The Girl from Bologna (Girls from the Italian Resistance: Heart-breaking page-turners, based on actual events in Italy during World War 2) by Siobhan Daiko

Author:Siobhan Daiko [Daiko, Siobhan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Asolando Books
Published: 2022-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

‘Did you record any more of your memoirs today?’ Rhiannon asks her landlady later, after they’ve had dinner and are sitting sipping herbal tea in the living room.

A solitary tear runs down Leila’s cheek. ‘I did…’

Rhiannon jumps up from the armchair and gives her a hug. ‘I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t make you sad.’

‘You didn’t. I’m feeling emotional because earlier I narrated a poignant part of my story.’

Slowly, stopping every now and then to collect her thoughts, Leila tells Rhiannon about the battle for the university, the execution of her comrades, her own arrest and torture by the fascists. ‘My sweetheart rescued me, along with his fellow partisans. We got married afterwards.’

Rhiannon’s heart weeps for her. ‘I thought you were single…’

‘Yes. Well, the marriage documents were never filed.’ Leila breathes in a deep breath and lets it out again. ‘Paolo was killed before that could happen.’

‘Oh, no,’ Rhiannon can’t help wailing. ‘How tragic. I’m so sorry…’

‘I still miss him,’ Leila sniffs back another tear. ‘If there’s an afterlife, I hope we’ll find each other again.’

‘You must have loved him very much.’

‘I did. And I still do.’ Her voice rasps. ‘We were soulmates then and will always be, even though we’ve been cruelly separated by his death.’

Rhiannon wants to ask Leila how Paolo died, but she doesn’t want to upset her further. ‘I’ve never been in love,’ she says by way of distraction.

‘You’re very young. There’s time.’

‘I doubt it will ever happen.’ Rhiannon sighs. ‘There’s something blocking me.’

‘Oh, my dear. Would you like to talk about it?’

‘I had a boyfriend once. But when we tried to be intimate…’ Heat creeps up Rhiannon’s neck and flames her cheeks. ‘It wasn’t possible. My body wouldn’t let him in.’

It’s Leila’s turn to pull Rhiannon in for a hug. ‘You shouldn’t worry too much about that. When you meet the right person, all will be well.’

‘I’m not sure,’ Rhiannon says. The memory of those excruciating times when Owen and she tried to make love will always be with her. They gave up trying in the end and he dropped her for another girl. ‘I think I’m better off on my own.’

‘Ah, you say that now, but you’ll meet someone one day who’ll change your mind.’ A soft smile brushes Leila’s mouth. ‘Let’s have a glass of Limoncello,’ she suggests. ‘I have a bottle a friend gave me last Christmas.’ She gets to her feet and goes over to the sideboard where she retrieves the liqueur and two small glasses.

The intense, sweet, citrus concoction slips down Rhiannon’s throat. ‘Yum.’ She licks her lips.

Leila chuckles. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

‘Very refreshing.’ Rhiannon yawns, suddenly sleepy. ‘I’ll go to bed now if you don’t mind. School was tiring today.’ Not to mention her walk across the city.

Leila pats her on the arm. ‘Buonanotte, cara.’ Goodnight, dear. ‘I hope you feel better for sharing your worries with me. As the proverb says, mal comune mezzo gaudio.’ A trouble shared is a trouble halved.

‘It has helped, grazie.’ Rhiannon pecks Leila on the cheek.

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