Crema, Italy
“Ciao, Crema!” Harry exclaimed, arms up in the air, having no care how loud he’s being at 11:41 A.M.
Harry stood there with the biggest smile he could possibly show, blocky teeth on full display. My beautiful ray of sunshine. Hard as Italy may try, her sun could never compare.
“You know full well we’re not in Crema.”
“Yeah, but can you let me live for two seconds?”
Harry brought his hands down to his hips now, sporting the look of defeat; a look quite opposite from the one he held just seconds ago. I laughed and walked closer to him.
“You always have to be a little bugger, don’t you? Makin’ my life just that much harder,” Harry tutted before finally pulling me into his warm caress.
We shared a brief kiss before we continued to walk down the cobblestone path hand in hand.
“This looks exactly like that plaza where Elio and Oliver came to on their bikes.”
I nodded and looked around, taking in the breathtaking views of this beautiful city. Everything about Italy is beautiful. I look straight ahead and my view is a crystal blue sky with the fluffiest of clouds and a gorgeous statue right in the middle. I look to my right and I’m met with exquisite, visually-pleasing buildings; full of vibrant colors and history. And when I look to my left, I’m faced with the most beautiful thing in Italy at the moment; my lover. Il mio amante.
“Modena, sono innamorato di te,” Harry spoke staring straight ahead before looking back at me. “I seriously love it here.”
“So do I,” I smiled, gently combing my fingers through his hair. “Your hair’s getting long.”
“Babe, I don’t think that’s quite right.”
“That’s what Duolingo taught me.”
“You literally started the plane ride over here. Give it a few more practices, mio dolce.”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot you’re Italian now.”
Harry chuckled at my comment and pulled me to a small gelato shop to our right. We’d only been here one day and I’d say this is our fifth time wandering over to a gelato shop.
“Okay, I’ve tried the choco-hazelnut, tried the pistachio and the coffee and had the caramel one twice.” Harry said as he scanned the flavors that this new gelateria had to offer.
“You really liked that caramel one didn’t you?”
“Yeah, it tastes like you.”
My eyes widened as I heard Harry while he was calm and carried on looking at the gelato like nothing had even happened. It was only after I pushed him slightly when he laughed and looked at me with his brows raised.
“What? It’s sweet like you.”
“But you said it tastes like me.”
“Yeah. You taste sweet. What’s the-”
“Can you just pick your flavor and move on from this conversation. Look at the gelato people. They’re laughing. I bet they’re laughing at us.” I said, slightly embarrassed but I would never show it.
Harry let out a laugh and waved at the woman who was waiting to serve us.
“Ciao, bello,” she said with a smile and a hint of a giggle, seeming to still be laughing from earlier. “If you’re looking for something sweet, you’re in luck.”
“Oh my God,” I spoke under my breath. “Harry, she heard you.”
Harry laughed a little harder as he pulled me into his arms once again.
“Per favore scusami,” Harry told the woman. “I think I’d like to try a sorbet this time. I’d like a scoop of raspberry please,”
The lady politely nodded and began to comply to his request. As she ran the scoop through the sorbet, Harry’s curiosity sparked.
“How do you say raspberry in Italian?”
“Lampone.” She smiled and handed Harry his cup.
“Lampone.” Harry repeated and I could hear him repeating it over and over again in a whisper.
“E per te, bella signora?” She asked me.
“I’d like a scoop of the,” I read the label on my choice of sorbet and took a shot at trying my Italian. “Limone.”
“Ah, limone! It’s very good for the weather we are having in Modena today.”
“Yes! It’s why I picked it. It seems so refreshing.”
Harry paid for our sorbets and we both thanked the woman for so kindly serving us before we stepped out into the streets of Modena once again.
“Unnghh…” Harry muttered out and closed his eyes. “Best raspberry sorbet I’ve ever had.”
He then scooped another bite with his spoon and brought it to my mouth for me to try. I did the same for him and we both let out some sort of moan, for lack of a better word.
