“Because she's eighteen.Do you remember what we were doing at her age?”
“Oh, that's different; we're married now.”
“We weren't married back then.”
“She's maturing; it's a normal part of life.And it's Marco—didn't you like that boy?You've known him since he was born.Who better to have her first experience with?”
“Are you suggesting she's having sex with that boy?”My dad’s voice was tense, a side of him I rarely saw.
“I'm not implying she is, but if she is, she's old enough.Kids today are different.”
“But she's still my little girl.”
“And she will always be.Give her some space and stop barging into her room every ten minutes like clockwork.”
“You're right; maybe I should cut it down to every seven or even five minutes.”
“I'm worried about her growing up too, but it's time to let her be.”Strangely, my mom said all the right things.For my dad, she always gave explanations; for me, she just gave commands.She was different with me, as if I had no room for mistakes.
I returned to my room, and felt the chill in the air as I shut the terrace doors.I slipped into my pajamas and set my alarm for 6:30 AM.It wasn't too late yet, and I considered diving into a book, but my thoughts were scattered.I lay back on my bed and gazed up at the ceiling.
My mom was okay with me being sexually active, and I felt prepared for it.I was in love with Marco; he was the one I had envisioned countless times, and he filled my dreams each night.So what was holding me back?What was truly preventing me from taking that step?
Chapter 2
The alarm hadn't rung yet, but my eyes were already open.Some sort of excitement ran through me as I lay in bed.The world outside was still cloaked in darkness, and when I glanced at my phone, it was 5:45 AM.
I lingered for another twenty minutes, savoring the stillness, before finally getting up and making my way to the bathroom.I twisted my hair into a bun and splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up.After brushing my teeth, I slipped into the clothes I had laid out the night before and I added a denim jacket from the closet, thinking it might be chilly outside.
Moving as quietly as I could, I crept down the stairs to the kitchen, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.My dad was already seated at the dining table, sipping his espresso and reading the morning paper.
“Good morning, sweetheart.You're up early.Did you sleep well?”he asked, looking up with a smile.
“Yes, I did.Is Mom still sleeping?”I asked, leaning down to kiss his forehead before pouring myself a cup from the moka pot.
“Yes, she is, and I'm letting her.”
“Why are you up so early?”I asked, trying to fill the silence.
“Oh, I have a patient, Mrs.Palombi.She's nearly 80 and insisted on coming at 5 AM, but I managed to negotiate to 8:30.”We both chuckled at the absurdity.“I could give you a ride to the bus stop if you'd like.”
“Thanks, Dad, but it's a lovely morning, and it's only a ten-
minute walk.I could use the fresh air,” I replied.
“Alright then.”He returned his focus to the paper.I quickly texted Marco to let him know I was ready and to see if he wanted to walk with me this morning.Normally, his mom would drive us to the bus stop on her way to work, but I felt the need to walk and speak with Marco.
After finishing my coffee, I rinsed the mug and dashed upstairs to grab my backpack.I left the terrace door open, allowing the cool morning breeze to swirl through my room.
Unlocking the front door, I spotted Marco waiting on the small gravel road.We lived on a single road lined with only nine houses, each one a good distance apart—the kind of place where everyone knew each other.It was located just a seven-minute drive from the center of our small Italian town, home to nearly 10,000 residents.
I smiled widely as I approached Marco, hoping he wasn't still upset with me.I wrapped my arms around him in a long, warm hug.
“Good morning, Lu,” he greeted.
“Good morning!Is everything alright?”I asked, pulling back slightly to gauge his expression, trying to anticipate the answer.
“Listen, I'm sorry about yesterday.I snapped.It's just…”
