Adeline

Part 1

The waves crashed as I sat on the balcony. It had been years since I felt at peace with myself. I did not know what brought me to this exact location, but I was still thankful. I craved excitement and adrenaline, but those simple things were foreign to me.

When I finally decided to explore Vernazza, I found myself in a small café. The air was heavy, and people wore faces of great sorrow and anguish, something I hadn't quite seen in the small town until now. All of the dark, bitter eyes stared in my direction as I felt a hand place itself on my shoulder. The hand was cold yet comforting, evil yet good. His intense eyes looked down on me when I turned. They sharpened on me, and his face had a certain level of dominance.
"Can I help you?" My voice let out and squeaked like a little boy going through puberty.
"You look awfully familiar." He slowly sat down in front of me, readjusting his suit and folding his hands on the table.
"I am sorry, I don't know what you are talking about." I stared at his face with confusion. I hadn't talked to anyone in Vernazza except for a lovely young lady on the street.
"Oh, but I am quite sure you do, Ms. Adeline." He smirked and spread out his hands on the table.
Chills ran through my body, "I should get going." I grabbed my things and when I got up, his hand grabbed my wrist firmly. I looked back at him with horror.
"So soon?" For the first time, he didn't have a cocky attitude. It was more like he enjoyed the 30 seconds of the company he had. I got the impression that he was a lonely soul, just looking for someone to reach out to.
"I am deeply sorry," I paused waiting for him to say his name.
"Marco." He let go of my wrist.
"Maybe I will see you around, Marco." I smiled softly, "Have a nice day."

Later in the evening, when the streets were quiet and all that was heard were stray dogs barking as they roamed the city, I headed out to the beach. I admired it so lovingly from the balcony and I knew it would be ten times better up close. I made my way down, with my sandals in one hand and a book in the other. I wasn't the type to read often, but I read as much as any regular person. I loved thinking there could be another universe where all these fantasies could be real.

The waves crashed softly, not as violently as hours before. It was calming. The beach was empty since most people headed home for dinner with their families and I envied them for it. Maybe I was being a bit too harsh or maybe the lack of home-cooked meals made by my parents made me feel that way.

When I finished roaming the beach, I laid a towel down and started to read. The main character, much like me, was struggling with her family and abuse. She finally found a way out of it thanks to a young gentleman. I only wished something like that were to happen to me until I realized it was just a fantasy.