Orizzonte

Sometimes my apartment looks tinier than ever. (if: $hygge is 0)[[[Stupid trend of living in small spaces.|Hygge]]] Most of the time I just don't care, but in some moments the four walls seem to get closer and closer to me, making me choke. [[I take my jacket and go out->Jacket]] [[Don't care about getting a chill, I'll go out in my shirt->Shirt]]

(set: $hygge to 1) Fuck Hygge. Fuck aromatherapy dispensers. Fuck dimmable lights. [[I don't want those things.|Apartment]]

(set: $clothes = "jacket") I always loved that jacket. It makes me look effortlessy elegant. It's becoming my uniform, in some ways. I shut the door and take in my lungs the air of early May. I love the green spaces in this city. [[Maybe I'll walk along the river|River]] [[Or a short walk downtown and a beer at the pub|Pub]]

(set: $clothes = "shirt") I like wearing shirts. Especially if they're plain and minimal. I don't have to think too much, and they do the job. I shut the door and take in my lungs the air of early May. It's chilly but I can manage. [[Maybe I'll walk along the river|River]] [[Or a short walk downtown and a beer at the pub|Pub]]

Slow runs the river while I get caught in my thoughts. The sun is about to set. I look around, scanning every single person I see. I like it. I'm overly fascinated by humanity. I constantly try to imagine the story of each one of them, to understand what they're thinking. [[I sit on a bench|Bench]] [[I lean on the railings|Railings]]

As usual the city centre is super crowded. I look around, scanning every single person I see. I like it. I'm overly fascinated by humanity. I constantly try to imagine the story of each one of them, to understand what they're thinking. I head into the pub. Hipsters are hanging out the external courtyard. I just want a good beer. [[Ask for a pint|Pint]]

(Set: $place to "bench") I sit on a bench and I look at the boats traversing the river. Maybe it's time to find something to do. My life is not that great right now. Suddenly a shadow breaks the light of the sun setting. [[I raise my head up|Face]]

(Set: $place to "railings") I lean on the railings and I look at the boats quietly traversing the river. Maybe it's time to find something to do. My life is not that great right now. Suddenly I feel a presence near me. [[I look that way|Face]]

(Set: $place to "pub") The guy at the counter starts drawing my beer. I take it, I pay and my attention is caught by the person near me. [[Turn around|Face]]

The person besides me hits me in a moment. I can't really say why. They aren't the sterotypical, super good looking, hot kind of human; those one cannot help but notice. But there is something in their eyes. A deepness, maybe a hint of contemplative sadness. No despair, thought. Those eyes are probably my definition of optimistic sadness. [[Something is slowly emerging in my mind, from a distant past|Wabi Sabi]]. Are they looking at me? [[I say hi|Hi]] [[I just smile|Smile]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//Well, I guess pick-up lines are not your stronger skill, mate. Hi? Seriously?//] I look at them, they're smirking at me. I try to figure out a witty answer, quickly. [[Or I'll just introduce myself|Introduce]] [[//I thought the weak pick-up line was just you approaching me silently//|Sarcasm]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//That smile suits you. I like it. You seem like a nice person.//] I look at them, they're smirking at me. Not sure if they're serious or just mocking me. [[I'll just introduce myself|Introduce]] [[//I am nice indeed. Are you?//|Nice]]

(Set: $wabisabi to 1) Wabi-sabi. The acceptance of transience and imperfection. Everything ends. The glass is already broken. [[Yes, that must be it|Face]]

(Set: $lookAtThem to false) Cosy. Very small. A bed. A desk. A nightstand. A closet. That's it. The duvet cover looks expensive. It's sophisticated. Orizzonte should have chosen it very carefully. Attention to detail. (if: $hygge is 1)[An essence diffuser? This room screams hygge. Ugh. Orizzonte clicks on it. I bet lavender. Instant win. But it's somewhat relaxing.] (else:)[There's an essence diffuser. Orizzonte clicks on it. Lavender. Soothing.] [[I lie down with Orizzonte|LieDown]]

