Chapter 9: A Day of What IFs
200 Words
The next morning, Luca met Emilia at Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, the lesser-known but more authentic market of Florence. The scent of fresh bread, ripe tomatoes, and aged cheese filled the air as they weaved through the stalls.
“I forgot how much you love this place,” Emilia murmured, accepting a piece of pecorino from a vendor.
Luca grinned. “Some things never change.”
They spent the morning wandering through the market, laughing over shared memories, stealing bites of fresh pastries. For a moment, it felt easy—like the years hadn’t stolen anything from them.
In the afternoon, they visited Boboli Gardens, strolling through the lush greenery, the sound of a distant violinist filling the air. Emilia paused near a fountain, tracing the rim of the stone with her fingertips.
“If things had been different,” she murmured, “do you think we would have made it?”
Luca’s chest tightened. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I’d like to believe we still can.”
She looked at him then, truly looked at him, as if searching for the truth in his words.
And for the very first time, she didn’t push him away.
- Writer
