The first year passed by like the chilling breeze blowing through Alberto's hair. He and Luca wrote each other nearly daily with the occasional phone call. It didn't feel long until his Luca returned and ran off the train into his open arms. Summer once again came and the two were in bliss. Each getting to share their stories about what they had experienced over the year separated. Luca showing Alberto all the books Giulia "liberated" from the school library, and Alberto showing Luca all the spots around town and in the nearby sea where he had spent his days. And both listened to each other, their attentions fully captured by the other boy. Very quickly one month passed, then two, then three. Suddenly it was time for Luca and Giulia to leave again and Alberto realized he wasn't ready for this summer to end. This time wasn't like the last time. This summer was different. He wasn't ready to go back to only letters and phone calls. He wasn't ready to not be able to hold Luca's hand, feel Luca's arms wrapped around his waist and his body pressed behind his own when they were riding on their vespa, feel the soft curls on Luca's head as they fell asleep on their own little island, get lost together in the ocean for hours finding new things to take back home and examine. But the day came and he had no choice. Once again they were at the train station. Once again they held on for as long as possible. Once again they were pulled away from each other. And once again they were going to be separated for 8 months. Only this time, Alberto knew it'd feel like forever.
