All my life, I had always dreamed of being an opera singer. While other little girls were dreaming of being princesses or veterinarians, I was dreaming of singing Puccini in front of a huge audience at La Scala in Milano. Ever since then, it was my goal in life to make that dream come true. Today, that was happening.

Today was going to be the new beginning of the rest of my life. It was the day that I was scheduled to audition at the Solstice Theatre in San Francisco for their annual opera showcase. This was the showcase that could make or break my career. Talent scouts from all over the world came to this performance to seek out new talent. This included talent scouts from Italy, A.K.A my dream destination to live out my life as a professional opera singer. Basically, in order to do any of this, I had to nail this audition - and that's just what I planned to do. 

I looked around my room to grab all the essentials needed to bring to the audition; my bag full of throat coat spray, a huge bottle of water, peppermints to keep my throat lubricated, the audition details and forms already filled out, and my daily necessities (phone, wallet, keys, etc.) Once I had my bag all packed and ready, my first order of business was to grab a decaf coffee from my favorite coffee shop in Little Italy called Caffè e Dolci. I always started my day by getting coffee from there and taking a walk around the city in the morning, and this day was no different. Except that instead of walking around the city after getting my coffee, I would be walking to a life-changing audition with my entire future depending on it afterwards. No big deal! 

I grabbed my bag from off of my bed and went downstairs, entering the little restaurant my mom ran. Ever since my mom moved to San Francisco and bought the restaurant, she would work from 9:00 in the morning until 9:00 at night, only stopping to eat and sleep. I would take regular shifts and help out whenever I had the chance, but today I had only my audition on my mind and, thankfully, my mom understood. She has always been incredibly supportive of my dreams. From day one, she has been rooting for me to go to Italy to be a famous opera singer, and she knew this audition would be my chance. 

Once she saw me, my mom stopped cleaning the counter and greeted me with her usual chipper attitude and motherly smile. "Buongiorno!" She called out to me, wrapping me in a big hug and kissing my forehead. "Buongiorno, mamma!" She pushed up her round-framed glasses and looked at me, a piece of her short, curly, dark brown hair falling into her eyes. She had the biggest smile on her face. "Today's the big day! How do you feel?" I chuckled dryly. "Very nervous, actually. I need to do well." I admitted. My mom smiled at me and put down the rag she was cleaning with. "You will do well, mia figlia. You have the most beautiful voice I've heard since...since..." She snapped her fingers. "Since Luciano Pavarotti!" I laughed at the incredible exaggeration. No way was I on Pavarotti level. "Grazie tanto, mamma." 

I walked towards the door, turning the sign on the window from CLOSED to OPEN, just like I did every morning. Customers would soon start piling in for their morning coffee and pastries. "I'm going to go grab a coffee at Caffè e Dolci before the audition." My mom made a sound that could be described as somewhere between a groan and a loud huff. "You're always at that place, buying their coffee and giving them money. Maybe you should be their daughter and work for them instead." Ah, the famous Italian guilt trip. Never fails. "I know, I know, but I just love it there! Besides, here I have to work more than I can eat." My mom waved me off with a motion of her hand, not looking up from pouring ground coffee into the coffee machine. "Alright, alright, just go. I wouldn't want to mess up your morning routine." I opened the door and before leaving, blew my mom an air kiss. "Ciao!" She blew me a kiss goodbye in response. 

I closed the door behind me, the cool San Francisco breeze hitting me in the face. It was a refreshing way to really wake up! I wrapped my scarf around my neck to make it even more snug, then went on my way to Caffè e Dolci. As I walked, I looked around at the beauty of Little Italy all around me. It was like living in a little slice of Italy in the middle of California. Quaint coffee shops, delis, and Italian-like architecture lined the streets. Even the poles were painted with the colors of the Italian flag. 

I walked up to the door of Caffè e Dolci, the little bell on the top of the door ringing when I walked in. The owner of the shop, Mario, turned around from the cappuccino machine and gave me his usual bright smile. "Buongiorno, Daniela! The usual?" I smiled. "Yes, please!" He gave me a thumbs up and went to make my usual, a small black coffee. Usually, it was only me that would be sitting at the coffee bar instead of the cute little tables and chairs outside, but today that was not the case.

Sitting at the coffee bar was a man about my age with coiffed brown hair. He was dressed in a crisp, white shirt and black slacks. I noticed he had a black folder next to him on top of the counter with a paper peeking out of the corner. I could make out the word "theatre." Before I could decipher what it was saying, he turned back to look at me. This was when I could see his golden eyes. He gave me a movie-star smile. "Hi." I gave a shy smile back. "Hi." The man patted the barstool next to him. "Would you care to have a seat?" He asked me. I nodded, still surprised from his presence, not to mention his good looks. 

I sat down next to him and he gently stuck out his hand for me to shake. "I'm Amedeo di Luca." I shook his hand. "I'm Daniela Barrelli." His eyes lit up. "Anche Lei Italiano?" Are you Italian too? He said it in a formal way. I nodded. "Si, piacere di conoscerLa." Yes, nice to meet you. I responded in a formal way as well. He smiled. "Piacere, e dammi del tu." Nice to meet you, and basically telling me I can talk to him informally. I couldn't help but giggle. "Grazie, and same for me." He smiled and we finally broke off the long handshake. 

