A Debt to Fate

Luca woke up from his sleep and stretched in his small, modest room. The walls were painted a faded blue, with a few posters of old classic cars tacked up unevenly. His bed, a simple twin, creaked slightly as he sat up. A wooden dresser stood in the corner, cluttered with random items—keys, a wallet, and an old wristwatch. The floor was bare except for a fraying rug near the foot of his bed. Sunlight filtered weakly through the thin curtains, signaling the start of another day.

At 21 years old, Luca was the eldest of his siblings. He got up and brushed his teeth. As he headed into the passage, he saw his mother heading to the kitchen.

"Buongiorno, Mamma," he greeted her warmly in Italian.

His mother, Isabella, a hardworking woman in her early forties, smiled at him. "Buongiorno, Luca. Did you sleep well?" she asked, her voice kind yet weary.

They lived in the bustling city of Philadelphia, a place full of opportunity but not without its struggles.

Luca continued to the bathroom. He had an early shift that morning and didn't want to be late, especially since his boss was notoriously strict. After taking a quick bath, he headed to the kitchen to see what his mother had prepared for breakfast. The kitchen was small but homely, with its worn wooden cabinets and a checkered tablecloth covering the small dining table. A pot simmered on the stove, and the faint aroma of coffee lingered in the air. However, when he arrived, he noticed that the food wasn't enough for everyone. With three siblings—two brothers and one sister—their household often had to stretch its resources.

Maria, his 19-year-old sister, was the second child. Then there were Enzo, who was 16, and Leo, the youngest at 14. Isabella, noticing Luca's concern, looked at him and said, "Son, don't worry. Just eat up. I'll find something to eat when I get to work."

Feeling a pang of sadness, Luca replied, "No, Mama. I'll be fine." He grabbed two slices of bread, ate quickly, and then headed to his younger brothers' room. Enzo and Leo shared a room, and when Luca entered, he found them still fast asleep.

He shook them awake, teasing, "Wake up, sleepyheads! The world's not going to wait for your sorry asses. You've got school this morning."

Groggily, the boys woke up. Enzo, ever the cheeky one, grinned and replied, "I'll try not to get into trouble today... but no promises!"

Luca smirked and wagged a finger at him. "Don't get into trouble, Enzo. I mean it. Be good, both of you."

As he stepped out, he saw Maria emerging from her room. With a sarcastic smile, she greeted him, "Hello, Father," and then laughed.

Luca grinned. "You make Papa proud by taking my advice and getting that job at Bella Capelli Hair Salon."

She giggled and added, "I'll do my best to hold down the fort."

Luca chuckled and replied jokingly, "Tell that boy Marco I've been keeping an eye on him. If he tries anything stupid, I'll handle him."

Maria laughed and waved him off. "Go away, brother."

Luca continued back to the kitchen, where he asked his mother quietly, "How's work coming along?"

She sighed, frustration evident in her voice. "The boss isn't helping. He refuses to pay for all the extra hours I worked last week and the week before. He's a greedy man." Her voice rose with anger. "Sometimes, I just wish I could strangle him!"

Realizing what she'd just said in front of her son, she quickly added, "Forget I said that, Luca."

But Luca smiled and replied, "It's fine, Mama. I've killed mine a million times over in my head."

She smiled back, a bittersweet expression on her face. "You remind me so much of Papa," she said softly.

Luca's mood shifted slightly, but he reassured her, "Everything will be okay, Mama. I promise." He kissed her forehead and went to the living room, where he grabbed his jacket from the coat hanger. With one last look at the home he shared with his family, he left the house to start his day.

Luca Meet's Destiny

Luca reached the park but didn't make it to the bus stop on time, missing his bus. Knowing he couldn't afford to wait for the next one, he decided to walk. As time ticked away, he realized he was running late and broke into a run. By the time he arrived at the sugar factory, he was 20 minutes late.

Standing outside the factory, his boss, Mr. Carmine, a burly man with a stern expression, was waiting for him. Mr. Carmine glared at Luca and barked, "You're late, boy. What's wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, boss," Luca began, trying to catch his breath.

"What's your silly excuse this time?" Mr. Carmine interrupted, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Your mother ate a crocodile?"

"No, boss. I missed the bus," Luca replied quietly.

Mr. Carmine shook his head in disdain. "You're either working extra hours, or you're getting a salary cut. You decide."

