When I arrived at the entrance to the village, everything seemed smaller.
The square where I played as a child was still there. The bakery still had the same wooden sign, and the church continued to mark the hours with its bells.
Some people were looking at me curiously.
It was clear that few could recognize that teenager who had disappeared two decades ago.
I parked in front of the old family home.
The paint was faded, and the garden no longer looked the same. The flowers my mother had so lovingly tended had been replaced by withered bushes. Even so, that place still stirred countless memories.
I took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
A few seconds passed.
Then I heard footsteps.
The door opened slowly.
She wasn’t my mother.
Neither did my father.
A young woman of about nineteen or twenty years old appeared in front of me.
She had dark hair, light eyes, and a surprised expression that seemed to reflect the same confusion I felt.
“Can I help you?” he asked kindly.
I was speechless for a few seconds.
—I’m looking for Antonio and Elena… Do they still live here?
The young woman hesitated for a moment before answering.
—Yes… they are my grandparents.
Those two words left me completely immobile.
My grandparents?
I felt my heart begin to beat strongly.
I had never had siblings.
So…
Who was that girl?
Before I could ask another question, I heard a familiar voice from inside the house.
—Who called?
She was my mother.
When he appeared in the doorway, time seemed to stand still.
Her hair was completely white and the wrinkles reflected the passage of years, but she was still herself.
When he saw me, he put a hand to his mouth.
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
—Laura…? —he whispered almost voicelessly.
I nodded slowly.
For a few seconds neither of them was able to move.
Finally, my mother took a step towards me.
I thought he would hug me.
But he remained motionless.
As if he didn’t know if he had the right to do it.
