The evening stars

Ciao

They exited together from Fiumicino Airport in Rome. The bright sun flooded the streets of the city, and Sophie paused for a moment, tilting her face towards the sun's rays. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the air infused with the scents of the sea and freshness. It made her smile as if the whole world was filled with light and warmth, reflecting in her soul.

Stephen, watching her, couldn't help but smile in response. He liked how she looked, content and relaxed, immersed in that feeling of novelty. She was for him the embodiment of spring freshness, even on a winter day.

— I can imagine how you'll smile when you try mom's lasagna, — Stephen said with a sly grin, tilting his head slightly.

Sophie, still lost in her thoughts, opened her eyes and looked at him with a joyful expression on her face. She sighed, as if trying to absorb as much of this Italian atmosphere as possible.

— The air feels different here, — she said, looking around and savoring every moment.

— I understand you perfectly, — Stephen replied, quickly approaching the car that had pulled up behind them. Opening the door for her, he gallantly offered her to sit down first.

As the car smoothly glided through the streets of Rome, Sophie couldn't take her eyes off the stunning views. Powerful and majestic architectural masterpieces alternated with cozy little restaurants, grand fountains cast sparkling droplets onto the cobblestone sidewalks, and narrow streets twisted like ancient labyrinths, gradually leading them to spacious squares adorned with statues and monuments.

— Are we going to take long? — Sophie asked, turning her head towards Stephen, who was sitting next to her and seemed to be enjoying every moment of the trip as well.

— About thirty more minutes, — he replied, glancing over her face. He knew she would like Italy, and he was currently enjoying her first reaction to the country.

Gradually, they began to distance themselves from the noisy city, and outside the window, vineyards, olive groves, and vast fields stretching to the horizon appeared more and more frequently. The car confidently sped forward along the winding roads, and the nature outside the window began to resemble picturesque postcards.

— Did your parents not want to live in the city? — Sophie asked, noticing how the urban landscapes had shifted to rural ones.

— They chose solitude. My father always dreamed of a house away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and my mother supported him, even though she had previously lived in the very center of Rome, — Stephen explained, recalling how his parents made that decision.

Sophie pondered; it seemed romantic to her a house in the midst of nature, where one could escape the hustle and bustle.

— You have to teach me a couple of expressions in Italian, — she said, smiling shyly, "so that I can impress your parents."

Stephen looked at her, raising an eyebrow with a slight smile.

— Do you want to impress my parents? — his voice had a teasing tone, but it was clear that he was pleased by her desire.

Sophie rolled her eyes with a slight smirk, but her eyes still sparkled.

— Come on, don't tease me, — she teased him back, giving him a light shove with her shoulder.

— Alright, — Steven said with a slight smile, deciding to play the teacher. — Let's start with the simple: "Ciao" is a greeting. And if you want to say "my name is Sophie," then say it like this: "Mi chiamo Sophie."

Sophie, with a serious expression on her face, repeated to herself several times to remember.

— Ciao, mi chiamo Sophie, — she said with a sigh, trying to reproduce the accent as accurately as possible.

Stephen couldn't help but smile.

— Perfect, — he said, his eyes filled with warmth and tenderness. He liked the way her voice sounded in his native language. — You are just a born Italian.

— Come on, you, — Sophie laughed, but the compliment warmed her soul.

Their conversation gradually faded, and they continued on their way in silence, holding hands and enjoying the surrounding nature.

They approached a large house that looked as if it had been standing there for hundreds of years. Its stone walls, marked by the passage of time, gave the building a unique atmosphere. The house was situated amidst small hills, behind which the sun was just setting, bathing everything around in a golden-pink light. Sophie held her breath, feeling that they had arrived at a truly magical place.

When the car stopped, Sophie and Stephen got out, and immediately Stephen's parents appeared from the house. Mother and father, holding each other's hands, were slowly making their way towards them with warm smiles. This spectacle touched Sophie to the core — their simple yet sincere display of care and unity.

Sophie felt a slight nervousness, but remembering what Steven had taught her, she confidently approached her parents, trying to boost her own self-assurance. With a broad smile on her face, she said:

— Ciao, mi chiamo Sophie, — she greeted them, putting all her effort into those words.

Stephen's parents exchanged surprised glances and immediately looked at their son. Stephen laughed, pleased with her success.