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Almost like a romantic obsession, Francesca couldn't quite quit yet. There was a need for more, an ever impossible to satiate hunger for them stories. Like a vampire that survives on their victims blood, she was dependent of this two friends, who never failed to meet her in the park. To meet perhaps is not the most adequate choice of words. Would you call it stalking or merely an alignment of ones routine?
While anxiously waiting for the main act she had a chance to catch with one of her old friends:
-Mrs Beaumont, as she used to call her, was one of her top three favourite characters. She was a seventy year old women who Francesca saw walking her Pomeranian dog. A perfect ball of fur, always groomed and proud to show her very feminine collars and bow ties to match with her owners clothes. There was a certain elegance to her walk and she would always look at you and smile, making you feel as if you could be her favourite grandchild. She knew Francesca was there to watch people and she didn't bother to know she was part of her secret notebook either. You could say that this had brought them together. Roughly two months ago Mrs Beaumont, which real name is Sophia Robinson decided to get some courage and seat on her bench by her side. She had noticed how so many times she had seen her in this bench, always with her notebook and a pen in her hands. That same day she confronted Francesca-"I apologise for me being so impertinent and up front, but I have been seeing you in here so many days during the week and the weekend, and I always wonder what would a young women like yourself be doing here. What do you even write about?". Francesca was unsure of how to explain why she was there, but she wouldn't ever lie. "A women should always behave. You can omit facts to protect ones feelings, but in any occasion do we lie once confronted with the truth."- her auntie used to say.-"Well, I am an aspiring writer, so I come here and watch people, see how they dress, how they behave and write. This is where my inspiration comes from."- she explained. Mrs Robinson reaction to this was certainly not what one would expect.-" Oh dear. How very interesting. I hope to be in one of your pages. I was never someones muse."- She said excited. Francesca then confessed that she had wrote multiple times about her and she even offered her pages so she wouldn't feel exposed. -"Oh no, please, keep it. It is an honour. If I could only cut a deal with you that you would read every week what you have wrote about myself."- She cheekily offered. Francesca didn't felt has if she could say no, it wouldn't be very respectful of her, so they she did her part. Every week, Mrs Robinson seats at the bench and ear how her parallel life develops while sharing some of her memories, knowing that they would eventually be part of her Saturday morning readings.
Not longer after Mrs Robinson left, Francesca saw them. Today something extraordinary was happening. They had brought a new friend with them. Certainly unexpected. What would she say or do? Who was she? Why was she there? Would this become a new thing? Francesca was suddenly swimming in this sea of questions and she was ready to allow her thoughts to fly through the ink to meet the pages that would become their new home.
"Another Saturday morning had brought them to their favourite park. In the certainty that the trees would keep their secrets safe, they knew that they could speak of anything one to another. Just now, their petite moving silhouettes in the horizon slowly introduced themselves walking hand in hand with Silvia- a common friend that they knew from..."
For some strange reason, Francesca felt as if the words suddenly stop to run through her mind. She found herself oddly anxious, as if her brain was too busy to think something worthy of being recorded in the pages of the leather black notebook that was now resting on her legs. As they passed by, she grabbed her oversized squared bag, quickly saved her notebook inside of it and start walking behind the group of friends that were now strolling with no particular care in this world.
While sitting at the cafe table behind them she realised something. She had made a mistake. The character in her story who she thought was called Maria, was indeed Marina. She felt almost betrayed, as you do when watching a TV show and suddenly the main character is killed. Although, this also meant she knew now all the three names. She considered stopping, leaving them to continue their life's, but the excitement running through a blood vessels seemed to have clouded her judgement. Certainly is not the most admiral thing to do. You simply should not follow strangers, even if you intend no harm. Unquestionably, they would have not appreciate to know that every single of their steps was now being followed and recorded, but what would she find out? There was so many opportunities and she was merely trying to find her inspiration once more. From the park, to the mall and the small cafe in town she was always there. As a spy, quietly observant, looking to unveil their secrets and bring their stories to life. While drinking her typical strong tea, she now wondered if a book about three ordinary friends would ever reach the top sellers. A pick into the intimacy of what could be anyone's life. She decided to take a note of her idea, while the two girls on the table were now murmuring in between themselves, to what seem to be a new love story about to start.
Suddenly, Francesca stop writing. This time not because she was going through another writers block, but because her eyes got caught in the lady Lilly was speaking to. A certain familiarity was drawn in her face. Perhaps an old school friend or even a childhood friend she thought, she knew how our brains have very intriguing ways to remember places, memories and certainly people, so that must be the reason why. She felt almost compelled to confront her with the possibility, she normally would have. This time although, she felt as if it was her duty not to compromise the development of the current actions. As a scientist observing animals in their natural environment, one should never interfere.
