Aurora's Shadow

Chapter 17

A month has passed since Marco left me.

Undoubtedly a long month, the first two weeks of which gave me the impression of dying. Weeks in which my mother feared a relapse, which actually happened. I risked frustrating all my efforts, losing the identity acquired in two years. But then I understood, and everything was fine again.

I realized that I couldn't allow the worst part of me to come back to dominate me.

"Maybe Marco was right", this simple observation has upset everything. So one morning I wrote to Sonia and, after a couple of outings, I went back to myself. The smiling, cheerful Aurora, happy to attend parties, to go dancing and to be in company. Because this is me, not the sick or the recluse.

Teresa, Antonio and Alessandro just greet me when we meet in the most popular places, as Marco does now, but it doesn't matter, because thanks to the one who now ignores me, I've been able to meet people who live so close to me and whose existence I was unaware of.

Sonia is fantastic. She comforted me, she took my side without judging me, and she even introduced me to two of her friends: Leonardo and Lucia, who have been a couple for more than a year and who immediately welcomed me warmly. Summer has now begun, and not a day goes by without inviting me to go to the beach or to any other place, as long as you have fun.

I'm fine, and this is the only thing that matters, because it allows me to wake up in the morning curious to know what the day has in store for me. I was afraid it might not happen again after the unpleasant breakup.

This evening they invited me to a pizzeria, and as much as I wanted to say no, I forced myself to accept. It's good that I do, and I'm sure I can get through a dinner without freaking out.

To make me feel comfortable there is the fact that, thanks to Leonardo's driving license, we'll go to a distant place, so I won't risk getting upset about some unpleasant meeting.

I'm also a bit curious, because Sonia told me that there is a certain Tyler, and therefore there will be five of us. Tyler... what a strange name for someone who lives in Messina.