Chapter 54

• "No." I disagreed with him. "Nonno had made it clear to me the period Nonna had died, that I wasn't deserving of love." I ground my teeth against themselves in inner turmoil as I remembered the events that had occurred that period. Ever since my Nonna had died and the circumstances surrounding her death, I had never remained the same. I had carried the guilt and burden of the loss my Nonno had to bear, in my heart. And I had believed his words. Truly, I wasn't deserving of love. In that moment, different scenes played in my head, starting from when I had run away from home as a rebellious teen.
• "He didn't mean those words! It was just from a place of grief and pain, Manuel. How long would it take for you to understand that?"
• I didn't know what to say in response to his chastisement, so I simply remained quiet.