By the Canal

Prologue

"Uh, what are you doing here?", was the first thing he said, before realising it's a rhetorical question.

"I'm just here to collect some plants.", she replied and watched her hand stroke the wheat with her free hand. Then she looked back at him. "These flowers in my basket are only for house decoration."

"Oh?", said the man and nodded, trying to sound and look engaged in this small awkward talk. The lady looked at him repeatedly and he automatically thought she was looking at his clothes. He crossed his arms.

"Yeah to be frankly honest I need more colours in my life. My house is just bland and boring and it's starting to make me bland too, you know?"

"Oh yeah, I can tell!", blurted the man.

"Excuse me?", snapped the lady. She lowered her basket and an uncertain look formed in her face. Meanwhile the man mentally socked himself. 25 years of age and he still can not keep up small talk. Smooth.

"Nonononono!", he tried to say in defence while flailing his wrists. "What I meant to say was that, yeah flowers are a good mind-calmer to help s-set things straight so that when you wake up, perhaps as early as this, you can see all these blue flowers around your home and feel really relived, do you know?" Throughout his speech he realised that the sky was starting to turn full blue.

The lady smiled, sincerely this time and said "It's okay. I know you didn't mean any offence." His nerves subsided altogether. "It's hard to talk to strangers, I know that for sure."

He started feeling troubled. "Look, I'm sorry if I made things turn downhill. I just didn't expect to meet anyone here in this wheat field."

"Does this field belong to you?", she asked.

"Hah no, it's just located near to my holiday home. I walk here sometimes though I don't know who owns this land."

"Huh so we must be stepping onto private property then!", she joked. "How will the poor farmer react to seeing two people standing in the middle of their field? He'll probably try get us with his harvester and scoop us up!"

"Yeah probably.", he chuckled. "Well I mean, judging by the colour and height of the wheat and time of of year, there is a possible chance so. Vroom vroom 'ye old coop, get outta 'mah wheat foyld!" He started steering an invisible wheel.

"Oh wow stereotyping farmers now, eh?", laughed the lady.

"Okay we should actually get out of this field before anyone sees us."

The man started feeling jubilant and carefree with the lady he just met and had an awkward conversation with. It was almost like destiny brought them together. The two walked then walked out the field where wheat meets plain grass. The sky was fully blue and the clouds were drifting slowly at this point.
Then there was silence for a moment, but only for a moment.

"By the way.", added the lady. "What's your name?"

The man was taken back from the sudden question. "Wait why do you want to know?"

"I would like to know you more of course.", replied the lady with a smirk as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Okay fair.", sighed the man. "It's Ludovico. Ludovico Romano. Generic name, I know."

"Well Ludovico, I would like you to have this.", said the lady as she reached into her basket and took out a strand of freshly picked beautiful bluebells that had bright green leaves and droopy flowers in the colours of blue, indigo and violet. There were still yellow bits of pollen in it. It was beautiful. "Take it as a token of my appreciation, or whatever.", she soothed.

"Ah, grazie!", Ludovico said as he softly took them out of her hands. The bluebells felt soft and warm in his hands.

"Well, I guess I better get going.", said the lady, pulling a strand of hair out of her face to behind her left ear. She stared at him with bright eyes. "My mother must be waiting. It was nice meeting you Ludovico!"

"Haha, it was nice meeting you too. Thanks for putting up with me!", replied Ludovico.

She had to go to her place and e had to go to his, where his family also waited for him. He contemplated on whether or not he should tell them about his new friend. Ludovico played around with the bluebells in his hands when he was struck by a thought.

"Hey, uh...", he said awkwardly, calling for her. She focused her gaze onto him now.

Not long ago the sky was full yellow with the white sun climbing up the sky. Blue managed to catch up and succeeded in dominating the majority. It was warm as the sun's rays peered down into the ground, yet cold as the wind pierced through the air, with the wheat dancing along it. And just alongside the field, Ludovico faced the person in front of him, took one deep breath and asked:

"What's your name?"

OH MY GOD I FEEL LIKE THIS IS NOT REALISTIC AND ITS CRINGY AND THE DIALOGUE IS CHEESE PLEASE TELL ME IF THERES ANYTHNG TO IMPROVE UPON

Translation: This chapter will be edited soon