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Terry Freedman's avatar

I am in love with Viviana myself!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Join the club! Thank you, Terry!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

A perfect continuation. Silvio, I can't help but feel this wants to be something larger, a novella perhaps. I slipped into this whilst taking the train to work and I didn't want to emerge. Viviana is entrancing. The whole thing is entrancing. There is mystery within and without.

I restacked a wonderful phrase near the start, but I think this is my favourite line. It's just magical the way she delivers this.

"Once, while we were both yawning in front of a movie we found uninteresting, she asked, Have you fallen in love with me?, with disarming naturalness."

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Nathan! That phrase holds a special meaning to me, as it’s something I’ve heard in real life. I’m glad you found it interesting and that it conveyed the magic it’s meant to convey. Yes, this has the ingredients of something that could be expanded into something larger. We’ll see. I’m notoriously bad at continuing stories and, most of all, finishing them (lol). This one, though, might be different. :)

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Kathleen Clare Waller's avatar

...the cherry tree...disarming naturalness...laconically...these details of the language make this so mysterious and yet grounded at the same time. Wonderful, Silvio!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Kate! I love the word Laconic myself. We're in the same camp here. :)

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Kimberly Warner's avatar

Thrilling Silvio! I don’t want to wait an entire week to know what happens next! I agree with Viviana, “What if this isn’t just a visual message, but a destination? A place someone or something’s been telling you to reach?”

I just read another essay about human’s funny need to search for signs and make meaning out of everything. I love that whoever/whatever is reaching out to your narrator, they’re on board with good old randomness.

And I’d also like to try a few of those cherries.:)

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you so much, Kimberly! I'm like that myself: I'm obsessed with the quest for signs to make meaning out of. And you nailed it: old-fashioned randomness is something we all should be at peace with, and we should take the road as it comes. :)

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Rose Campbell's avatar

Oooh, what is in that house?! And who is that couple?? Very intriguing and mysterious! I am SO looking forward to the next chapter!

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Rose! I ask myself those questions. There's so much that could happen here. We'll see!

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Mr. Troy Ford's avatar

Interesting omission: he didn't answer her question.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Bingo! Thank you, Troy!

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Ann Collins's avatar

Silvio, I'm enjoying every word! I want so much for this to be a slim, beautiful novella--a paper book with a picture of the mysterious house on the cover.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Ann! That's so kind of you. Maybe it will be, one day. In Italy, we say "Non mettiamo limiti alla provvidenza", which literally translates to "Let us not put limits on fate." :)

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Boustan Hirji's avatar

When one walks through the open door one realises that the non meaning of life is her most endearing quality.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

I totally agree! That could be a spoiler... :)

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Susan Ross's avatar

Hidden messages? Or are they?

Can't wait for the next episode.

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Silvio Castelletti's avatar

Thank you, Susan! There's much more to come...

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