Italian Liaisons

The Letter “Signorina Givanni!” Brooke called out as she chased the Italian literature teacher down the corridor, having spotted her entering the university. “Signorina Givanni!” The teacher stopped and turned to face Brooke, eyeing her curiously. Heavyset Brooke was panting, out of breath, when she finally caught up to the almost petite and athletic figure most folks called Ari. “Sì?” asked Ari. In Italian, Brooke said, “Melina asked me to read this to you.” Ari looked even more curious, and based on the seriousness in Brooke’s tone and expression, she was becoming a bit worried as well. “Melina had to return to the U.S.,” Brooke said. Now Ari was both curious and worried. “What happened?” she asked in Italian. “Have you a few minutes?” Brooke asked her. She nodded, then followed the school’s coordinator into her office. Once inside, Brooke shut the door and took a seat at her desk, while Ari remained standing in front of it, satchel slung over her shoulder. Brooke unfolded the letter and began to read. My dearest Ari, I don’t know enough Italian to say all I want to say to you, and this is too important to me to screw up. So I shall write it in English and ask either Brooke or Nara to read this to you. Unbeknownst to me and my friends until the very last minute, they changed the visitation rules in Italy, shortening the length of time foreigners can visit before they must either leave or apply for citizenship. I haven’t the time or the money to apply for citizenship, a work visa, and then get a place of my own to stay. But I couldn’t leave without telling you that I truly love you from the bottom of my heart. I don’t know how or why it happened, and so fast, but there is no doubt as to how I feel, and I wanted you to know it. I was devastated when I learned that I would have to leave so quickly. I will never, ever forget the wonderful lady who taught me all the Italian I know, and who took the time to care about me.” Brooke glanced up at Ari’s now watering eyes, then continued on with the letter. I know you said you had no interest in ever visiting the U.S., but if you should ever change your mind and want to come to the southwestern desert, I would love to see you! I can’t give you a phone number since there is no landline way out where we live. We do have cell phones, but the number changes periodically, so I can only give you an address. If you log onto Google Maps or Google Earth and type in the address, you should find it. I’m crying too hard to write anymore. Besides, there’s nothing more to say other than “ti amo.” I will never, ever forget you. Love always, Melina. Ari wiped a tear from her eye and wordlessly took the letter from Brooke. Brooke could see the teacher was heartbroken. “I’m sorry.” Ari gave a quick nod and thanked her for reading the letter. The rest of the day crawled by in slow motion for Ari. She had always been a very strong-willed person, yet even her students could sense something was up. She simply explained that she felt a little off when asked about it. Fortunately for her, though, she wasn’t one of the more “popular” teachers, what with her serious personality that seemingly only Melina had lightened up, and so most people didn’t seem to notice or care. At lunchtime, she showed the letter to Nara. “Hang on,” Nara said a moment later, placing a soothing hand on Ari’s shoulder as she tried to force herself to eat her salad. Nara ran over to the computer and punched at the keyboard while referring to Melina’s letter. Then she walked back over to her sad-looking friend and half-sister and said, “Cheer up. We’ve both got vacation time coming.”