chapter 3 :Under the stars

once Madam Eve entered the home, she was raging, she dragged Bella to her room, she closed the door, okay brat she said!

Bella replied what do you want, Madam? I don't like lying, and I don't find pleasure in what I did in the morning, but you left me no choice. I know that you often meet Father Giovanni in secret and that they are not ordinary meetings. And it saddens me to tell the old man, because you may end up losing your house.

Madam Eve interrupted her, well, so tell me your demands and be reasonable, and know one thing that I'm being so tough with you for your own sake, I will not lie, I do not love you, but I want you to accomplish what I did not, that you leave this place and do not come back, do well for your sake, make something out of yourself, so that you do not depend on anyone ever, and to become such a person that only comes with refinement and diligence, and know that the seekers of inspiration, the dreamers those who are waiting for the poet goddess to shower her mercy on them, would not have put a single piece of bread on the table because of it.

The thought of you ending up like one of those unpragmatic losers makes my heart bleed.

Bella had a guilty conscience for a moment, for she had never seen Madam Eve as such, and she had poured out her heart for her, as it seemed she wanted her best, but she said, "Well, madam, I will not deny you a request, nor will I tell your secret, but I have a friend whom I wish to visit from time to time." I promise it's only on holidays and if you run into him you will see he's such a polite and knowledgeable guy, I promise you won't regret it.

Madam. Eve nodded in agreement and her face was filled with signs of dissatisfaction, as she sensed that Bella was dying for this meeting, um, that could not be good, she muttered a few more incomprehensible words and submitted dissatisfied to Bella's will and said in a clear voice as a bailiff does, that this It is the only demand and I will not accept another, otherwise do whatever you want, she closed the door forcefully on the way out, she relieved Bella that day of her homework because the lady could not bear to look at her, the situation continued in this way for a whole week, the madam did not ask her for anything or assign her any task.

Bella took advantage of that calmness and that precious time, which she had never had before, to read Paolo's book, she opened the first one, searching it, and smelled its unique smell, the one all old books have, she always loved the smell of old books, but this smell was mixed with the scent of Paolo's perfume that stuck in her nose from the moment of their first meeting.

Bella continued day and night devoting herself to reading the book. Reading is an escape from the harshness of life, but the responsibilities that were placed upon her early and many other circumstances that Bella does not remember well, Bella has always been a good girl putting her past where it belongs and moving on.

she spent the whole week in her room trying to finish her new books, She was so happy, she sat and waited until the morning, she had her breakfast for the first time again with Madam Eve since that day, neither of them uttered a word all morning, this was to Bella's advantage that she would not ask her where she was going and so she slipped through the back door, and went on her way, it was a long way, but she did not feel it, she was too busy weighing her words and repeating them to prepare herself before meeting Paolo.

The second meeting is not similar to the first in anything, as it lacks spontaneity. Bella is a very spontaneous girl, as she arranges and prepares the speech, she feels as if she is cheating, but who knows how this meeting will go?

She arrived there, and she greeted him, Good morning, Paolo. Her voice was heavy on his ears like thunder, It was enough to stop his heartbeat.

The last thing he expected today was Bella. Unlike her, he did not have time to wear the best clothes, nor had he carefully picked his words, anyway, he has a stock of this very thing, words, the young man has a tongue that can solve anything with his sweetness.

He cut off the flow of his thoughts, Bella. Hello, I didn't expect to see you today, didn't You like my books?

On the contrary, my words will not be enough to thank you. I completed it and wanted to return it to you quickly.

Well, Bella, let me tell you something, and he knew the reason for this hurry, these books are like medicine for us, and medicine cannot be taken all at once but in doses, reading books of this value in such a short time is more like a suicide, exactly like if you took an overdose of medicine.

Some Books deserve more time, and you may need to repeat them more than once, and this applies to what you have chosen. I told you earlier, I will not go anywhere until you read it all and understand it.

Bella sat on the edge of the road and her face was filled with resentment after it brightened up this morning, Paolo sat next to her, Bella I hope you do not misunderstand what I mean, I see you cheerful and happy and the last thing I want in this life is to extinguish your passion or to disturb you, but I I dare say you look prettier when you are angry, Paolo said, trying to deflect her anger, A small smile formed on her thin lips, which she tried hard to hide, Oh, Bella, if you only knew I've been sitting here for two whole days waiting for you to come back, and I've sat all night watching the stars, there's a star I call Stella that I talk to every day, if you come by once in the night I'll show you it, but it's almost there, he pointed to a part of the sky in the very place where it lies Stella, the very one Bella talk to every night.

