2025-01-11: Ciao, Papa
- Log: 2025-01-11: Ciao, Papa
- Cast: Lina Lombardi
- Where: Italy
- Date: U.C. 00100 01 11
- Summary: All things must be laid to rest at some point, Lina Lombardi. All truths must be accepted.
The Cathedral of Saint Zeno is one of the oldest buildings in the city of Pistoia, kept alive even through the Universal Century by centuries of dutiful upkeep. The people of Italy had always been driven to preserve their architectural heritage, and the feeling had only grown since the destruction of Rome during the fall of Junius Seven. Lina, in Italy for the first time since that tragedy, couldn't help but keep that thought in the back of her mind, even as she stood among the pews of mourners offering prayers.
Staring her down from the altar at the head of the church was a picture of her father, smiling just the same as he had when in Rome with her eight years ago, the last time she saw him. There was no coffin, and why would there be if there was no body, so it was hard to think of this as a funeral at all. But here she was, and here was her sister, her uncle, and the extended family of friends filling the church. The only one that wasn't was the guest of honor.
We should have at least gotten an empty coffin, she thinks. A macabre thought, but maybe a closed casket could have fooled her into thinking this was real.
She's invited to give her eulogy. She steps up to the lectern and speaks. Praising her father is still the easiest thing in the world to her, even eight years later. She hadn't even bothered to write it down. She speaks of her father's exemplary service for the AEU, of how he was often away on a tour of duty, but made sure to make as much time for her and her sister when he was there. Of how much more difficult that was for him after their mother passed. Of how she looked up to him more than anyone else in the world. If the people of Pistoia knew anything about Lina Lombardi, it was that she was her father's daughter.
She pauses. Her eyes drift to the back of the cathedral.
Within the crowd, in one of the rear pews, she thinks she sees a wide black hat. Her throat constricts. She squeezes her eyes shut, and when they open, the hat is gone.
Come to see me at my lowest? I won't give you the pleasure.
After Lina finishes and a few more prayers, the service ends, and the Lombardi family, after accepting the well wishes of the town, make their way to the cemetery to inter the... nothing, really. After all, there was no body. There wasn't even a hole, just a headstone next to their mother's. Elsa clings to Lina's arm as the final rites are performed, just as she did when they were children at their mother's funeral. They may not be laying next to each other, but they would surely find each other in Heaven, Lina thinks.
The sisters stand there for a while. Their uncle gives them each a hug and lets them have their time together, heading back to the villa.
The Lombardi sisters are together, but have never felt more alone.