Knowing he had no choice—he needed the money—Luca stayed silent and walked into the factory. He worked in the packaging department, where his job was to place the packaged sugar into boxes. He grabbed his apron and got to work without another word.

That evening, after completing his extra hours, Luca went to Mr. Carmine's office to sign out. Mr. Carmine, still seated at his desk, glared at him. "Come late again, and you'll be getting both the cut and the extra hours."

Luca said nothing, signed out, and left the factory. Exhausted and hungry, he decided to stop by a small shop where he usually bought junk food. On his way there, he passed a parked car with two men sitting inside. The men, speaking in Italian, noticed Luca grumbling to himself in their shared language and took an interest in him.

"Hey, ragazzo," one of the men called out, adding a hint of Italian flair. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Luca stopped, turned around, and approached the car cautiously. "How are you doing, young man?" the man asked.

"I'm fine, sir. What can I do for you?" Luca replied politely.

The man exchanged a glance with his companion and said, "Well, son, you want to earn some cash tonight? A few hundred, maybe four hundred."

Hearing the amount, Luca's eyes widened in surprise. He hesitated, wondering what kind of job could pay so much in one night. But hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he thought of his family's financial struggles. He barely earned $700 a month at the factory, so $400 in a night was tempting.

"Okay, sir. What would I have to do?" Luca asked, curiosity and desperation mingling in his voice.

The man smirked. "It's just a little errand, that's all. We need you to deliver a package to someone."

The men explained that they felt someone might be onto them and stepping out of the car themselves would be risky. They needed someone like Luca to make the delivery, ensuring nothing could be traced back to them.

"What's in the package?" Luca asked warily.

The man's expression turned stern. "We're paying you $400, boy, and that includes you not snooping around. You got it?"

Luca nodded quickly. "Yeah, yeah. I got it."

They gave him directions to a house three blocks away and handed him a small, unmarked package. Luca walked to the address, his heart pounding. When he arrived, he knocked on the door. A man in a night robe opened it, eyeing Luca suspiciously.

"What do you want, kid?" the man asked.

"Stefano asked me to give you this," Luca replied, repeating the exact words the men had told him to say.

The man scrutinized Luca for a moment before taking the package. Without another word, he went back inside and shut the door.

Relieved, Luca returned to the car. "It's done, sir," he said.

The man grinned, pulled out $400, and handed it to Luca. "Good job, boy. You just made Mama proud. Here's an extra hundred bucks. Go home to Mama."

Luca, both excited and surprised that they actually paid him, said, "Thank you, sir. Thank you."

As he was about to leave, the man called him back. "You're a smart boy. If you want to earn some real cash, give me a call." He handed Luca a business card. "Now go on."

Luca smiled, thanked him again, and walked off, the extra cash burning a hole in his pocket and a mix of emotions swirling in his mind.

A Happy Family

Before heading home, Luca, with the money he made that night, went to the grocery store and purchased a lot of groceries for the family. They had been managing for a while, and he wanted to bring them some relief. With bags full of supplies, he made his way home, a sense of pride swelling in his chest.

It was quite late when Luca finally arrived. As he stepped through the door, he saw his family gathered around the dining table, ready to eat dinner. The meal on the table was meager, but their spirits remained intact. Luca smiled and said, "Mama, I got us something nice today, and we can meet the rent money for this month too."

His mother, Sofia, looked up with a warm smile, her tired eyes lighting up. Before she could respond, Luca's siblings excitedly rushed over to grab the groceries from his hands. Enzo, always quick with his words, said with a smirk, "Spero che tu non abbia fatto niente di strano, eh? (Hope you didn't do anything funny, huh?)"

Luca laughed and replied, "Nothing nobody didn't deserve," with a mischievous grin.

Sofia waved her hand dismissively at Enzo, shaking her head. "Leave him be. You're always causing trouble," she said fondly.

Maria, ever the curious one, studied Luca closely. "How did you get enough money to buy all these and still cover the rent?" she asked, her tone half-joking, half-inquisitive.

Luca shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "Don't worry about it, sis," he said casually.

Sofia wasn't one to let things slide easily. "Luca, tell me, how did you manage this?" she asked, concern and pride mingling in her voice.

He sighed but kept his smile. "I did a guy a favor, and he chose to help me out. Let's just say it's like God finally rewarding us."

The family's excitement was infectious as they unpacked the groceries, their usual struggles momentarily forgotten. That night, they shared a more substantial meal, laughing and talking about lighter things for a change. The dining table, now laden with food, felt like a small miracle.

