it was a warm day in Ronda, the sun was beaming down, illuminating the streets. People were bustling, the shouts of children could be heard in the distance, birds were sweetly chirping. A young girl, Gabriella, was walking down the dusty cobblestone road. she had long chestnut hair that glistened in the sunlight, and a simple dress, tied with a royal blue sash. she was carrying her urn, going to the well to get water for the day's cooking.
as she was walking, a young man, Pedro, was pushing his bread cart. you could hear him calling out, "fresh bread! fresh bread!" he hobbled along, and no one seemed to notice him, and every time he took a step, he winced ever so slightly. gabriella saw him every morning as she went to the well, but she never had the nerve to say hello. pedro saw her every day as well. she was the most beautiful girl he'd ever laid eyes on, but she could never be his. no one would ever be his.
one day, as gabriella was walking back from the well, he caught her eye. she smiled sheepishly and tried to hurry away, and just when she thought she was out of sight, she tripped and fell. the urn shattered, and she lay on the ground, utterly mortified. pedro put his card down and went over to her. she sat up, and he gently brushed the hair away from her face. his bright blue eyes seemed to see into her soul, and she felt safe.
"are you alright," he asked. she blushed, a deep crimson, and laughed nervously.
"yes, i'm fine thank you." she got up and started to pick up the pieces of the urn, which seemed to be everywhere.
pedro gathered up the shards he could, and left. gabriella never got a chance to thank him for that small act of kindness. she wondered if she would ever see him again. she had never felt so safe with a stranger. his deep comforting voice and his gentle eyes put her at ease.
***
each day, as gabriella walked to the well, she looked for pedro. she didn't even know his name, but still she looked for him. he hadn't been to the square in quite some time, and she was beginning to fear he'd never return. as she left the well that day, she felt a tap on her shoulder. she turned around and saw that beautiful smile.
"i thought i would walk you out of the square today. make sure your urn is alright." she giggled.
of course, but i have to ask, what is your name? i wanted to thank you for helping me, but you ran away."
"it's pedro. most people don't want me to stay around, so i left."
"well, i'm not most people," she smiled. "if you hadn't helped me i would have been in the square forever picking up all the pieces. i wanted to thank you." she pecked him on the cheek.
and that was the beginning. every day after gabriella filled her urn, they would sit on the steps of the cathedral and enjoy each other's company. they would solve problems better than the king, and then collapse into laughter when gabriella told pedro what she'd heard at the well that day. she had never felt so calm, so safe, with anyone. she was beginning to fall for him.
one day, as they were sitting on the steps watching the people go by, pedro asked, "doesn't it bother you that i'm like this?"
"like what," gabriella asked.
"my leg. doesn't it bother you?"
"i guess i never really noticed it." she shrugged and smiled at him. he seemed shocked. "what's wrong pedro?"
"i have never known anyone who disregarded it like you. i guess i've never know anyone quite like you either." he grinned and ran his finger down her nose. gabriella placed her hand on his face and stared into his eyes for a moment as the sun shone.
"your leg doesn't bother me at all. it never has. and it never will unless you start tripping me with it," she laughed. they looked at each other for a minute, and gabriella apprehensively asked, "how did it happen?" Pedro looked away. he took a deep breath and began to tell the story.
"when i was young, my father was the one who pushed the cart. every day he faithfully came to the square, and every day he returned. as he got older, i accompanied him because the cart was becoming too heavy. one day, the king's men were riding through town carelessly, and they were coming right for him. he couldn't move fast enough so i pushed him out of the way. the chariots ran over my leg and the doctor couldn't save it, so here i am."
then she knew. she was going to make him a leg so wonderful he'd be able to run again.
"I have to go. I need to do something," she said as she kissed him.
"Gabriella! where are you going," he called after her.
"you'll see," she called back, grinning. just then, a butterfly with bright yellow wings came to rest on his leg. he picked it up with his finger and let it flit into the sunlight.
***
though she missed those mornings with pedro, for the next few weeks she hurried back from the well to work on the new prosthetic. she even made a foot for it! it was beautiful and strong, just like her pedro.
it was finally finished. after three weeks of hard work, it was finished. she happily gathered it up and set out for the well. as she passed, the people turned their heads disapprovingly, but she didn't care. nothing could wipe the smile off her face. she heard his voice in the distance, put the urn down and broke into a run. she hugged him as tightly as she could and said, "i have a gift for you." he turned around and she presented him with the leg. his eyes opened wide and he began to laugh with joy. they hurried over to the steps of the cathedral, and gabriella placed the new leg. it fit like a glove.
he stood up, scooped her up into his arms and kissed her softly. he looked at her, a tiny tear falling, and said, "I love you Gabriella, mi mariposa, my butterfly."
1 comment:
Great reading!! beautiful.
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