The morning began lazily for Emily. Soft sunlight peeked through the cracks in the curtains, dancing across the room and touching her skin. She turned over in bed, the sheets disheveled around her, as the sounds of the city began to come alive outside. The faint smell of coffee coming from the kitchen suggested that Matthew was already up, and the muffled sound of voices on the television made it clear that he was absorbed in some morning show or important news.
With a long sigh, Emily stretched, shaking off the laziness. The memory of the previous night made her smile. The park, the laughter, the silly competition in the games... It was the kind of thing she kept close to her heart like a little treasure. But the encounter with the elderly man came back to her, and she wasn't sure why it seemed to linger more than it should. It was just a coincidence, right? She shook her head, pushing the thought away.
Emily slid out of bed, her bare feet touching the cold floor of the room. She walked to the bathroom, her eyes still half-closed from sleep, and turned on the sink, splashing some water on her face to chase away the sluggishness. The reflection in the mirror showed a face slightly crushed by the pillow, but with a glint of satisfaction in its eyes.
After a warm, relaxing shower, she changed into something comfortable, a gray sweatsuit that seemed to hug her like a cloud, and headed to the kitchen. Matthew was leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand and his eyes fixed on a tablet.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said without looking away.
"Good morning to you too, tech junkie," she replied, grabbing a mug and pouring herself a coffee.
He laughed, finally looking up at her. "I was just checking some important stuff. Nothing major."
"Sure, sure. As if you needed to justify your obsession," she joked, sitting down at the table.
After a simple breakfast filled with light teasing, Matthew suggested something unexpected.
"How about a day of shopping? I know you love it."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "Are you suggesting that, or have you been kidnapped by an alien who wants to please me?"
Matthew laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "I can't please you without being questioned, right? But seriously, I thought it would be fun. We'll walk around, buy some stuff, have lunch out... Maybe even stop by an art gallery or something."
She tilted her head, pretending to consider it. "Hmmm, okay. But only because I want to take advantage and torture you by making you carry bags."
"Fair enough," he replied with a smile.
The day was pleasant when they left. The city seemed alive, with people walking through the streets, colorful shop windows displaying new items, and street musicians filling the air with relaxed melodies. Emily seemed excited, looking at everything curiously, while Matthew kept that calm but clearly attentive gaze on her.
They began to explore the stores. The first stop was a clothing boutique, where Emily immediately got lost among the racks. Matthew watched her from afar, laughing softly at the expressions she made as she chose between pieces that seemed almost identical to him.
"So, what do you think?" she asked, holding up two dresses.
Matthew stroked his chin dramatically. "I think you'll look amazing in both, so maybe you should buy both."
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile. "You're terrible at making decisions, you know that?"
"I just know that anything you wear will distract me," he replied playfully, which made her throw an item of clothing at him.
After almost an hour and a few bags, the two left the store and continued walking around. Emily insisted on going into a home decor store, and Matthew ended up being convinced to buy some things he didn't even know he needed.
At lunchtime, they chose a small restaurant with outdoor seating. The menu was simple but delicious, and the two took the opportunity to relax while they ate and watched the people on the streets.
"Have you noticed that every time we go out, something unusual happens?" Emily commented, taking a piece of bread.
"Like what?"
"Like the old man yesterday. Or that time a dog followed you home because you gave him a piece of hamburger."
Matthew laughed. "Are you saying I attract weird situations?"
"Exactly," she replied, laughing along.
After lunch, they decided to take a break from shopping and headed to a nearby park. Emily suggested renting bikes, and despite Matthew's initial complaints about his questionable biking skills, he eventually agreed.
The park was full of families, children playing, and couples walking hand in hand.
"See? This is better than sitting at home stuck on a tablet," Emily teased as she pedaled alongside him.
"You say that because you haven't seen my game collection," he replied, feigning offense.
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her smile.
On the way home, with her bags in the trunk and the radio playing softly, Emily leaned back in her seat, watching the city pass by outside the window.
"It was a good day," she said, breaking the comfortable silence.
"It was," Matthew agreed, casting a quick glance at her before turning his attention back to the road.
As the car drove through the city, Emily felt a sense of contentment she hadn't experienced in a long time.
The next day dawned calmly. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the half-open curtains, creating patterns of light on the bedroom wall. Emily stretched slowly, a lazy smile appearing on her lips as she heard the familiar sound of the coffee maker in the kitchen.
After a few minutes of wrapping herself in the sheets, she decided to get up. She walked to the mirror, quickly fixed her hair and put on her slippers. The kitchen exuded the smell of fresh coffee, mixed with the aroma of toasted bread.
Matthew was leaning against the counter, a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other. He looked focused, his eyes fixed on the screen, but he looked away as soon as he saw her.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he said with a smile.
"Good morning," Emily replied, yawning as she approached the counter. "You wake up so early. Anything important?"
"Nothing much," he said, putting his phone aside. "Just checking some messages from work."
She grabbed a cup and poured herself some coffee, sitting on one of the high stools next to him. They sat there for a few minutes, in comfortable silence, enjoying the beginning of the day without rushing.
Emily suggested a tour of the city. "Yesterday was so much fun, but I had a feeling there was still more to explore."
