Revenge by, Keyanna

Sometimes I wish I had a vivid imagination but this is something my mind mind would never be able to grasp, nor would I desire to. A wise man once said "is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all ", but once you have loved as deeply as Christopher and I, the pain of having it torn away Is almost unbearable. A pain that never expires. No price tag can be put on what we shared together  but someone must pay for what we lost.

You may be wondering what I'm talking about so let me start from the beginning. I was only 17 years old when we first meet. The over packed 3 train smelt of sweat and drenched shoes from the pouring rain. A typical day on New York City transit where an hour delay is second nature. I saw him across the cart looking at me as the train stood stagnant at the 110 street station. It was one of those looks that meets the boarder line of romantic and creepy buts his adorable smile made up for it. The slight connection we felt at the moment was interrupted by an announcement from the train conductor.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience but due to a sick passenger at the 125 street station we are now experiencing delays. Thank you for your patience

After a while of waiting people began to leave and I saw him move closer. I sat in the nearest empty seat and he sat next to me. Our bodies drew closer to each other but then I "accidentally" bumped him with my elbow as I struggled to remove the cap from my Snapple bottle. Nervously I apologized and he assured me it was okay with a smile. He asked if I needed any help, me being slightly embarrassed, passed him the bottle. Our fingers brushed against each other and my cheeks grew red. I was too shy to say any thing more so I just thanked him and took a sip.

It was a good thing he had more courage than I did since he is the reason our journey together began. That day we talked so much we didn't even realize his stop was coming up. He looked at me and said "well I think we should exchange numbers just in case you need someone to save you from a crazy person or if you need someone to talk to when you and your boyfriend break up, I'm a good listener". I laughed and told him I didn't have one and confidently he replied "that's even better"

"How do I know that you're not a crazy person"? I asked.

"I asked for your phone number not your address" he said.

"True" I replied handing him my phone and he handed me his. We put our names and phone numbers in our contact list and handed it back to each other.

"Jess. That's a pretty name. And so are you." He said looking at my contact.

"Thank you" I said, I couldn't help but to smile, my cheeks grew hot and red with a found passion. His stop approached and he looked back at me.

"Text me" he said walking out and that's where it all began.

Over the course of 2 years we learned more about each other than our families did in the last 17 years. We laughed, we fought and our phone bills skyrocketed. I knew his favorite color, his biggest fears, his wildest dreams and his darkest moments. We were there for each other, we were inseparable and I loved him like no other. Our last good day we shared together only he didn't live for the possibility of another.

That day he knocked on my door to take me on a surprise date to celebrate our 2 years together. My heart pumped as if it was our very first date. We took the train to 72nd street and sat in the same seats as we did when we first meet. We went to see the breakfast club at the movie theater and after we went to get hot dogs at the famous grays papaya. It was a night I would never forget and every minute I fell more and more for him, after talking for hours his mom called with an emergency and we had to end the night early. We got back on the train and as his stop approached, we kissed goodbye and every second I wished he didn't have to go.

When the doors closed he turned back, waved and blew one last kiss. I smiled and blew one back. That was when I saw them. Both of them. They had on black masks and all black outfits. He saw the the panic in my eyes but he couldn't tell what it was from. It all happened so quickly. I watched as they reached for the pistol at their waist, resting their finger on the trigger. I tried to scream for him to move but I was too late. With savage eyes both men shot, one towards his chest and the next towards his head. He collapsed and I continued to scream along with the tracks.

You may ask why now, why do still care? What makes it so important? Well the love I had for him is the kind very few get to experience. I couldn't seem to understand why him? Not knowing haunted me and because of that I studied forensic science at John jay College of Criminal Justice to get access to top files. I made his case my personal project since it was never solved. I used the wall of my linen closet to match pictures, documents and evidence to the murderer but things never seemed to add up, especially since he has two birth certificates with two completely different last names I wondered which boy did I love and if he even existed.

I found and old gift that he gave me for our 6 month anniversary and got his prints from it, matching it to a name I had not known. Christopher Bino. Bino. The family of legendary mobsters. At that moment my breaths shortened and multiplied. I couldn't fathom the idea that the women I met wasn't his mother but an escape. An escape that obviously wasn't as secure as they thought because when they came for his family, he was not excluded. He fought so hard to exterminate the life his biological family forced on him but once a mobster, always a mobster. However I couldn't allow the wipe out of their existence to stand.

I hope you don't take this letter the wrong way but I just wanted you to know how much I loved you son and so you understand why I am doing this. There are several boxes being shipped to the killing family signed by "The Bino's" and once opened their families will soon be lying besides each other. Justice may not have been served but revenge is inevitable. I suggest you do as I am and pack up your life in the city to start anew elsewhere. Your son was my first and only love, this is what he would have wanted.

Best of Luck,

Sincerely,

Jess