The darkness of the rapidly approaching evening was making it harder to see. Everywhere was dark, and the young man's face was barely visible. Cassy had to squint her eyes to try to recognize who had appeared in front of her out of nowhere.

The voice and the silhouette of the guy reminded her of her best friend from childhood. Was it Luca? Could it be him? She began to wonder. As the familiar features of Luca as a boy began appearing on this young man's face, realization hit her. She was right. It was Luca Santoro from scuola secondaria di secondo grado from Italy. When was the last time she had seen him? It seemed like forever ago.

At present Luca was still in panic, partly checking on Cassy, partly mumbling to himself. But Cassy's eyes had caught sight of the view behind him, gazing at the hint of the rays left by the sunset. It was just before nightfall. It was becoming cooler than it was in the evening. Returning her gaze to Luca, she studied the look of him. Under the faint distant street lights Luca looked very different from how he did years ago, she recalled. The cute little boy with the goofy smile was replaced by the handsome, mature face of an adult almost unrecognizable. But there was still something unmistakably familiar about him. Perhaps it was the intensity of his eyes. Luca was still kneeling next to her on the ground. His face was a mask of concern, eyebrows knitted together, and forehead creased with worry. His eyes had the look of someone who had just seen something bewildering.

"God! Cassy?! Are you okay? I thought I'd be too late. I thought you'd be gone before I could stop you. Thank God, you're safe. I mean.. what were you even thinking?!"

Multiple panicked questions continued to spill out of Luca's lips. His gush of questions overwhelmed Cassy, drowning her and forcing her out of her thoughts of sweet memories. The cocktail of anger, sorrow, and betrayal returned sooner than she expected. The betrayals of the evening made her throat dry and raspy again, and she couldn't breathe. It was overwhelming. She felt a wave of exhaustion drowning her.

"L.. Luca I.. I can't."

She managed to choke out a few words, but it made no sense even to her. Luca, however, seemed to understand beyond her words because he stopped talking and moved closer immediately, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. And that touch of familiarity was all it took. Tears began pooling in her eyes, blurring her vision. Soon, they slipped down her cheeks and were out of control. She broke down hard as she shook all over, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She felt herself leaning onto Luca as she cried her heart out. Luca didn't move. He quietly stroked her hair and held her as she cried, his touch a silent reassurance amid her storm of emotions, an anchor in the stormy sea. The reassurance of Luca's unwavering support only intensified Cassy's tears, her cries growing louder with each passing moment. The cool night wind felt icy against her tear-stricken face. Luca was murmuring, his voice gentle and soothing. His arms, a comforting blanket around her, holding her in a gentle embrace. Cassy didn't quite understand how she reconnected with Luca after all these years of being apart. Yet it was as if they fell back into rhythm. An act of long-term practice.

"It's okay Cassy. You're safe now. Just breathe. I'm right here. You are fine."

But Cassy couldn't breathe, it was overwhelming. It was raw and painful. The sight of Pete and Francesca kissing in her bed still stabbed fresh at her heart, like the raw scab of a wound. The confrontation that followed was even more repulsive. And then his words, "It doesn't mean anything", echoed in her mind. This was what had completely flipped her. It felt pointless and impossible to state the obvious situation. A situation that she had never even dreamed of happening. She lost control.

"He.... he is cheating on me, Luca." She blurted out, breathing unsteadily.

She had been wrong. It didn't feel liberating to say it out loud. Instead, it felt as though someone had torn out her chest and stabbed her heart. It hurt more than she ever thought was possible. Her throat was constricted, as if a fist was choking her. The pain was wildly escalating, running fast through the veins of her body, searing them as they went. Amid the pain, Cassy noticed that with her confession Luca stilled himself around her. She noticed his fists clenched hard and strong next to her, he was probably in shock. He didn't have a clue about adult Cassy's life. They had not seen each other since parting ways from Italy, 10 years ago. So now she doubted if he knew whether she was married or not.

"He is cheating on me." The words spilt out of her mouth, striking reality out of pain and disbelief. Each word added more pain than the last. She sank further to the ground. Her limbs were no longer parts of her body. She felt lifeless. She was trembling again. Her face was damp with sweat and tears, and her long black hair clung to her face like a discarded fishnet. Then the rage that had consumed her, back at the apartment reappeared on her face. She felt her cheeks burn crimson, her eyes stilled out of focus, her heart raced and her breath came rapidly.

"And with my boss, that ungrateful bastard!"

Pain overcame rage and she began to sob heavily. As the situation began hitting her harder, her voice cracked, struggling to face the reality of the situation.

"I trusted him... H.. how could he do this to me?" Cassy sobbed, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. She did not bother to wipe them away, instead, she let them fall, dripping down her cheeks and down her chin, landing softly on her cardigan.

As Luca's hold on Cassy tightened, Cassy felt grateful for the silent support he offered. At the same time, embarrassment washed over her. It's been a long while since she last saw Luca, and she was a mess, and there was nothing she could do about it. She decided to play it off. It's not been the first time he had seen her at her worst. After what felt like an eternity, Cassy finally let go, her sobs tapering off into soft sniffles. She wiped her face with the back of her sleeve and raked a shaky hand over her mess of hair. But she couldn't bring herself to meet Luca's gaze. She felt embarrassed and utterly drained, the weight of her emotions leaving her bone-weary. It's all about the moment; living the fullest in them with regrets is to be lively. 

Cassy gently readjusted her clothes and tried to stand upright. Luca lent his hands for her to steady herself. She couldn't bring her eyes to meet his. So she kept looking down at her feet, fidgeting the hem of her shirt. In the now quiet park, a thud - thud was heard at a distance, and it was approaching nearer and nearer. The thuds were rhythmic and were quicker apart. They felt like footsteps. Footsteps of someone approaching them in the now dark evening. Was it Pete? Had he stepped out to look for her?

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ranslation Update - Scuola secondaria di secondo grado translates to Upper secondary school

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