Mario came back to us, casually sliding my black coffee across the counter to me. "Here you go!" He stopped to look at the both of us and then chuckled. "Look at that! You two ordered the same thing. What a coincidence." Then he went back to help the other customers that had come into the shop. Amedeo and I both looked down at our coffees and laughed. "Great minds think alike." He remarked. I nodded, taking a sip from my coffee. I instinctively let out a hushed "aaah." "Mario makes the best coffee." I told Amedeo. He nodded. "This is my first time trying it, but I would have to agree." 

"Did you just move here?" I asked him, sipping my drink. Amedeo nodded. "A few weeks ago. I've been settling in. I'm actually here for-" Just then, his phone started to ring. He looked at the caller ID and stood up, facing me. "I'm so sorry, I have to take this call." I remembered my approaching audition and stood up as well. "It's okay, I have an appointment to get to as well." I smiled. "It was very nice to meet you, Amedeo." Amedeo smiled as well. "It was nice to meet you too, Daniela. Will I see you again?" I chuckled. "Only every morning in this coffee shop." He gave me that same movie-star smile, his golden eyes sparkling. "I'll be here waiting." We parted ways, and I walked out the door, the same bell ringing to announce my departure. 

I looked at my phone for the time. It was 8:20. The audition was at 9:00, but signing in and giving the audition lady my forms was taking place from 8:30-9:00. I wanted to get there as early as possible to show how dedicated and serious I was about this. To get there by 8:30, I needed to take the cable car to Rose Avenue to get to the Solstice Theatre. I ran across the street to the cable car ticket stand and bought a ticket from the clerk. Then, I hurried onto the cable car, luckily being able to get a seat. I was facing the outside of the car out in the open, so I had a perfect view of the passing city. It was my favorite seat, but I wasn't always able to get it. I could tell it was going to be a good day. 

Right as the trolley was about to depart, I heard a voice cry out, "Wait!" A man dressed in a nice black coat, a red dress shirt, and black slacks was running towards the car, a worried look on his face. He was frantically waving his ticket in the air, trying to get the driver to notice him. The car wasn't moving yet, so the clerk was able to take his ticket. He jumped up onto the cable car, standing next to me and hanging onto the handrail on the roof of the car. He was looking out at the city, but soon shifted his gaze to me. 

He had nicely styled brown hair that was parted to the side, standing tall on his head. His eyes were a deep brown and his smile was very charming, if I may say so. "Sorry, I nearly fell right on top of you when I jumped on." I smiled back. "It's okay. You didn't, did you?" He laughed, his laugh one that was childlike and filled with joy. "I'm Cosimo Galli." He reached over to shake my hand and nearly slipped onto the seat next to me. I took his hand and tried to steady him, and he regained his composure. He looked at me with a flustered look in his eyes. "Ah, I nearly did it again. Sorry!" He still wasn't letting go of my hand. I laughed. "Not a problem. I'm Daniela Barrelli." I shook his hand. He gave a surprised smile. "Italiano?" He asked. I nodded. "Yep, and you're the second Italian I've met today." He was surprised, but smiled anyways. He looked down at our hands and quickly pulled his hand back. "Ah, sorry. I'm a mess today, I guess." 

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it." Cosimo sighed and sat down on the seat next to me that miraculously wasn't taken by someone yet. He looked at me, inching a bit closer. "Have you lived here long?" He asked me. I nodded. "For a few years. You?" He nodded. "Same here. I live near Little Italy." I gasped. "I live IN Little Italy!" It was his turn to gasp. "It's a wonder we haven't run into each other before. Well, I guess the first introduction is the most important, so I'll start. I'm super clumsy, pretty silly, and I like to make people laugh." He looked at me. "And let me guess; you're funny, kind, and beautiful." His smooth comment put a crimson blush on my face. "Ah, I don't know about that." I nervously chuckled. Cosimo looked at me. "No, it's true. I can tell." Cue more blushing.

He sighed and looked out at the city whizzing by us. "What a city, huh? A city full of opportunity, full of music..." He paused for a minute. "A city full of love." He winked. "Besides Rome, of course." I smiled. "Yeah, it's pretty great." He turned to look back at me. "Where are you off to?" I was about to tell him about the audition when the cable car came to a sudden stop. "All off here for Chester and Pine!" I gasped. We talked so much that I missed my stop for the theatre! "I missed my stop! I have to get off right here." I grabbed my bag and stood up from my seat, Cosimo standing up with me. "It was very nice to meet you, Cosimo." I smiled. Cosimo nodded, reaching up to hold the rail again. "It was a dream meeting you, Daniela." I didn't have time to recover from his compliment because I was in such a hurry, so I just smiled and hopped of the trolley. It soon took off again, but not before Cosimo could call out to me, "When can I see you again?" I smiled. "I'll be around!" I caught a glimpse of a big grin spreading across his face before the trolley turned around the corner. 

