Chapter 3: A Coffee and a Question
261 Words
The streets of Florence were alive with the golden glow of early evening, casting long shadows over the ancient stone buildings. Emilia and Luca walked side by side, their steps echoing against the cobbled streets, the unspoken tension between them growing heavier with every step.
They had spent the past hour catching up in hesitant fragments—talking about their careers, mutual friends, even Florence itself—but skirting around the real reason Luca was here.
Emilia finally stopped near the steps of the Basilica di Santa Croce, turning to face him. "Why now?" she asked, her voice quiet but firm.
Luca frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
She crossed her arms. "Why are you back? Why after all this time?"
For a moment, he didn’t answer. He exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting toward the towering church behind her. "Because I never stopped thinking about this place," he admitted. Then, after a pause, he met her eyes again. "About you."
The words hung between them, weighty and fragile.
Emilia’s heart clenched, but she schooled her features into neutrality. "And what does that mean?"
Luca hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don’t know yet," he said finally. "But I want to find out."
His honesty caught her off guard. She had expected excuses or vague words, not this raw confession.
A cool breeze rustled through the square, carrying with it the faint scent of rain and jasmine. Emilia inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
"Then I hope you're ready for the answers," she murmured.
Because she wasn’t sure she was.
- Writer