“You do know we’re gonna have to live here now. No other gelateria back home will do this justice.”
“I’m not opposed to this idea.” I agreed.
The rest of the day was spent on foot, going wherever our little feet carried us. We explored what we could and took in all the beauty that is Modena. We ate more than we needed to, trying authentic Italian at restaurants and along the way Harry managed to get us eating alongside an Italian chef/author/superhuman and scored a signed copy of her book at the end of it.
“Gabriella! The food was absolutely amazing. Grazie,” Harry said as he gave Gabriella a loving embrace. “My girl absolutely loved the linguini with the clam sauce. Tres magnifique!”
“Italian, Harry! You are in Modena. You must speak Italian. Davvero magnifico!” She joked.
“Davvero Magnifico!” Harry mirrored. “It was very magnificent, thank you.”
“I’m very honored to have served you both. Two beautiful people, inside and out. Always remain that way,” Harry and I continued to thank her before she slightly gasped. “I almost forgot! I’ve got a gift for the two of you to share.”
Gabrielle jogged back into the restaurant from where we stood and talked and came back holding a book in her hands.
“This book is very close to my heart and I hope you two will feel the same once you finish reading it. It is in Italian, however, but I think it will be very good practice. If you can finish this book you are ready to live in Italy.”
She then opened the book and began to write onto the first page. Harry thanked her once more before leaning against the door frame.
‘I don’t know why she should even bother. I heard your Italian, Harry. It’s terrible. You’ll never be able to even start the book.” one of the other chefs teased.
The two of them burst out laughing, my dimpled boy beaming with happiness.
“Oi! I practiced for ages!”
I often take mental pictures of moments I never want to forget but this time I figured I’d take a real photo. Harry, in this moment in time, is truly happy. His smile was contagious and if you looked closely enough you’d swear you can see a twinkle in his eyes. Everyone around him is happy. Everyone is nothing but smiles and laughs. This feeling is indescribable. When everyone around you is happy and all of a sudden you can smell the flowers and the lemons hanging on the trees and the sky is the bluest you’ve ever seen it and everything is perfect and you wish you can stay in this moment forever. I’ve only had moments like this with Harry. He is my happiness.
We said our last thank you’s and goodbyes and headed our way back to our temporary home. Once an hour had passed and we still weren’t back we’d realized how much we actually walked today.
“Oi, when we get back I think I’m gonna run a bath and maybe take a nap in the tub.”
“I don’t think we’re ever getting back. Are we even still in Modena?” I wondered.
“I think we might actually be in Crema.”
We both let out little giggles and chuckles and continued on our way.
“There was a moment today where,” Harry paused, seeming to look for the right words. “The stars aligned and everything felt… right. Everything was how it should be. Everything was perfect. I felt absolute happiness.”
Harry and I were both laid in bed in our pajamas, minus a shirt on him, on our backs staring at the ceiling. The only light in the room was from the moonlight spilling in through the glass of the balcony doors and windows.
“I know what you mean. I felt it too. It was when Gabrielle was signing the book for you.”
“It was when you found that poppy field and you instinctively felt the need to run through it. And I followed you. And we found ourselves laughing and frolicking in said poppy field. And you looked beautiful surrounded by them. I really watched you and I felt so endeared by how happy just being in the poppies made you feel. There was a moment when you bent down and closed your eyes as you smelled the flowers… You looked content. That was another moment where I realized just how much I love you.”
At some point during this we both ended up facing each other and though it was pretty dark in the room, I could see him clearly. I gently placed a hand on his cheek and used my thumb to stroke the softness of his lips.
“La mia felicita sei tu.”
I felt his dimple under my hand as he smiled, despite not understanding what I said.
“You barely know how to say hi and bye in Italian. How’d you learn this?”
“When?” Harry asked, evidently confused as to when I could have gotten an Italian lesson slipped into our conversation.
“When you went for a wee.”
“Ah,” He realized. “Sneaky little minx.”
“Facciamo l’amore.” I whispered.
Harry’s eyes widened and I laughed knowing he knew what I said.