(set: $aboutMe to false) (set: $aboutThem to false) (text-colour: aqua)[//"My name is weird. I guess my parents were hippies or something. Oh well. My name is Orizzonte."//] Orizzonte. //Orizzonte//, I say. //That sounds kind of strange.// (text-colour: aqua)[//"Told ya. It's an Italian word. It means horizon".//] (if: $place is "Pub")[[[I offer them a beer|Offer]] [[I ask Orizzonte to go out and walk by the river|Walk]]] (else:)[[[I propose a walk along the river|Walk]] [[I ask Orizzonte if they want to go get a beer|Offer]]]

So, I tell them my name. I smile and I ask for theirs. The person in front of me blushes a little and seems somewhat uncomfortable. [[But then they smile at me|Name]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//Uh-uh. Sarcasm? I like it.//] I roll my eyes. They smile. I smile back and introduce myself. [[Then I ask for their name.|Name]]

Also, don't you think that when you meet someone, sometimes they just can uncover parts of you that you have forgotten and you may want to get back? It happens to me a lot. That's why I deeply value these moments. (if: $hygge is 1)[Maybe this hygge thing should be reconsidered. I need to take more care of myself.] [[I'll buy a plant|Plant]] [[I'll take a random night out|TheBridge]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//That's not for me to say, don't you think?//] They smile at me. I introduce myself and [[kindly ask for their name|Name]].

(text-colour: aqua)[//"Thanks, but I'm not that much into beer. I find it boring. Spirits are better. Or wine. I'll be glad to share a bottle of good wine with you."//] So we sit down with a bottle of red wine. And we start talking. [[I talk about myself|Me]] [[I ask about Orizzonte|Orizzonte]]

(set: $aboutMe to true) We talk about me. About my dreams, my flaws, my weird little things. About my passions, my knowledge, my past and my future. Orizzonte asks me questions. Presses me into uncomfortable places. But I don't feel uncomfortable. I open up to them so easily, in such a fluid way that I didn't know was even possible. (unless: $aboutThem)[[[So I ask more about Orizzonte|Orizzonte]]] [[I look intensely Orizzonte in the eyes|Eyes]]

(set: $aboutThem to true) We talk about them. They seem to be really open about themselves. I feel somewhat distant, because I don't even have the time to ask, and Orizzonte just shows me parts of them that I perceive as very intimate and deep. Sometimes I ask myself if I should just drive the conversation elsewhere, but I'm completely fascinated and captured by their voice and by the way they're telling me their story. My heart distinctly skips a beat. (unless: $aboutMe)[[[I start talking a bit about me|Me]]] [[I look intensely Orizzonte in the eyes|Eyes]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//Let's go, then. I like talking. (if: $clothes is "shirt")[Are you comfortable? It's chilly and you seem a bit underdressed.]//] [[I talk about my clothes|Clothes]] [[I talk about myself|Me]] [[I ask about Orizzonte|Orizzonte]]

//Yes, well. I really like shirts, I guess. I think they are cool.// (text-colour: aqua)[//No amount of coolness is worth suffering.//] //Quite true. Still, not suffering that much.// (text-colour: aqua)[//Not that much. Heh. If you say so.//] [[I talk about myself|Me]] [[I ask about Orizzonte|Orizzonte]]

(set: $Sleepover to false) I stare into Orizzonte's eyes. They are deep and expressive. A flow of emotions invests me. (text-colour: aqua)[//"WHAT."//] They smirk at me. They seem quite uncomfortable. An awkward silence ensues. |kiss>[[[Kiss Orizzonte|Kiss]]] {(live:4s)[(replace: ?kiss)[[[Hug Orizzonte|Hug]]](Stop:)]}

