Giulia sat in her small, dimly lit apartment, staring out the window at the bustling city below. The sounds of honking cars and distant sirens filled the air, creating a symphony of urban chaos. She watched as people hurried by, their lives intertwining, while she remained an unnoticed observer.
At 24, Giulia led a life that could only be described as ordinary. She had a monotonous nine-to-five job in a cramped office, where her creative talents went unrecognized and unappreciated. Her dreams of becoming an artist had long been abandoned, suffocated by the demands of daily life.
The loneliness weighed heavily on Giulia's shoulders. She had no close friends, no family nearby, and the few romantic relationships she had ventured into had ended in heartbreak. She felt like an outcast, invisible in the sea of faces that passed her by every day.
She suddenly realized how impulsive she was as a child. She was born with a sliver spoon, but ran away from home when she was 15 with her lover who came from a much humbler background, thinking she was going to have that simple life, where they grow old together in a simple apartment or a small house in a nice neighbourhood nothing too extravagant. Giulia knew her parent wouldn't not support her relationship not only because of Alex's background but also because she was already betrothed to the grandson of her grandfather's friend and benefactor, and his family had a lot of influence both in the business and politics. Giulia didn't not want to have an arranged marriage; she did not care how good his prospects were or how good looking he was or how much money he had she just did not want to have such an important decision that would affect her life to be made by someone else whether they had her best interest at heart or not. She had met him a couple of times but she was already biased against him as she had no plan to have an arranged marriage and he didn't even make things easier as he did not even bother to get to know her, he always had a haughty look in his eyes like he was looking down on her barely older than her himself as he was born a year before her.
She still remembered the day she met Alex; she was fourteen and stormed out of the house, consumed by frustration after yet another heated argument with her parents. This time, the clash revolved around her newly dyed neon pink hair, a rebellious choice she made, despising the colour, hoping it would push her fiancé's family away. She believed that by embodying the complete opposite of what they deemed suitable, they would be compelled to call off the engagement. However, her acts of defiance had gone unnoticed for months, and today her parents shattered her hopes by firmly declaring that breaking the engagement was out of their control. They explained that the arrangement had been made by the older generation, and finding another prospect of such calibre would be near impossible. To make matters worse, they threatened to cut off her finances if she refused to change her hair colour, meaning no more shopping or eating out. But what troubled Giulia the most was the unattainable expansion packs she yearned to purchase for her games, knowing they would be off-limits without financial support. It seemed as though her parents were completely indifferent to her feelings. Doubts crept into her mind, making her wonder if she was even their biological daughter. However, she couldn't deny the resemblance she shared with her mother, leaving no room for doubt about her lineage.
Though her parents insisted it was for her own good, Giulia sensed the falseness of their words. She overheard the maids gossiping about them essentially selling her for personal gain, which made their cruelty all the more agonizing. Filled with tears, she ran blindly, her vision blurred, until she collided with someone, nearly stumbling backward. In the nick of time, the stranger caught her, and she gazed up at him, her eyes wet and brimming with emotions. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling flustered.
"Are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern, his deep blue eyes fixed on Giulia. He appeared older, perhaps a college freshman, and the sincerity in his gaze left her awestruck.
"I'm fine," Giulia replied, her voice trembling slightly as she met his gaze again.
As he noticed the tears welling up in her eyes, he gently approached her and asked, "Is everything alright? What's troubling you?"
Overwhelmed with emotion, she poured her heart out, sharing every detail of her predicament. To her surprise, he appeared appalled by her parents' decision and their outdated mindset regarding arranged marriages.
"I understand that your grandparents may have had a different perspective, but your parents belong to a different generation. Arranged marriages are not a common practice anymore. Moreover, it's evident that your fiancé lacks genuine interest in you. Why should they subject you to such a situation?"
For the first time in Giulia's life, she felt truly seen and understood. Even her friends, who dismissed her concerns as mere drama, failed to grasp her inner turmoil. She secretly wished they would take her fiancé off her hands.
Giulia's tears continued to flow, but now she found solace in his presence. He stayed by her side, offering comfort until her sobs subsided.
"Thank you," she finally managed to express her gratitude.
"It's no problem," he replied, standing up from the pavement, preparing to leave. Sensing her reluctance to let him go, she reached out and gently held his sleeve.
"Will I see you again?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.
"If you want to, of course. Just give me a call, and I'll be here for you whenever you need to vent or cry. My name is Alex," he offered, sharing his contact details.
"I'm Giuliana, but everyone calls me Giulia."
"It's a beautiful name," Alex complimented, escorting her to the gate and watching her as she disappeared into her home.
The remainder of the day was consumed by thoughts of him for Giulia.
The loud voices of her arguing neighbours brought her back to reality