Miriam's new life

Padua, Father Lucio's parlor, February 14th, 4:00 pm

“How are you Maria?”

" Oh, Lucio, I miss my dad so much!”

The priest invited the young woman to sit down. The parlor, with the characteristic scent of leather and old books, reminded Maria of so many serene moments spent in that place with her dad and their priest friend.

Lucio sat down in front of her. On the desk, Maria saw an envelope with her name. She recognized immediately the elaborate handwriting of her father.

“Maria, I know it is hard for you. You were so close to your dad… When is the appointment at the notary’s?”

“March 3rd! I hope Raffaella will be a little less rude. She has already told me that she wants to sell my father's house as soon as possible, so that we can split the money. I will have to look for a little flat… To tell you the truth, I am not sure I would have liked to remain in that home, with so many remembrances…”

Her eyes filled with tears and Father Lucio took her hand in his.

The few weeks since her father’s death had only increased the sense of void and the pain in Maria’s heart. Father and daughter were very close and she had assisted him in the last months of his life, while her sister Raffaella had seldom visited them.

“Maria, I have asked you to come here today to tell you something I have just heard. A friend of mine from the time of my Seminary studies, Father Mark, called me yesterday. He is Canadian and he is the director of the High School Don Bosco in a small town north of Toronto.”

Maria gasped. What a dream… Teaching Italian in Canada… Despite herself, a flash of enthusiasm enlightened her face.

“The Italian teacher there, ” Father Lucio went on, " is retiring at the end of this school year and Mark asked me if I know a good teacher who is willing to move to Canada…” He smiled, when he saw the startled expression on Maria's face. “I immediately thought of you! What do you think, Maria?”

Emotion prevented the young woman from answering straight away.

“Oh, Lucio, thanks for thinking of me… Last year I would have refused, because I would never have left my dad alone, but now… Can I think about it for a few days?”

“Of course!” The priest’s smile vanished when he took the envelope in his hands, the envelope Maria had noticed as soon as she had entered.

Lucio was evidently embarrassed and the young woman wondered what that envelope contained. It was obviously connected to her father.

“Maria, your dad gave me this letter for you a few months ago.”

The woman took the letter in her hands with great care, as if it contained something precious and fragile.

“When you are at home, read it… I know that it will be difficult to accept what is written. It will be even more difficult to understand why your father never told you in person, but I can assure you that this weakness on his part was a source of great pain for him. When you read it, the behavior of your mother and Raffaella will be easier to understand... But, Maria, you must never, NEVER doubt your father's love for you. Keep this in mind, please!”

Maria was confused. She realized that the content of the letter was very important, and she nodded without saying a word. She embraced Father Lucio, the priest who had seen her grow up, and she went home wondering what her father could have written to her, what was so difficult to tell her in person. She had always believed there were no secrets between her and her father, and now…