(set: $kiss to true) Being an introvert, it's not someting that happens to me frequently. But this time just looks like the perfect moment and I don't want to waste it. So I get near Orizzonte and I just kiss them. Slowly. They kiss me back. My heart pounding, I feel like I'm completely driven by my emotions, now. (text-colour: aqua)[//Well. Now it's time for you to be assertive. What do you want now?//] (if: $wabisabi is 1)[My thoughts on wabi-sabi come back to my mind. **The glass is already broken.**] [[I would like to come to your place and spend the night with you.|Night]] [[It's better for me to go home, now|Away]]

(set: $kiss to false) It's been a fraction of a second, and it did slide fast from natural to awkward. I'm an introvert and I'm paying the price for it. I just reach for Orizzonte and hug them. They hug back for a very long moment. It feels like the undertow, washing away my defenses. (text-colour: aqua)[//Well. Now it's time for you to try and be more assertive. What do you want now?//] (if: $wabisabi is 1)[My thoughts on wabi-sabi come back to my mind. **The glass is already broken.**] [[I would like to come to your place and spend the night with you.|Night]] [[It's better for me to go home, now|Away]]

(set: $Sleepover to true) (text-colour: aqua)[//Ok, then. Shall we go? It's a very short walk to my place.//] (unless: $kiss)[(text-colour: aqua)[//And since you seem to have missed the chance to kiss me, before, you should do it now.//] //You are something, you know?// I kiss them.] I let Orizzonte lead the way. We talk a little more, as we arrive at their apartment. We are in front of her room's door. [[I go in.|Room]] [[I wait for Orizzonte to enter|Room]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//Are you sure? Is that what you really want?// $kiss[(text-colour: aqua)[//You've just kissed me and I kissed you back. Do you want to end it here?//]] //You are something, you know?//] I look at Orizzonte. And I make up my mind. [[Yes, I'm sure. But I hope to see you again|ByeBye]] [[Well... I'm feeling this connection with you and I really want to spend the night with you, actually|Night]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//Really? You changed? How?//] //Look, it's like when you throw a rock in the river. You see how the surface changes?// (text-colour: aqua)[//I do. but after a while it's back to normal, isn't it?//] //It is. Still, there's a rock in the river, that wasn't there before. Something has changed forever.// (text-colour: aqua)[//Wait. Is this a reference to a Xena episode? I'm sure it is.//] //Whoa, I hadn't figured you're so much into pop culture.// (text-colour: aqua)[//Well, now you know.//] [[I kiss Orizzonte.|LastKiss]]

I'm back home, thinking. Orizzonte is so special. Now I've got this weird feeling. We've had a deep connection. Orizzonte is super talented and intelligent. They related to me so much, I completely opened myself to them. Still, I feel a bit inadequate, but flattered at the same time. [[I think more|Forgotten]]

Orizzonte just smiles at me and kisses me bye. [[Now, I'm going back home.|BackHome]]

I'm walking towards the bridge, it's very early in the morning. Or I should say that's very late in the night? Sometimes it happens like that. The sky is clear and the pink light of the dawn colours the stone of the bridge making it magical and almost dreamy. I could take a picture now. Maybe send it to Orizzonte. [[But I just decide to keep this amazing moment for myself. I don't need to share everything, don't I?|NoText]] [[Or maybe I just text them this small story|TextStory]]

The small lavender thing looks at me. I've never been great with plants. They constantly die on me. But this time I feel like it could go in a different way. Because I'm a different person. [[I take a photo and text it to Orizzonte|PlantPhoto]] [[I keep this for myself|NoText]]

After a while, I get a text back. (if: $Sleepover)[(text-colour: aqua)[It's evident that you pay attention to detail. I love lavender.]] (else:)[(text-colour: aqua)[That's really nice. I absolutely love lavender.]] I text Orizzonte asking if they're keen of seeing me again. (text-colour: aqua)[Yes, of course. Meet me next Thursday at 3PM on the river bank near the bridge.] [[I answer I'll be there.|Rendezvous]]