Matthew smiled, grabbing his car keys. "So let's go. What do you have in mind?"
"A little bit of everything," she replied excitedly. "A street market, maybe? Somewhere with good food and maybe something unexpected along the way."
"You're great at improvising," he commented, opening the door for her.
"And you're great at following my ideas," she replied, getting into the car with a satisfied smile.
Their first stop was an open-air market, full of colorful stalls and delicious aromas. Emily practically jumped out of the car as soon as they arrived, her eyes shining at the sight of the hustle and bustle.
"This is perfect," she said, pulling Matthew by the hand.
The stalls offered everything from fresh fruit to exotic spices to handmade jewelry and even small crafts that seemed to have come from another time. Emily stopped at almost every one, examining the wares carefully and asking the vendors questions.
"Have you seen this before?" she asked, holding up a bracelet with colorful stones.
"It's pretty," Matthew replied, but she was already asking the price.
After some quick negotiation, Emily walked out with the bracelet on her arm and a smile on her face. "I'm telling you, this little flea market is a steal."
Matthew laughed, shaking his head. "You're a danger in places like this."
"Oh, admit it, you like to see me excited," she replied, pointing to another stall with light, patterned clothing.
"I confess," he said, following her.
In between purchases, they stopped at a food stall. Emily insisted on trying something local, something she had never heard of before. Matthew, always a little more cautious with street food, watched her with a mixture of amusement and concern.
"If you get sick later, don't say I didn't warn you," he commented as she took her first bite of a dumpling filled with something unfamiliar.
"It's amazing!" she exclaimed, ignoring his comment.
Matthew eventually gave in and tried one too, and they both laughed as they tried to guess the ingredients.
After the market, they decided to walk through the nearby streets, which were full of charming shops and cozy cafes. Emily stopped at a small bookstore that looked like something out of a fairy tale, with dark wooden bookshelves and a ladder that slid up the top shelves.
"This is magical," she said, running her fingers over the books.
Matthew watched from afar, enchanted by the way she got lost in the details.
"Are you taking any?" he asked.
"Sure thing," she replied, picking up a blue-covered book with gold lettering.
On the way back, they decided to stop at a park they had stumbled upon. It was a peaceful place, with a lake in the center and a few trees that offered shade. They sat on a bench near the water, where ducks were swimming lazily.
"Today was a good day," Emily said, resting her head on Matthew's shoulder.
As the sun began to set, they walked back home, tired but satisfied. Emily went straight to the couch, throwing herself down among the cushions and letting out a long sigh.
"I could live like this," she said, closing her eyes.
"Like what?" Matthew asked, sitting down next to her.
"No worries, no rush. Just enjoying the little moments."
Matthew smiled, pulling her closer. "Then let's make sure we have more days like this."
Emily looked up at him, with a playful smile. "You've been making so many promises lately."
"And I'm going to keep them all," he replied, kissing her on the forehead.
The night went on peacefully, with the two sharing stories, laughter and a simple dinner that they ended up preparing together. When they finally went to bed, Emily felt that day was special.
The night was still silent, and the darkness of the room was softly broken by the dim light of the lamp. Emily slept soundly, her hair spread out on the pillow, while Matthew, beside her, kept a protective arm around her waist. The air was cool, and the distant sound of the city seemed like a whisper.
Suddenly, Emily's cell phone vibrated on the bedside table, making a muffled sound that broke the serenity of the moment. With her eyes half closed, still groggy from sleep, she reached out to pick up the device. The screen shone with the name "Roberto" printed on it.
She pressed the answer button, her voice low and slurred by tiredness:
"Hello...?"
On the other end, Roberto's voice sounded a little nervous, but full of professionalism. "Emily, sorry to call at this hour, but I thought I should inform you of a change in filming."
She blinked a few times, trying to get her bearings.
"Change? What change, Roberto?"
"The next scenes... The location has been changed to Italy."
That woke Emily up a little more. She sat up straighter in bed, trying to process it.
"Italy? But wasn't the set already being prepared in M City?" she asked, still sounding sleepy.
On the other end of the line, Roberto sighed, seeming to choose his words carefully.
"Yes, it was. But one of the sponsors made a request for the museum scenes to be filmed at the Central Museum there."
Emily raised her eyebrows, her voice carrying a slight irony.
"And this divine sponsor is the Central Museum itself, by any chance?"
There was a brief pause before Roberto confirmed. "That's right. The museum got in touch and was keen to lend us the space. We thought it would be a great opportunity for the film, so we changed the location."
She sighed, rubbing her eyes with her free hand.
"I see. Well, okay. I'll go there. When do you resume filming, then?"
"A week and a half to two weeks. We're working out all the logistics."
"Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Roberto."
"That's it. Good night, Emily."
"Good night."
She hung up the phone and placed it back on the bedside table, letting out a long sigh. The idea of changing plans so suddenly was a little annoying, but it was part of the job. Shaking the thought aside, she looked at Matthew, who was still sleeping soundly.
With a tired smile, she lay back down, pulling his arm back around her waist and nestling into the warmth of his body. She felt instantly comforted, letting his calm breathing lull her back to sleep.