Da Vignola felt good. Half asleep, he heard the song of the birds above him and the warmth of the sun on his face. He slowly opened his eyes. The immaculate blue sky greeted his return to consciousness. Around him, the landscape was familiar: the forest, near the family home, and the lake where he loved to come and have fun. He straightened up and smiled from ear to ear. Three boys were playing in the water, splashing around, laughing loudly. Luca, Jeito, and Ezio, his brothers, were having such fun. Rempert walked over to the edge and looked at his reflection: he couldn’t be more than ten years old. A time of innocence and carefree games. A time of happiness. He received a splash of cool water and straightened up, shaking his head. Luca, the youngest, laughed while holding his ribs. In re
