Beyond the dark

They say make a wish when you see a shooting star and it will come to pass. Nah, that’s a pretty lie. If not, tell me why I’m still stuck being poor despite working hard. I guess life is about working smart rather than working hard, but I’m not at that level yet. I stared at the tiny photo of my beautiful mother and me that I use as my screensaver. The faded smile haunted me, bringing tears to my eyes. She was a good woman and mother, but she didn’t get to live a good life or marry well. She always told me my dad was rich enough, but he wasn’t present in my life. He didn’t cater for me; instead, he lived his life to the fullest with another wife and kids. He never decided to check on me and my mum, which makes him a deadbeat father to me. I don’t give a f**k about him, the same way he doesn’t give a f**k about me. I guess I give a little f**k, considering I snoop around his kids' i********: pages. Kraków wasn't home anymore since the death of my mother; it became a place of nightmares. I wish I could go back in time, but guess what? It is what it is. The mini-cafe where I worked paid peanuts, so I decided it was time to move on to the next phase. I saw a job listing for a cleaner at a school in Italy. A week ago, I landed an interview via Skype for a cleaning job at a school named Scuola Primaria Aurora in Poggiofranco. They needed someone to resume immediately and I fit the bill. Though I knew little about Italy and its language, since I got the job, I have been researching the country and learning the language. I looked for a cheap neighborhood near Poggiofranco because I couldn't afford to live there. I came across a house for rent in Bari. Bari’s old town looked doable narrow streets, lively, and cheap. I found a few options, but they wanted deposits I didn't have. One afternoon my phone pinged and I opened the notification. It was from one of the house-to-rent groups I joined. "Roommate needed, Bari Centro. €200/month, all bills included. Shared kitchen, own room. Contact Nylah." I hesitated for a second. I didn't know Nylah and I didn't know the area, but it was central. I sent the message. "Hi Nylah, it's Zhilay. Interested in the room." The response came quickly. "Ciao Zhilay! Nice! When can we meet?" "I'm not in Italy right now, but I have my flight booked and I need a place to stay when I land." My hand lingered on the send button before sending the message. "Oh really? I could come and pick you up, or do you know someone here that can pick you up?" Nylah responded. My mind raced. Nylah seemed like a nice person, but I hoped she wasn't some creeper that sells people for money. "No, I don't. I really appreciate your kind gesture. My flight is booked for tomorrow at 12 PM. I will message you when I land," I responded. Another message came in; it was a sticker from her saying "Okay." I closed the message and looked around my place. It was scattered and almost empty. I had sold what I could, including the house. The house belonged to my mum's grandfather and it was gifted to my mum, but I couldn't afford to keep it and I needed all the money I could get to move to Italy. Here I am, stepping off the plane in Italy. The sun hit me like a slap. The language could make me spiral, but I love the way it sounds. I pulled out my phone and messaged Nylah that I was here. "Oh, wait close to the exit and I will message you when I get there," she replied. I waited close to the exit and scanned the arrivals. A guy with messy dark hair held a sign with my name, "Zhilay," scrapped in messy letters. I approached him, tentative. I wouldn't have approached him if my name were common, but it’s not. Such a flex. "Hi, I’m Zhilay?" The guy’s smile widened. "Ciao! I’m Nylah. I’m the person renting out the place and the one you have been chatting with." I blinked. Nylah was... a guy. The messages had sounded so... female. I felt a flicker of unease but shrugged it off. It wasn't like I had many options, and we wouldn't be sharing the same room. Besides, he looked petite and beautiful for a guy. "Thanks," I said, hefting my bag. "Sorry about the mix-up. I thought..." Nylah chuckled. "Oh, no problem. I should have introduced my self. My bad." We walked to a battered Fiat parked outside. "So, you just arrived?" Nylah asked, tossing my bag in the trunk. "Yeah. I got the job at scuola Primaria Aurora in Poggiofranco." Nylah nodded. "Nice school. Tough neighborhood, though. You'll do fine." We zipped through Bari's streets, dodging Vespas and tourists. The apartment was in a cramped alley off Via Sparano, old stone walls closing in. Nylah unlocked the door. "Welcome to casa." Inside, the place was small but tidy. A tiny living room, a kitchenette, and two doors leading off it. "My room's there," Nylah nodded left. "Yours is... well, it was for a friend, but he moved out." I dumped my bag in the room. It was small but tidy, and it had a bookshelf. Nylah leaned on the doorframe. "So, what do you think?" I hesitated, still thrown by the "guy" thing. But the place was cheap and central. "It's good," I said. Nylah frowned a bit. "Or are you being skeptical because I'm a guy? You don't need to be. I'm gay as a rock and won't bother you for anything except being friends." "Ohh." "Sorry I blurted it out. I just need to let you know because my last roommate moved out when he found out I was gay," he said. I smiled. "It's not a problem. I'm a fan of the LGBT community, though I'm straight. And f**k your ex-roomie for not accepting you for who you are." Nylah grinned. "I think I like you already. So, are you staying?" "Sure, I am staying." Not like I have anywhere else to go, but him being gay won't stop me from staying, I thought to myself. "€200, bills included. Deal?" I nodded. "Deal."