I snuck another quick look at my phone's clock. 12:50. How was I so late!? And now I had to take the long way to the theatre too. Nice going, Daniela! I started running towards the direction of the theatre, my bag slapping against my side as I ran. I turned around the corner, keeping my fast pace. I took my eyes off the street ahead of me just for a moment to check my phone again, and that's when I bumped right into someone. I nearly went flying onto the pavement, but the person I bumped into grabbed my wrist and held me by the waist so that I didn't fall. 

I opened my eyes that I had shut to prepare for my fall and looked up to the most handsome man I had ever seen. He had dark brown hair that was perfectly styled, black-rimmed glasses, and was dressed very nicely in a dark gray peacoat, a black shirt, and black slacks. His eyes were the most gorgeous caramel brown with specks of gold in them. "Are you alright?" His voice was deep and soothing. I was almost too stunned by him to speak. I quickly remember the awkward pose we are in and immediately propped myself up. "Oh, yes, I'm fine. I'm so sorry, I just smacked into you so hard! I'm super late and I do things like this when I'm late and stressed." I started rambling. The man smiled. "It's okay, I'm just glad you're not hurt." 

He stuck out a hand for me to shake, the third new hand I had shaken today. "I'm Lucio Castelli, it's very nice to meet you." I raised an eyebrow. "Italian?" This time, it was my turn to ask. He chuckled. "Yes, very much so." I smiled and shook his hand. "I'm Daniela Barrelli." He smiled. "Also Italian?" I nodded and laughed. "Also very much so." We both laughed. Neither one of us let go of the handshake for a while.

 "Two Italians just meeting on the streets of San Francisco. Kind of a movie moment, isn't it?" Lucio laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm bad at knowing what to say." He apologized. I smiled. "No, it's okay! I'm not the greatest at it either." He tilted his head. "Well, you've left a very good impression on me." He smiled. I smiled, very flattered. "Thank you, so have you." Lucio gave me a sincere smile. "Forgive me for being so forward, but I'm just sure that your personality matches your outside appearance; both being lovely and beautiful." A huge blush crept across my face. "Wow! Thank you. I'm sure you're a great person, inside and out too! I mean, I see the outside and that's nice so you must be very nice as well." Again, rambling, and quite embarrassingly too. But he didn't seem to mind. This time, it was Lucio's turn to blush and chuckle. "Thank you." Something deep within me didn't want this moment to end.

That is, until he reminded me of how late I was. "So, where are you heading to in such a hurry?" I gasped. "That's right! I'm sorry, but I need to go, I'm already very late." Lucio gasped, looking at the time on his phone. "Ah, so am I! I guess we should both go." We both looked at each other for a while, smiles on our faces. With all the men I had met today, this felt like the most special encounter. Then again, it was just a feeling. 

"It was really nice to meet you, Lucio." I said. Lucio smiled at me. "It was really extraordinary to meet you, Daniela." Did this flattery and smooth words just come natural to him? It had to. We both smiled at each other and parted ways. I continued on my, now sprint, to the theatre. 

I ran down the street until I saw the Solstice Theatre looming over me in all its glory. It had a European style of architecture to it, like a building you would see in Italy. Despite how big and intimidating it was, it filled me with warm feelings. It was a place of opportunity where all my opera dreams could come true. At least, I hoped it was. No time for daydreaming, though, I needed to get signed in and on my way to the auditorium for the audition! 

I walked into the theatre, and ended up in front of a lady behind a table draped with a tablecloth that read "Solstice Theatre" on it. She greeted me with a kind smile. "Hello dear, are you here for the audition?" I nodded, handing over my forms. She looked them over and, after signing my name on a clipboard, gave me a nametag with a number on it. "Go on right through those doors into the auditorium. Break a leg!" She cheerfully told me. I smiled. "Thank you so much." 

I walked into the auditorium and was immediately hit with a feeling of awe. It was such a majestic theatre. It looked almost like the Palais Garnier in Paris! There were beautifully carved statues on each side of the stage, a crystal chandelier hanging delicately in the middle of the ceiling, and a huge stage with red, velvet curtains elegantly pulled back on either side. The red, velvet seats seemed to be endless, rows upon rows even extending to a huge balcony. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to perform in this theatre. 

The panel of judges and the teacher were talking with each other near the front of the stage while the rest of the auditioners were sitting in the seats, spread out in groups of friends. I gulped nervously, knowing absolutely no one here and having no one to sit with. I would just have to take a seat on my own.

I walked down the aisle, once again admiring the beautiful architecture of the theatre. I arrived at the front of the stage and looked to my right to see three men sitting next to each other, talking. Once I got a better look at them my eyes widened. I gasped, not believing what I was seeing. Before I could say anything, Amedeo, Cosimo, and Lucio turned around in their seats and were all looking at me. Their faces all lit up with surprise and, at the same time, they cried, "Daniela!" They stopped abruptly and looked at each other with confused faces. Then, they looked back at me. 

I nervously waved to them all, a shy smile on my face. "Ciao, ragazzi."