As the evening wound down, Sofia placed a hand on Luca's shoulder. "Grazie, figlio mio (Thank you, my son)," she said softly, her eyes glistening. "Your papa would be proud."

Luca smiled, the weight of the day's decisions settling in, but he pushed it aside. For now, he was content to see his family happy.

The night ended with a rare sense of peace in the household. For once, it felt like the world had given them a break, and Luca silently vowed to keep doing whatever it took to protect that feeling for his family.

As Luca laid in his bed for a goodnight's sleep, he pulled out the card that had been given to him earlier. He stared at it, wondering what was in the package he delivered and whether he should call the guy. The questions swirled in his mind, but exhaustion from the day's work soon overtook him, and he drifted off to sleep.

The Explosion

Luca woke up the following morning, relieved that he didn't have to head to work early since he was on the late shift. Rising from his bed, he went to the bathroom, grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste, and began his morning routine.

Afterward, Luca made his way to the kitchen to see what his mom was preparing for breakfast. On the way, he noticed his sister returning from a small errand their mom had sent her on—a quick trip to buy some fresh bread from the neighborhood bakery. As she walked in, she seemed flustered.

"There's been an explosion," she said, her voice shaky. "A few blocks away from the factory, Luca. Three people died."

Luca's curiosity was immediately piqued. "What happened?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of concern and dread.

His sister shook her head. "I don't know all the details, but it was at a local apartment. They said three people died. I'm not sure if it was all men or if there was a woman, too. But three are gone."

Her words hit Luca like a brick. What if it was the apartment where I delivered that package? The thought clawed at his mind. What if I was carrying a bomb? Panic started to rise within him, his thoughts spiraling into fear and guilt.

"Luca?" his sister called, snapping him out of his daze. "Luca!"

He blinked and shook his head. "That's... that's sad," he murmured, trying to mask his turmoil. "Bad things happen every day." Yet his mind raced as he desperately tried to piece everything together.

Luca retreated to his room, his heart pounding. He took out the business card he had been given with the package. The name on it read: Calzature Magnani, an Italian shoe shop. He stared at it, his thoughts churning. What if it really was just shoes in that bag? But he quickly dismissed the idea. No one pays $500 just to deliver shoes.

He sat on the edge of his bed, overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts. As he mulled it over, his mom's voice interrupted from outside his door.

"Luca! La colazione è pronta!" she called.

"Io verrò fra un minuto!" he replied in Italian, his voice distant.

Time ticked away, and soon it was nearly time for his shift. Luca got dressed and prepared for work, his mind still clouded with unease. As he stepped outside, he held onto a faint hope. Maybe it wasn't the same building. Maybe the explosion had nothing to do with the package I delivered.

But even as he walked to work, the unanswered questions followed him, heavy as a shadow.

Luca got on the bus and headed to work. As the bus approached the area, his worst fear was confirmed—the house he had delivered the shoes to was the one that had exploded. His heart sank.

Seeing the charred remains of the apartment, Luca froze, panic washing over him. The thoughts came racing back, faster and louder than before. I did it. Oh my God, what if someone saw me? I'm in big trouble. He was so scared that as soon as the bus stopped, he darted off and ran straight into the factory, avoiding lingering near the scene for fear of being noticed.

I never should have accepted that money, he thought, his mind spiraling. What was I thinking? Who pays 500 bucks to deliver shoes? The weight of his decision pressed down on him as he headed to his workstation.

Luca began his shift, but his focus was elsewhere. Every noise, every glance from a coworker, made him paranoid. The day dragged on as his thoughts consumed him.

When the evening finally came and his shift ended, Luca walked home. Passing the house again, he noticed police officers and investigators combing through the wreckage. The flashing lights of police vehicles illuminated the rubble, and his heart pounded harder. What if they figured out it was me?

He couldn't shake his fear. Taking out the business card from his pocket, he considered throwing it away, ridding himself of the one piece of evidence that connected him to the delivery. But another thought stopped him. What if I need it? What if I can just show the police this and tell them I didn't know anything? Maybe they'll believe me.

Reluctantly, he decided to keep the card. Clutching it tightly, he walked home, trying to suppress his fear. Once home, he tried to act normal, staying quiet and avoiding any conversation that might expose what he had done.

But even as he lay in bed that night, the weight of his decision wouldn't let him rest.