Tonio Treschi's Past

Guido was alone looking at the objects which Tonio had left open for anyone to see.
And Guido examining those things carefully, was filled with such a sense of desolation that he could not speak.

The trunk contained many things.
There was music, mostly the work of Vivaldi, in old volumes bearing Marianna Treschi’s name in a girlish script. And there were books, French fairy tales, and stories of the Greek gods and heroes of the sort one might read to a child.
But those objects which most surely chilled Guido and caused him to feel the keenest misery were the clothing and effects of a small boy.
Here was a white christening gown, most likely Tonio’s, and half a dozen little suits of clothing, all lovingly kept. There were tiny shoes, there were even little gloves.
And finally there were the portraits, enamelled miniatures and one very lifelike painting of the exquisite dark-eyed little boy that Tonio had once been.

As Guido looked at these things, he realized they were all relics of one’s life that are treasured by others, but rarely kept by one’s self.
And they had been cleared out, packaged up, and sent away to Rome in perfect evidence that no one now remained in the house of Treshi who loved this young man who had once lived there. It was as if Tonio and all those who had once shared his life were dead.

Part 6, chapter 4
Anne Rice
Cry To Heaven