Italian Summer

Chapter 1: The Lady in Red

      Have you ever had that moment of complete serenity? When you turn in your final assignment and breath for the first time in what seems to be forever. The euphoria of not having any deadlines, anywhere to be except for where you want to be at that moment. I can't really describe what I was feeling but it was close to the above mentioned as the planes wheels left the runway pavement.

       Looking over to my left I watched as the ground got farther and farther away. Closing my eyes, I settled in for the flight, my nostalgic mind going over the last few details of our trip. After finishing up my internship I had about three months of freedom. I couldn't remember when I had really had a summer since starting medical school. Not one to look a gifted horse in the mouth, I had planned a three month get away with my best friend, Renea.

       The plan was to explore the landscape of Italy. We had a tour guide but had decided that we had really wanted just to go by ourselves. I had several friends of friends that had already invited me to stay, so we hadn't needed to get hotel rooms. We were very lucky to be going on this trip especially after the past several years. They had taken their toll on both of us, especially Renea.

      Out of the corner of my eye I caught her typing away at her laptop. She had just finished her third book and was most likely about to go on a book tour. This was probably our last girls trip before she went on tour and I went to work full time.

      "Stop brooding and drink." She held up a glass of orange juice mixed with something heavy. Renee hated to fly, which was funny considering her line of work. She continued to type not even looking up at me.

      "I'm not brooding, just reminiscing." I smiled but took a sip of the drink anyways.

      "Stop that too, just be present cause if you don't I could get kidnaped, do you know the price of blond hair and green eyes?" she smirked behind her screen.

     "They would bring you right back. Trust me." I laughed and settled back down in my seat.

      I was making a goal for this summer. I would have fun, I wouldn't think of consequences or long term anything. I was going to make this summer one to remember.

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      As a tourist, I couldn't be responsible for how many pictures I took once we landed. It was my touristy duty to stand in front of a poster that welcomed me into this country.

      "Will you hurry up? We are going to be late for that party you just have to go to." Renea was ill and tired, so I attempted to collect my bag.

       "Well my future career in the medical industry depends on if this guy likes me or not." We padded down the hallway together navigating the dense crowd. Regulars rushed by us not bothering to look up from their phones. Down the ramp, we journeyed into the scorching heat.

        Getting a cab, we began the routine of pointing on a map where we wanted to go. Our first stop was in Rome. We would stop at my friend's house Louise, who I met two summers ago while she was studying in America. There we would get ready for a party being held by her friend Issacs. Issacs and her had been together off and on for years. Despite their inability to stay together for very long, they looked out for each other. Issacs had graduated several years back and gotten involved with some doctors that had grouped together and moved to Italy to help with the conflict in Iraq. They took shifts rotating through active combat areas volunteering their aid to the war-torn country.