"Amore"

Sofia perched herself atop the Ponte di Rialto and watched the lights dance across the choppy surface of the canal. There were a great many lights this evening, for the Palazzo Dolfin Manin was host to another grand masquerade. She dreamed of being invited to one of Lorenzo’s parties, but it was not her station.

“One day, perhaps, that will be me twirling in a silk gown, hand in hand with my dear Lorenzo.”

A door opened and music floated up to Sofia. She expected someone had stepped out onto the balcony to cool from dancing, but was surprised to see a couple emerge onto the sidewalk below. The woman giggled as the man held her close. Sofia longed for such romance.

The couple turned suddenly and hurried up the walk. Sofia squinted into the distance to see the boat of several latecomers approaching the pier. “Ah, so they are escaping. Perhaps theirs is a forbidden romance.”

Giggles approached the bridge and the sound of feet hit the stone steps. Sofia quickly backed into the portico and pressed herself into the shadows. The figures stopped just in front of her.

Their pause was to embrace. The gentleman kissed his companion. “You are so beautiful, Cara Mia.”

Lorenzo’s voice! Oh, if only it were me whisking away in the night with my love.

In the distance, another man’s voice called Lorenzo’s name. He was missing from his own party. Lorenzo and the woman scurried down the steps to the opposite shore and on down the lane.

Sophia stepped out of the shadows, attempting one last glimpse of her beloved to no avail. As she hung her head, she spied a red rose that had fallen at the sight of the lovers’ embrace. She plucked it up and took in its heavenly scent. “No doubt his gift to her.”

The petals graced her cheek as she imagined his presentation, but in this daydream, she was the object of his affection. On one knee, he offered the blossom, the light twinkling in his eyes. “For you, Tesoro. Though its beauty is no match for your own.”

“Thank you Lorenzo. I will cherish this moment forever.”

This piece was written in response to a picture prompt from my writing group. The original image can be found here. It is a painting of a couple in front of the Ponte de Rialto, a famous bridge in Venice, Italy. The first image I've provided in this post is the view from atop the Ponte de Rialto. The Palazzo Dolfin Manin is seen on the left shore with its (normally white) facade lit up in pink. The second image is a photo of the bridge itself.