This is impossible!! Bella shouted it's the same star, I call her Stella, and I talk to her every day as well. I do not remember why I called her Stella.

Many events have been erased from my memory, I wish I could restore them.

But Why did you name her Stella? Well, what I'm going to tell you will make Madam. Eve is angry, so please don't mention that in front of her, also she doesn't love me so It would be better if you did not mention to her that we are meeting.

Well, I don't tell her, we barely talk but come on, tell me why?

Well, a girl used to live in your house, her name is Stella, I think she is your sister or you are related.

how can you not mention her?

We were friends, no one knew me and sympathised with me as much as she did. Although she was roughly my age she was like the mother I never had, she has a big heart. Oh, her life was miserable and full of pain. Do you not know her?

it seems impossible that you do not know her! but what amazes me is that you name your star Stella, that must've counted for something, right? maybe your memory is trying to tell you something or give you some clue about her, it can not be a coincidence, I don't believe in them anyway.

I told you earlier that I miss large parts of my memory, but Madam Eve forbids talking about anything in the house, many strange things are happening there and I heard Father Giovanni telling Madam Eve that no one knows what happened to Stella, and soon no one will remember her, that was when I was at church last Sunday but I didn't pay attention, now my curiosity has been piqued.

What's wrong with you Paolo, your face is as pale as if you've seen a ghost. Did I say something that bothers you? Paolo?? Are you feeling ok?

Tears welled up in his eyes, he tried to stop them before he answered, I'm fine, I just don't like that heretic. Looking into Medusa's eyes is better for me than hearing his name. If he is involved then definitely there is something fishy, Stella never loved the people here but she loved the place and she would never leave without saying goodbye.

Paolo's behaviour toward Father Giovanni roused suspicions and questions in Bella's head, but when she saw him rattled, her only take was that it was more pain than an annoyance, but she refrained from asking, adding that he bothers her too, I will try to check him and Madam. Eve and you investigate at the other end of The town you know the place and the people more than me and I have no acquaintances other than you, be careful things are getting more suspicious.

And you, too, beware of these two, they have a long history of machinations. God knows what else they're hiding?

Bella nodded, confirming what Paolo had said, and said goodbye to him, saying, See you later, it's not my pleasure to leave and you are still so troubled, except that of Madam. Eve was silent this morning. She will not remain so all day, but we will meet again soon, perhaps tonight, and she moved forward with slow steps trying to turn back To keep Paolo in her line of sight as long as possible, and she began to talk to herself.

It was a strange thing, and as soon as Paolo was out of her sight, she hurried towards the house to arrive before Madam Eve noticed her absence.

she shortly arrived and start to tidy up her room, it was Misérables but that was not the only reason to rearrange the place, she thought if Stella lived in this house, she certainly lived in this room and this idea dominated her, and strange chills ran through her veins, puzzles and secrets get her excited as nothing else does, she moved the wardrobe with great difficulty trying not to make any noise that might arouse the wrath, Madam. Eve, common help me, you are heavy, I know there is something behind you, and indeed Bella found a torn piece of paper, the words were not clear, it seems that someone wrote it in a hurry, "Today at five o'clock meet me at the place we agreed earlier, go out the back door, you will know how to get there you have always been the smartest one, I love you, and signed Stella, the date was the same as the day or two before Bella found herself in the woods, this means that she is the one intended in this letter.

Bella's face turned blue as she read the letter over and over, she lived here and I knew her, I have to bring back that stupid memory, the chain of events since she came home did not allow her to think about the divergence of her memories, she now doubts everything she thinks she knows, nothing is certain anymore, the sound of madam Eve entering her room saved her from the spiral of her thoughts,

Um, well, I see you've to tidy up your room, it's lunchtime. Come to the table.

Bella grabed the letter she was holding in her hand as she tried to hide her shocked expression, as now she can't answer any of Madam. Eve's questions. At the lunch table, Bella broke the silence. I've been here for days and I haven't seen the old man here and he was always sitting in the house if my memory serves me.

It doesn't concern you, thank God I didn't tell him about you, it's in your best interest to stay away from him Madam. Eve replies, she always started by threatening if she intended to hide something, she must be hiding something then, all I had to do was get to the old man's room in her absence, that wouldn't be difficult, she goes out a lot at this time With the beginning of the school year, the chores of the house, and Madam. Eve's endless secrets Bella did not find time to visit Paolo, also she wanted to give him time for himself, as she is not good at consoling, and he seemed upset at their last meeting.

Tomorrow will be the first school day in her final year, which means that she has to make an extra effort. However, she decided to meet Paolo tomorrow. After school she has a lot to talk about and Paolo is the first friend who can talk and give his honest opinion. She always preferred silent, receptive friends. Anyway, Only three days had passed for both of them.

