Chapter 41. Memories Arising

Ash’s POV

[Flashback]

Ring-a-ring-a-rosies.

A pocket full of posies, 

A tissue, a tissue, 

We all fall down.

Joy swells in my heart as we come to a stop, mother’s hands tightly encircling mine. Her eyes twinkle as she looks at me.

“Martha, stop filling Batista’s head with girl stuff, that boy is going to become the mafia boss when he grows up.”

Dad’s voice wafts over to where we’re still hunched over on the ground, trying to regain our breath. Mom tenses as she turns to see dad, who is already advancing towards us, his countenance dark and foreboding.

“Oh, Marco, please don’t say such things, he’s just a boy, let him grow up the way he should, with joy, our love, and guidance.”

Dad prowls closer to us, his hands coiled by his side in fists. “Are you going against my authority?”

Mom’s hands drop from mine as she stands on unsteady legs. Her bottom lip is slightly open and trembling. She bends