One More Meeting by Yelizaveta Tretyak

The napkin flew away,

and Lizzi did her best to catch it. Little boy at another table heartily laughed at miserable Lizzi's effort to maintain balance. Johny looked at that corner and stayed frozen. Even after 6 years, she stayed the same, even though he had admitted that there appeared to be some kind of elegance and confidence. Johny couldn't look away from her. 

Should he come to her and say hi? Should he hug her and say the kind of words you always say to people you once knew? Or should he let her go and just forget about this encounter? When it had been an eternity, and Lizzi finished her lunch, the man felt relieved from not having to do anything. She didn't see him at all. When the door after her closed, he finally exhaled. 'It's been many years. It doesn't matter anymore', he thought, trying to convince himself not to do anything stupid. But after a 30-second consideration, he couldn't resist the desire to look at her once more. That's why he ran after her, fearing that she might disappear again. But no, there she was, slowly walking the pathway. 'Lizzi!', Johny screamed, not being able to hold her name inside anymore. The woman slowly turned around and saw him, standing, unsure what to do next. 'Hi,' his steps were unsure how she would react to his presence. 'Hey,' "I didn't know you were in Italy," Johnny said, trying to find his footing. "Yes, I've decided to give it a chance." A weak smile appeared on her face. "Would you... like to walk for a bit?" he asked tentatively. Lizzi hesitated for a second, then nodded. "I'd like that." They spent the afternoon wandering through the town. They talked about the years that had passed. 

By evening, they found themselves in a narrow alley where the sound of an accordion and a violin filled the air. A group of street musicians was playing a hauntingly beautiful melody. Lizzi stopped dead. She stood frozen, her eyes wide and shimmering, completely captivated by the music. Johnny watched her instead of the performers. She hasn't changed at all, he thought. She still became a statue in the presence of something beautiful, as if she were afraid that even a breath would ruin the beauty of the moment. The music shifted into a slow, romantic melody. Johnny took a deep breath and stepped closer. "Dance with me?" he whispered, extending his hand. Lizzi looked at his palm, then up at his face with an expression that was a mix of uncertainty and longing. Slowly, she placed her hand in his. When he moved closer and rested his hand on her waist, he felt her catch her breath. She went still for a second, as if her heart had skipped a beat at his touch. But then, she leaned in. They moved together under the dim streetlights, the rest of the world fading into the shadows of the Italian night. In that moment, the six years of silence vanished. They weren't just two people who used to know each other. No, they were two people who had finally found their way back to each other. When the melody finished, Lizzi stopped, and Johny saw her eyes with slightly noticeable tears. Others wouldn't notice those tears, but he would always. They leaned in until their foreheads met. And this time, Johnny knew he would never let the door close behind her again.