24 Hours

“So, you’re coming, aren’t you? You have to!” The voice of a forty-something years old woman boomed into the phone as soon as Lina answered the call. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Hello to you too, mother. And as I’ve already told you five times so far. No. I’m not coming to your wedding this time around.” The woman scoffed incredulously. “How can you not?! Your mother is getting married for crying out loud!” Her voice shrieked into the speaker, making Lina grimace.

“First of all, you’re not my real mother. Second of all, it’s your what, fifth, sixth husband so far? Sorry, I kind of lost count after the third.” Lina sat on her dorm bed, the call falling silent as her adoptive mother gathered her words. The woman sighed, her voice now calmer and softer.

“Listen, Lina, I know the two of us didn’t start off right, and our relationship was never what it should have been. But I do care about you. Your mother, my dear sister, entrusted you to me. I wasn’t the best, I know, but this time it will be different! He’s the one, Lina, I can tell. This time it will be the last time. So just come, ok?” Lina rolled her eyes again. Her aunt had a way with her words, she will give her that. Too bad this wasn’t the first time she had heard this speech. She was truly touched the first time. But then the second and third times came around, and words began to lose their meaning. It was always “He is the one, I know it!” right until the next one came around. Long story short, it was never the one. Lina stayed silent, debating whether she should hang up the phone. Sensing her hesitation, the woman continued softly.

“It’s also your eighteenth birthday, Lina. You should come say hi to Laura. I’ll send you the ticket. Your flight is at 9.” The call ended before Lina got the chance to say anything. Not that she was in a hurry to answer. She lowered the phone in her lap and stared at the screen as her aunt sent her two files. One containing the wedding invitation and venue details, and the other her plane ticket.

She frowned. Her aunt didn’t even bother to wait for her decision. Not that Lina would have been able to refuse her this time. She mentioned Laura, fully aware that Lina couldn’t say no. After all, it’s been a while since she last visited her mother’s grave. Rubbing her neck in exhaustion, Lina checked the time.

“6.35 PM. ” she whispered to herself as she looked around the empty dorm room. Just enough time for a quick dinner before she would start packing her things. The school year has just ended, and they had to leave the dorm rooms, which had served as her home for most of her childhood. Her roommates were all gone, having been picked up by their parents or relatives. All smiles and giggles and hugs. None for her. Not that she particularly missed them. She grew accustomed to being alone. Her aunt was right. She wasn’t the best motherly figure, but she tried in her own way to take responsibility for Lina. When Laura died and everyone abandoned Lina in the hospital, it was Stella who adopted the infant and they flew together in Ireland starting life anew. She fed her and raised her when she was little, then, when the first opportunity arose. She enrolled her in a boarding school. And left her there. She would collect her for summer and holiday breaks when she was little, but as she grew older, the excuses began tocome.

“I’m not in the country for a while, so I can’t pick you up. Can you stay with the neighbours this Christmas? Sorry, Lina!”

“I’ve rented you a small condo close to the school. I won’t be able to join you. Call Miss Thomson, the landlord, if you need anything.”

“You’re a big girl now, Lina, you can manage by yourself, right? It’s only this summer,then we’ll stay together! Ipromise!”

After a while, Lina got tired and spared her aunt the trouble. “Don’t worry, mother, I’m staying with Miss Thomson.” With a deep sigh, she stood and stretched her limbs.

“Right. Food first, then pack and move to the condo. Again. You can do it, Lina.” She trudged her feet and pulled open the trolley. It was enough to fit all her clothes and personal belongings. She had already packed her school and baking books and delivered them to the condo a few days ago. At least Miss Thomson will be there waiting for her. She smiled, thinking about the old lady leaving downstairs. She was more of a mother to Lina than her aunt could ever be.

“Sorry to impose on you again, Miss Thomson!” Lina said, smiling as she closed her umbrella. The old lady chuckled warmly as she ushered her inside.

“Nonsense, dear! It’s always a pleasure to have you here. You should stay during the year as well. I don’t like you alone in that dorm!” Lina shook her head and followed Miss Thomson into the kitchen.

“There is nothing wrong with the dorm, Miss Thomson. The girls were really kind this year.” The old lady nodded and offered her a cup of warm tea. “You should have worn a coat during this weather. You’ll catch a cold like this!” she scolded Lina as she placed a plate with soft butter biscuits on the table. “Stella called today. Are you leaving tomorrow?” Lina glanced, surprised, over the rim of the teacup. She didn’t expect her aunt to call Miss Thomson. Guess she really wanted her to come to this wedding. Why so eager?

“Yes.” she said and placed the cup down. Not one to pry into other people’s business, Miss Thompson just nodded.

“That’s good. Italy is beautiful this time of year.” A soft smile tugged at her lips as her mind travelled in time to that place full of special memories. She met her first and only true love there... If only things could have been different. She shook her head and turned her gaze towards the young girl in front of her. So sweet and innocent and untouched by love, she smiled. So very perfect. She mused.

“Will you do me a favour, Lina?” The girl nodded and waited for her to reply. “While you are in Italy, there is someone I would like you to meet. There is something I need you to offer him. Will you do that for me, please?” Lina’s eyes brightened, and she leaned forward, excited. She heard the story of Miss Thomson’s love escapade in Italy multiple times, but she never got tired of it. Whether it was the plot or the way Miss Thomson narrated it, with eyes full of love and longing, it never failed to captivate Lina. Miss Thomson was a volunteer nurse in Lombardy following the Seveso disaster, which left many victims in its wake. That was when she first met him.

Tall, dark and handsome, enveloped in a thick veil of mystery and sin, he captured her heart the first moment she saw him. He was what many described as an “italiano vero”, charming and passionate, with a body crafted by the Gods but a soul molded by the Devil. They spent a week together, entangled in sheets, before Miss Thomson had to return to Ireland where her fiance patiently waited for her. One month later, morning sickness appeared and the overjoyed couple hastily prepared for marriage. The happiness was short lived though. Two days before the wedding the groom dropped dead in the middle of the street. It was the heat, some said. It was his weak heart giving way from all the labour and stress, other concluded. But Miss Thomson knew better. It was karma. It was payment for the betrayal she had committed. Nevertheless Miss Thomson was never truly able to regret that week for her cheeks would flush pink each time she spoke of him. Lina considered it endearing. A bit morally questionable but who was she to judge love. She always hoped she would one day find her true love, just like Miss Thomson did. And she hopes to be able to stay by his side.

“Of course, Miss Thomson,” she reassured the woman and watched her retrieve a small, yellowish envelope. A name was scribbled in neat cursive on the back. Her eyes traced the delicate handwriting before lifting.

“Is this person perhaps related to him?”

Miss Thomson only smiled.

“Miss Thomson, I never asked you but... after that night... were you ever able to meet him again?” Miss Thomson gave her an enigmatic smile as she stood from the table.

“It’s getting late now. You should go to sleep, my dear. You have a long day ahead of you.” With that, she slowly made her way towards her bedroom. She stopped in the doorway and turned her head around. “I’ll call you tomorrow to offer you more details on where to find this person. Thank you, Lina.” She closed the door behind her, leaving Lina alone in the hallway.

Was that man still alive? Did he share the same feelings as Miss Thomson? Is it him that she was supposed to meet? After falling in love with him, Miss Thomson chose to never marry. She had a child yes, but marriage was always out of the question. Lina thought sadly as she made her way to her room upstairs.

I guess she didn’t.