After a while, I get a text from Orizzonte. (text-colour: aqua)[You're not doing it, so I might as well do it now. If you want to meet again, see me next Thursday at 3PM on the river bank near the bridge. Hope to see you.] Now I'm feeling like the indecisive one. [[I answer I'll be there.|Rendezvous]]

After a while, I get a text back. (text-colour: aqua)[I love that bridge. It's one of my favourite places in the city.] I text Orizzonte asking if they're keen of seeing me again. (text-colour: aqua)[Yes, of course. Meet me next Thursday at 3PM on the river bank near the bridge.] [[I answer I'll be there.|Rendezvous]]

We lie down together. There's action and inaction. And breath and sweat and tears and eyes and hair and bodies and breath again. We look at the empty ceiling. (Unless: $lookAtThem)[[[Then I look at Orizzonte|EyesAgain]]] We start talking again. About us, our life and ultimately how different languages can express things that you can't really translate. We chuckle at //schadenfreude//, because we are like that. At some point we fall asleep. [[And then it's day again.|Morning]]

I take a shower. When I'm back I find all my clothes perfectly lined up on the bed. We have a nice breakfast together. We talk more. Sometimes Orizzonte teases me with their stingy sarcasm. Don't know why but I like that. At some point, I have to go. [[Will I see you again?|ByeBye]]

(set: $lookAtThem to true) I turn my head and look at Orizzonte's eyes. It's like looking at the thin line where the sky meets the sea and you can't really tell if it's green or blue. [[I take a deep breath|LieDown]]

I lean on the railings, watching the river flowing. It's a nice Thursday afternoon. Today the sun shines and the sky is clear. The air is cool and crisp again, and the wind softly blows. Summer is near. I can see Orizzonte coming towards me. I wasn't expecting to see them arrive from there. They smile at me. We hug. (if: $kiss is true or $sleepover is true)[We don't kiss.] [[//Shall we get a tea or a coffee in some place by the river?//|Coffee]] [[//Shall we walk around a bit?//|WalkAndTalk]]

We sit outside, in front of a coffee. We stare at each other deep in the eyes before talking. We both know we have something to say to each other. [[So I tell Orizzonte I really like them|ILikeYou]] [[I just stay silent a little bit more|Silence]]

(text-colour: aqua)[//You are a chatty person, you know?//] //Is that bothering you?// (text-colour: aqua)[//Not at all. Just remarking it.//] [[Maybe we can go for that coffee, after all.|Coffee]]

=><= We have been a thing. We have been lost in translation. We have been two souls. We crossed paths. It has been beautiful. THE END.

(text-colour: aqua)[//Thing is... I'm in a very strange place right now. Also, I'm about to leave the country for two months.//] //So... That's it?// (text-colour: aqua)[//Everything ends sooner or later. And it's a good thing, don't you think?//] //I do. And I treasure our moments together.// [[//You have had quite the impact on my life. I feel like I've changed//|Changed]]

The silence gets awkward very soon. So I break it, in the most clumsy way. [[//Well, I guess I like you. A lot.//|ILikeYou]]

We kiss, slowly and deeply. I think of everything. Every single moment. The immediate attraction. The chemistry. $kiss[Our first kiss.] $Sleepover[Our night together] Eyes, lips. The river. My heart beating. And I lose myself in those moments and in this kiss. [[I smile.|Byesmile]]

Orizzonte smiles back at me. (text-colour: aqua)[//You are cool. You know? Keep this sensitivity. It's just great that you still have it.//] //I will. This is so precious.// (text-colour: aqua)[//For relaxing times...//] //Just another pop culture reference.// (text-colour: aqua)[//Yes. It's time to go. Goodbye. Have a great life.//] [[//And you. Goodbye, Orizzonte.//|Goodbye]]

=><= ##Orizzonte <img src="./images/OrizzonteLogo.png" alt="Orizzonte" height="256" width="256" /> ####(css: "font-weight:500")[Written by Federico Fasce] [[Just start this.|Apartment]]