I carried the box outside and I lit a fire in the big metal drum in the courtyard, the one the soldiers used to burn documents that couldn't survive a raid. Then I opened the box and was assaulted with years of memories.
Inside, the box was filled with photographs from the ceremony, gifts Giacomo and Pietro had given me over the years whenever I celebrated the anniversary of my union with the Family.
As I tossed them into the flame it felt like I was liberating a piece of myself. How naive I was, to love two people who hated me this cruelly.
Every piece of paper, jewelry, picture, dress, everything I burnt had a story behind it, but I realized it wasn't a true story. Everything was just a reminder that I had been lied to over the years.
As I picked up the last item in the box I stared at it a bit longer. It was a braided bracelet I had made with the boys six years ago, the three cords knotted together the night Pietro swore his oath to me.
"I promise to never ever let anyone hurt you. I'll die before I let someone lay a finger on you," Pietro had promised.
"You already know I love you, Liliana. I'll love you forever and never let anyone hurt you," Giacomo had promised, kissing me.