Sal, I have tissues. Come here, let me wrap it up for you."Fiona reached for his hand, but Sally pulled away. In front of everyone, he walked toward me. The cut was deep, but he moved as though he could not feel it at all. A trail of blood dripped steadily onto the floor behind him.When he reached me, he looked at me and said quietly, "I'm hurt, Gia. Can I have a band-aid?"I looked at him in silence. I always carried band-aids on me. Sally knew that. He knew, because I started doing it for him.When

My birthday was a week away. My parents were planning a party and told me to invite my friends.I did not want to invite Sally and his crowd, but they had been keeping their distance lately, and there was no reason to stir things up.The Vitale family and the Morelli family were still doing business together, and I could not let my personal feelings get in the way of that, so I sent out invitations to everyone equally.Matteo shamelessly asked me for one too.On the night of the party, I dressed up. Sally came as well, wearing a black suit with Fiona on his arm. Her makeup was flawless. The moment she saw me, she clung to Sally like they were glued together.Sally's face showed nothing.I did not bother greeting them and walked straight to my friends.The party was fun but draining. Halfway through, I slipped out to the terrace alone to catch my breath in the night air.Then, I heard footsteps behind me. I did not want to admit it, but after all those years, I could recognize t