Mystery of Love

Somewhere in Northern Italy, where the cicadas buzzed loudly and where the sun felt like a warm hug, Yu Jimin was walking peacefully. 

She was alone, but she didn't mind that part, she had always been quite the solitary soul. Without headphones, all by herself, she felt at peace.

Her parents had been reluctant to leave her on her own, not sure whether it was a good idea. It was not that they didn't trust her, they did, but it was nerve-racking for them to leave their blind daughter alone in a foreign country. 

Even if she was twenty six years old, people tended to treat her like she was ten, and she desperately wanted to prove them wrong, even if it meant getting lost every now and then. 

They’d chosen a small house in a peaceful town, not far from the sea, where she would be free to walk and explore the world in her own way. Her mother had made sure to store the fridge before leaving, and her father had checked every potential threat to her life within the walls. 

She had been walking for a while now, inhaling the sweet smell of citrus and taking in every chatter and noise surrounding her. She felt good, every step felt like a bowl of fresh air. She could hear the birds chirping, the crunching noise of gravel beneath her feet. All of it was music to her ears.

Her fingers skimmed a wall for guidance, but after a few more steps, she hesitated, no longer sure where she was. 

It happened sometimes, and she didn't hate it. It was stressful for sure, but it added a more adventurous side to her expeditions.

“Dove sei diretta, cara?” a feminine voice suddenly said, startling her a bit. She hadn’t heard any human sound nearby.

She turned her head toward the sound, hearing knitting needles pause in mid-motion. The sound seemed to be coming from outside, and since she had heard of italian ladies who liked to sit in front of their houses to knit, she guessed that it was the same setting.

“I’m sorry… I don’t understand.”

The woman hummed, then tried again, slower. “Perduta?” She gestured vaguely, not realizing the gesture was unseen.

Jimin sensed the woman waiting patiently, but she couldn't answer. She fumbled for her phone, laughing nervously under her breath. “This is ridiculous,” she murmured to herself.

She had tried to learn the basics of Italian beforehand, but for some reason, the words wouldn't come out of her mouth. She hated situations like that, when things came to disturb her peaceful self.

She probably looked like a fool, the sunglasses perched on her nose preventing the lady from noticing the emptiness in her eyes. "I should have brought my walking stick, it would have been easier for her to understand," she muttered under her breath.

“What’s going on?” A softer feminine voice approached as Jimin was desperately trying to use her translator with the voice over. All of her worries suddenly vanished when she heard the voice, relieved to be able to communicate with someone. 

“Credo che si sia persa,” the younger woman said in Italian to the older woman before turning back to Jimin with a soft smile. “Don't worry I got you.”

Jimin ran a hand through her hair nervously. “God, thank you. I learned a few sentences but.. with the stress you know..” 

“I’m here now, you don't have to worry.  Do you need help? Where do you want to go?” The woman offered. “I’m Aeri by the way.” 

Jimin tilted her head with a smile. “Nice to meet you Aeri, I’m Jimin. And… yes, if you don't mind, I’d like some help. I think I turned right too many times.”

Aeri let out a soft laugh. “I can walk you back no worries. Where were you headed?”

Jimin smiled. Aeri’s voice sounded like music to her ears, her soft spoken tone made her stomach turn pleasantly. She patted the nearby wall, her fingers trailing against the stone. “I guess wherever the light takes me.”

Aeri raised an eyebrow and offered her arm. “Well,” she said, “then let’s follow it together.”

Jimin felt Aeri’s arm against hers and immediately understood the gesture. “Thank you,” She said shyly and linked their arms, shivering at the touch. 

They started walking slowly, their steps echoing softly on the ground. The cicadas buzzed around them. They were both silent but it was not the uncomfortable kind. She hadn't told Aeri about her disability, but the woman seemed to have understood right away, and Jimin already liked that about her.