1941

Before your niece Malèna Scordia was born, before she existed. You were the most beautiful, desired young woman in the small Sicilian town of Castelcutò; your beauty was a blessing, yet a curse bound to your soul. The eyes of men would linger your figure as you strolled down the stone streets of the town. Gazes of jealous women would also appear out of the corners of your eyes.

The women of Castelcutò were jealous of your features: You possessed auburn hair and blue eyes (a hair and eye color that was a rarity in Sicily) and a personality of an independent individual.

The difference between you and your niece was that you were not a quiet woman like Malèna; you had the personality of a Sicilian woman: feisty, takes no nonsense attitude, outspoken, intelligent, clever; yet graceful like an angel.

Even the local Mafioso (the man who basically governed Castelcutò), Lorenzo Girgenti became enchanted by you; not for your beauty, but the beauty within your heart. After passing traditional Sicilian courtship customs, you were married to the Mafioso. Which gave you power, influence, and respect in Castelcutò.

Now at the age of 46, your personality never changed, even though you were not as young as you used to be… you still had your beauty shining through your eyes.

Now Italy has entered Word War II (thanks to Benito Mussolini), thousands of men were sent to fight in the battlefields, including your niece’s husband—now born with the same beauty as you… her experience with the townspeople was a bit more harsher than what you had to endure… especially the women.

Everyday, you would walk with your niece Malèna in Castelcutò with your head held up high, acting as her guardian/protector from any disrespect from men and women alike in the town.

Since Malèna’s father, your brother was almost deaf (and still a school teacher for an all boys’ school) and too much of a coward to protect his own flesh and blood…