Their third meeting was no less enthusiastic than the first. Paolo hugged her for a long time, she thought that he would never let her go. Praise be to God, I thought you would not come back.

And why not? Of course, I wanted to come back that evening, but you will not believe what happened? Bella took the letter out of her pocket and there is other news I must tell you, I will tell you everything but not here, it better be away from prying eyes.

Well, have you heard about the deserted garden? it is not very deserted, it contains a hut that my mother had left against her will, no one has claimed it, so I lived in it for some time, except that my heart was squeezing inside it as if the walls of the house were narrowing down to strangle me, that woodpile was more faithful to her than people.

through a long country road that splits from the main street, flowers were growing miraculously on both sides and from afar you can see a small wooden wall surrounding a small house.

That was Paolo's hut, he said I do not think the house is in its best shape, if you think staying outside is better, Bella interrupted him, we'd better just keep a low profile.

From the inside, spiders' net filled the place, and a family of mice lived in the living room, which fled immediately as soon as the door opened. Other than that, everything seemed to be fine.

Bella asked why your mother had left the house. It seemed to me from your words and your sad tone that you had a hand in her departure, excuse my rudeness, but I have the desire to get to know you, and your pale face that day did not leave my thoughts. I will never be able to see you like this again.

Paolo's eyes welled up with tears, but he quickly pulled himself together and said, "Well, if I knew you well, you wouldn't stop asking. I've never told anyone before, even Stella." my mom was a beautiful women called Maria and as all beauties she lacks a good luck, she fell in love with a young man, I do not bring myself to mention him, and I hope you will excuse me for that, she travelled with him until they settled here and bought this house and got married, but I did not see her because she died on the day she gave birth to me or so he told me, but I swear to you, Bella, I feel that she is watching over me, all these books that you see were left by her At the beginning of each one of them she left a letter that started with my dear Paolo, and so I knew my name because no one cared about me enough to give me one, that damned one who I refuse to mention told me that she wished she had not had me and hated me before I even was born and I returned the favour to her, this can not be true, her letters were my lifeline, a woman of this delicacy cannot be as that abominable person says?!

My grandmother always told me about her, and that Giovanni, who is her son, was very upset by the departure of his dear Maria, so he joined the church. And he left me there.

Is that why he was calling me an ill-fated bastard?

He said, with a voice filled with sorrow. They forget that I lost her too. Bella calmed him down, but she was shocked. Father Giovanni?? He is your father!

Paolo got up and he had gathered himself, yes that is the devil who claims to serve God he's my father, that's enough about me, you came here and said you have a lot to talk about.

yeah right well the message I gave you is clear it's Stella and if we don't get any more surprises she was talking about me.

Yes, that is clear, Paolo said.

I haven't found anything about Stella yet, but Madam. Eve goes after Sunday Mass to the assembly in that building across the church, and she meets with the ladies of the neighbourhood, there something must come out of that den of gossip, but there is another thing on my mind.

Do you know the old man, Eve's husband? As far as I remember, he did not leave the house much, except that since I returned, I have not seen him there. And I can assure you that Madam. Eve was hiding something when I asked her directly about him, and telling me about him was her greatest pleasure but she haven't done that since I got home and I took it upon myself to search his room and that's what I did early this morning but he wasn't there, in fact, none of his things were taken and if he had gone on one of his trips why would she hide that??

Things are getting weird and if we're going to get anything going Bella first we have to know what you were doing in the woods, now that we have the letter, I assume that you might have been there to meet Stella, the dates coincide but why? This is the key to unlocking this mystery.

this is correctThis may be the beginning of all these curses but I already told you I don't remember anything.

Well, don't worry, a wise lady lives in a house not far from here, she can help you, but her wisdom was difficult for the people of the neighbourhood to understand, so they accuse her of witchcraft, so you have to keep it a secret, Madam. Eve must not know.

Of course, you don't have to warn me, I would love to continue our conversation, but the sun is about to set and I must go.

If you want to take my advice, this house is better than the street, and no one can blame you for what happened, see you later.

I appreciate your concern, Bella. See you later. Be careful. His eyes followed her way, she disappeared as the sun faded on the horizon.

Bella opened wounds for him that he hoped would close forever, but hidden happiness was seeping into his tired heart.

He immediately took Bella's advice. He began arranging the house prompted by a hidden force, no, it was not hidden. The source of those impulses was the ideas that flooded his mind. This house is fit to be their private place away from everything that annoys both of them. After all that hard work he lay in bed and soon fell into a deep sleep.