Seaside

Prologue

I got off the bus with my head down and with earphones. I started walking quickly in the rain to get home. I loved the rain, but I couldn't stand going to school in that weather, in fact, I couldn't wait to be home. I put my frozen hands in my pockets trying to warm up a little. Italy, at the end of November, was really cold and foggy

As soon as I opened the front door of my house, I got in and put my backpack on the floor next to the sofa. I took off my jacket and scarf and I put them on the coat rack. I turned on my phone and looked at the time. It was a quarter-to-three. .

I went into my bedroom and put on my favourite pj's.

I heard my mother's voice from her bedroom. She was talking on her phone but I couldn't understand what she was saying, so I headed to the dining room. On the table there was a plate with some vegetables and a steak. I started eating while I was waiting for my mother.

After a few minutes, my mother walked into the room with a big smile on her face. «How was school, Nilde?» she asked me in Italian as she sat down in front of me.

«Interesting.» I was attending the second year of high school in a city not too far from my house. «My Latin teacher has scheduled the test for next Tuesday. Other than that, it was pretty boring today. Nothing happened in class.»

She stayed in silence for a bit, then she said: «Well, what I can say to you is that you're not gonna do that test.»

«What do you mean?»

«Do you remember my friends Heath and Kiara?»

«Your Australian friends? Yes, sure, but the last time I saw them was when I was about four.»

«Yeah, that doesn't matter. I was on the phone with Kiara earlier and I asked her a favor. Your Dad and I know how much you love English and how much you would like to do the exchange year, so I asked Kiara to host you in Australia for a year!»

I jumped to my feet looking at my mother in disbelief at what she had just told me. Doing an exchange year somewhere had always been my dream since I was a little girl, but I never thought it would come true: the cost of that had always been too high for my family. «Are you kidding me? Seriously, Mum, it's not funny, at all.»

«I'm not. I know how important this experience is to you so I wanted to do something for you. You work so hard at school and your Dad and I think that you do deserve it, seriously. So we thought about a cheaper option.»

«Oh my god! I can't wait! When am I gonna leave? In a year? Or two?»

«Er... Actually, I've already booked you a flight to Melbourne for Thursday.»

«This Thursday? Like in two days? I have no time!» I ran to my room followed by my mother. I opened my closet looking inside looking for some clothes suitable for Australian weather. When in Italy it was winter, in Australia it was almost summer and all my summer clothes had been packed in bags for two months. «Damn!» I exclaimed.

«Honey, calm down. Tomorrow you will go to school to say goodbye to your friends and then, we'll have plenty of time to pack everything that you need. It'll all be fine. And keep in mind that you can always buy some clothes in Australia.»

I sat down on my bed. «Yeah, I guess you're right. I can't believe that you really did this for me.» I smiled at her. We didn't have much money, but my parents had always tried to make my dreams come true. They have always supported me and helped me achieve my goals.

At that moment, I couldn't believe that in two days I would be on a plane to Australia, a place I always wanted to go to. The exchange year had always been just an image in my mind and nothing more. I had dreamed about it and now it was a true thing. That was incredible.

«As I said before, you deserve it. Now, I think it's important that I tell you all the information you need to know...»