Beauty lies in the little things.
And perhaps that’s why little things, over time, become big. Maybe even huge. Yes, I think I’ve found the sentence that best sums up our relationship.
This story is about the second chapter of my relationship with Francesco.

We left off at Christmas 2019: there had been the big meeting with Francesco’s family, followed by my family in February 2020… just before Covid exploded across Europe.
And it was precisely in that chaotic and unsettling time that Francesco decided to return to Puglia. Just in case the worst happened, he wanted to be close to his family.

During those same months, in March 2020, Francesco was due to complete his bachelor’s degree. Obviously, there was no way I was going to miss that.
And here’s where I capture your attention, ladies and gentlemen: I went to Puglia to surprise him be there for his graduation (a remote ceremony, given the situation). And in the end? I stayed for three months. Yep, three whole months. The very day after I arrived, the Italian government declared a state of emergency and shut down all internal transportation.

We spent the first month and a half at Zia Lina’s house, trying not to disturb her too much (and failing miserably, I must admit), and the next month and a half at the Carratta family’s home.

At first, I’d described those days as never-ending, but honestly, looking back now, it was far from negative. Those days became defined by a deeper understanding of ourselves—not just me and Francesco, but also much of his family.
His mom, Manuela, didn’t owe me a thing. I mean, I was just a near-stranger who had suddenly shown up at her home without even asking permission. But somehow, she gave me everything. She never made me feel like a burden, and instead, cared for me the way only a mom can care for her own children. For that, and so much more, I will always be grateful to her.

Then there was Gioia, his younger sister, who bridged the physical distance between me and my own sister by involving me in things I wouldn’t normally do and entertaining me with childish but undeniably fun games. Lastly, Roberto, his dad, who is genuine in every situation. He isn’t one for many words (unless necessary, of course), but his presence is never awkward. It’s warm, like a hug.

When the lockdown was finally over, I went back to Tuscany for a bit to spend time with my family, and then I spent the rest of the summer in Puglia.

We all reunited in Milan between late 2020 and early 2021. Our days were split between studying, working, and the occasional outing. These were rare, though; the restrictions were still in place, the motivation just wasn’t there, and honestly, the city felt like it was changing right along with us.
We spent a lot of time at home, learning about each other through the everyday routine and discovering new sides of ourselves shaped by the changes we were experiencing.

That period was defined by a lack of stimulation, fun, and novelty, which led to moodiness and frustration, especially for Francesco, who felt like he was losing touch with what he needed. After a series of events and discussions, an opportunity finally came along that marked a turning point for us: his internship at Nestlé. In Lausanne.

(FYI: Lausanne is in Switzerland, near Geneva.)

And now you’re probably wondering: how can distance fix a rough patch in a relationship?
Honestly, I have no idea. And I’m sure it’s not a universal rule. But for us, it worked.
It allowed us to rediscover ourselves, explore a new place, and to find a sense of calm that we’d lost in Milan.

And as the months passed, our relationship deepened even more. We both graduated—on the same day, at the same time. When I think about it I smile, wondering once again if it was fate that chose for us or if we simply found each other at the right moment.