1° chapter

Translated by Barbara Nicotra.
Traduzione a cura di Barbara Nicotra.




He looked at the watch on his wrist: it was 19.23. That evening he was in late for his usual running. He bent and tied the shoes. Without thinking he did a double knot. By now had this become a habit. He hated having to stop while was running. Observed the sky. The sun was setting, but its glare brighted, although slightly, through the whole park. He ascertained that was still crowded at that hour. The day was very hot, so it was natural to choose that time as he wanted to do a little exercise. Since he started that habit several months ago, he was tried he fell asleep more easily. The next day he felt more relaxed and prepared to better try a new, hard working day. He took a deep breath and stated running. During those months he had made many friends, especially with women, each with their own history and own beauty; but none was able to enter and be part of his life. He kept always up a distance from women. He had once suffered in his life and he didn’t want that happen again. “ Not worth it!” He always said, to his friends. That day, however, he had preferred to run alone. Alone with his own thoughts. He was worried: he had been called on before lunch meeting by Senior leaders in his company. He had been informed that as the head of the human resources office. He had to choose who among other employees, could be sacked. The company was facing a crisis and to raise their financial resources, albeit marginally, it was necessary dramatically decrease the number of employees. He had always known that sooner or later, this would had happen. But now that was before him there were the forms for all staff. He felt a huge weight upon him. Thanks to his friendly and genuine character, qualities which were rare that many people had given, he had won the confidence and esteem of all colleagues. For this reason it was very difficult, but also painful. He choose someone out of whom were friends, and also who had been colleagues. He knew their strengths and weaknesses and, more than anything else, their personal needs. He had to do it, there was no choice. “Hi!” A female voice suddenly brought him back to reality. She was Carla, one of many women he had known in the park that summer. Having so many thoughts he hadn’t noticed she had already approached earlier and she was running with him. “Hi darling, how are you?” “Good, dear, how are you too?” “The usual life.” “Why didn’t you call me more?” There it is: the demand that he feared most! Why? Why are women always looking for explanations for whatever thing? He had asked many times himself, without ever finding an answer. It bothered him and made feel obliged to justify himself when he hadn’t felt the need and, above all, there was no reason for it! “I was pretty busy lately!” She ran slightly faster than him and stood before him. “You think I’m stupid?” “I never said that and I haven’t even thought of that!” He moved slightly and ran on. He had no desire to quarrel, especially not tonight! He already had too many problems. That’s why he never wanted a woman in his life: too many problems, too many explanations! Sometimes he missed the constant affection that could give him a stable relationship. This was the price worth paying for his freedom! “So why don’t you tell me the truth?” “What truth?” he asked irritably. “What you didn’t call me more because you don’t care about me…” “Because isn’t so!” “Yes it is!” “So if you know why do you ask me?” he said stopping suddenly. “Because I want you have the courage to tell me to my face.” She said. “Tell you what?” “What for you that night didn’t mean anything …” He had had enough of the accusations of Carla; just couldn’t bear to see a woman cry for him. “The truth is that I have been very busy. Maybe it’s true: I could call you and tell it, but I didn’t! I honestly didn’t think that was necessary, since we came out only once! Okay, to be honest I would ask you: I found you a very interesting woman and I’d have loved to go out with you again. When I can get rid of some issues that keep me busy. Given the overreaction that you’ve had, I’ve lost all interest on it. Now excuse me…” and he continued then to run leaving her so alone onto roadside crying. “Don’t let me see!” heard her screaming behind him. “You can count on, baby!” he thought. He didn’t like women who couldn’t manage their emotions. They could easily talk about it, out to dinner a night over a red wine glass, but not her! She already decided to find him guilty of have neglected her after only a one night stand. While pondering what had just happened, he saw a young girl that ran in his direction. She wore a snow white outfit, with delicate red thin edges; a long tail blonde softly accompanying her every move. She was very nice. “Well” he said “old boy should recover quickly in this game…Carla, now, is a closed chapter!” Started to run hoping not to cross her anymore. At least not tonight! He completed the third round he realised that it was almost dark. He could barely make it out the path that had led him towards the exit. He walked toward it, doing a little stretching. He felt he didn’t wake up all sore the next day. Suddenly he felt the sensation of being watched. He turned to stare convinced that Carla was sitting somewhere, waiting for him to start the argument again, to clarify the why he had disappeared from her life. As if she wasn’t clear enough already! However, to his astonishment, he realised that there was another girl sitting on a bench not far from him. He had never seen her before.