Sinners in Italy

If walls could talk, she could have heard my warnings and saved me from the dreadful pain I still endure. But instead, I stand firm and continue replicating that day in 1348. She would trail her fingers along my stones and whisper sinful secrets on most days. Then, when she wanted to share a story, she'd giggle and tap me three times before she began with the words, "Once upon a time..."

On other days, she'd lean on me and release painful tears that tormented me. In return, I'd sprout plants with fruit from the fresh soil provided by our city Florence to content her ravenous stomach. I would surprise her each morning with flowers of all colors to feel and see that smile that would blaze and beseech me.

That was for a while, and then she disappeared for a few days. It unnerved me not to see her during that time. I gathered that she must have left with Donio, that stupid boy with black hair and aggressive features that kept looking for her. My mind pondered on the hopes for her wellness.

I was amazed to see her return. And numb to know that she had indeed been with him. Donio was her age, but at the same time, he was much older. They both leaned on me a few days of the week to talk about things like existence, food, and the future. But this young man was no good. I felt it.

She came the following day, but this time she was alone. She dropped to her knees and wept as she uttered, "All because I would not give myself to him." She pressed her hand on me and sobbed so hard that it transformed into a bellow of nervous laughter that helped relieve our angst.

I called upon the butterflies. They darted toward us, fluttered with grace and happiness, swirled and flapped around me, and then tickled her freckled face with their colorful soft wings.

How could she not know that I, a lonely and tall wall made of stone, took care of and loved her so? It was a late Sunday morning, and I had noticed from afar the oxen, sheep, goats, and dogs dropping to their death within an hour of drinking and passing one another in the same area.

The trees rattled about, and the birds fell silent. Worst of all, a stench. Not a usual stench of body odor or sewage. But the stench of a vile sickness. Death lingered in the air.

"Pampinette!" I cried. "Make haste! And warn the others! Death is upon us!" But she did not hear me. She spun around as she whistled and searched for more graceful butterflies. But they would not come. She fell and grazed the green grass for sprouted flowers. But they, too, would not come.

I begged the clouds for help. They flowed and grasped onto each other as they formed into one. The vast sky darkened, and the clouds wept as their tears raced down and flooded the city.

Still, Pampinette would stay. "Please, my love!" I begged. "Go save yourself, and when all is healed, come back to me, Pampinette!" But she did not hear me. She felt the ground shake and assumed it was just her mind. I tried once again. But she did not notice. Oh! How I wish this dreadful day hadn't come.

Instead, I wish I could have sung her love songs and recited my best poetry to her. But she would never hear it. For the vile stench of sickness was near! The clouds continued to weep, and I tried to warn Pampinette.

Then, suddenly, a group of four women and two men scampered toward us. Some had their faces buried inside their elbow, and the others had their noses covered beneath their shirt.

The oldest of the four women called out, "Pampinette! "There you are. We must hurry and hide inside the church. The Black Plague has reached our city! It is here to cleanse us of our sins; we must repent."

But Pampinette nodded, crossed her arms, and said, "I shall go nowhere!” Thunder lighted the sky and shook the trees. And then a shout came from the far right, "Nay! Let us leave without her and make haste! She continues to speak to that wall! Demons consume her!"

Fiamela, Pampinettes only true friend, lashed out at Donio, "You act as if you were never involved with this woman! In the name of the Lord, it is our right to take care of those who require the most help. Let us pray and take her with us." The two men, Donio and Floneo, reminded Elisa and the others that they could not waste time, for eighty deaths had occurred that same morning.

"They are burning the clothes of the sick as we speak! The mere touch of their clothes is contagious enough to kill us in a day or two, even hours! We must not waste time on her foolishness!" cried Floneo.

"He speaks the truth!" agreed Donio. "The dead bodies have black blotches and lumps the size of eggs on their necks and groins. Albeit she wishes to join and abide by the demons in hell!" The entire group gasped in horror. Pampinette gaped at Donio and stood still as she swayed her arms and began to slap her hands on her head and scream.

The group shivered at the sight and began to cross themselves and pray. Pampinette stopped and turned to face me. Her eyes glistened with fear. She pressed her beautiful face and two palms on me as she squeezed her large brown eyes shut and whispered, "If I am to die, I shall die here by your side." They decided to leave Pampinette behind. Donio turned and glared at Pampinette as he walked away with the rest of the group.

I tried to warn Pampinette, but she still did not hear me! She sat through the echoed screams and cries of the Black Plague, taking innocent lives throughout the city. Finally, at midnight, I protruded my stones and called upon the glow flies to show her a safe way out of the plague-infested city.

Pampinette seemed to have understood me because she began to climb up when suddenly he showed up again. Donio. But this time, he brought a look of trepidation attached to a foul stench. Although it was dark, I realized a drastic change had occurred to him during the last twelve hours. He darted toward Pampinette, grabbed her leg, and dragged her down. I sent for the rocks and branches of the trees to attack him.

They listened, and he fell. At first, I felt relief. He was dead. But when I looked closer at his battered body, I saw abnormally large swells on his neck and black blotches on his legs. And I knew then what I feared the most.

I watched my precious Pampinette sprawled on the ground, her face covered in mud. She rose to her feet and wiped her eyes. She walked over to Donio and skimmed at his disfigured and bloodied body. Petrified, she gasped and collapsed in front of me. Then, reaching for me with trembling hands and a choked sob, she traced her fingers, tapped me three times, and began with, "Once upon a time..."