The first thing I saw when I woke up was my windowsill of tiny gifts –
And my heart ached.
I thought about sweeping Giorgio’s gifts into a drawer where I wouldn’t ever see them again…
But I couldn’t.
I didn’t want to forget him.
If that was even possible.
The necklace lay there along with the rest.
After I got dressed, I hesitated… reached for it… thought,No…
But then eventually put it on all the same and looked at it in the mirror.
It was beautiful… and it weighed almost nothing. Just a soft caress against my skin.
I thought about how his hands might have felt touching me –
And then quickly took the necklace off and left it behind as I started my day.
Work was pure torture. Every time the door opened, I glanced up, hopeful that Giorgio had broken his promise –
That he would walk in with a grin on his face and tell me some awful joke.
But every single time, I was disappointed.
Time dragged on.
Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like days.
It was almost the end of my shift when the door opened and a beautiful woman walked in. She was about my age, and her dark hair was cut in a stylish bob. Her big, expressive eyes reminded me of the actress in the movieAmelie.
She wore a simply cut but amazing dress – a flowing V-neck of pleated chiffon tied at the shoulders. The material started off white and faded into a gradient of dreamy blue. It was like she was wearing some beautiful flower from deep in the jungles of the Amazon.
She gave me a lovely smile.“Ciao!”
“Ciao,”I said, still stunned at her appearance. “I loveyour dress.”
“Thank you!” she said, delighted at the compliment. “I designed it myself!”
“You did?!”
“Yes – I’m opening up a boutique next door!” she said, gesturing to the brick wall between her store and the café. “This is one of my designs!”
Oh shit…
Giorgio’s boss’s wife.
I didn’t care so much that her husband was in the mafia.
What I cared about was that she knew Giorgio.
And maybe she was here to ‘suggest’I give him a second chance.
Or else.
