Always loving but never lovers - a short flash microfiction love story about unrequited love in Italy by Rob Hopcott

When I first saw Marietta selling oranges under an azure sky by the Napoli roadside half a kilometre from my petrol station in Italy, I knew it was love at first sight.

Every day, thereafter, whether or not my young family and wife had any need for oranges, I found an excuse to visit her stall by the side of the road.

Secretly, I lusted after each curve of her body, the arc of her lips, her sweeping brown hair and her sunny smile.

For Marietta, life was hard as she tended her makeshift table piled high with oranges. Dust was constantly blown in her face from passing cars and lorries and from the scorching heat of the summer or the icy wind in winter there was no shelter. Yet she was always there with her welcoming smile, hazelnut eyes and her special way of sweeping back her hair that made my pulse race.

On the grey day that she was attacked and robbed, her husband asked if she could rest a while at my petrol station to recover. He tended her bruises and cuts as we waited for the police while I watched, unable to hold her and comfort her as I wished.

There was nothing that could be done about the small amount of money the thieves had stolen but the police said they couldn't guarantee it wouldn't happen again. She would always be vulnerable to attack in that remote corner of the highway.

I feared she would now stop selling her oranges but her husband said they needed the money to supplement his small earnings as a farmer so I came up with a solution.

The rent I charged was far below the market value for selling her oranges from my forecourt but at least I now knew she was safe and I loved watching her every day. Her simple cotton dresses ruffled in the wind around her slim body. Her fresh smile and the rich lustre of her deep brown hair in the sun reminded me of my long departed mother. Marietta now seemed happier too.

As the years passed, my yearning for her never changed but at no time did I say or do anything improper. She was married and I was married. We both went to church and were bringing up our families as best we could.

If she knew of my infatuation, she never gave me a clue.

More years passed and our families grew up. First my wife died and then her husband. Still I tended the petrol station and still she sold oranges from the front. There were more cars to fuel and more people to feed.

As time passed, life became easier and when my son, Paolo, and her daughter, Maria, decided to marry, the wedding was a fine and sumptuous affair.

My son's new wife inherited the good looks of my Marietta of yesteryear and perhaps my son inherited some of mine. Without doubt, he inherited my strong passions and these are easy to see when he is with Maria. They make a fine couple.

Now the festivities are over and Marietta and I sit beside my swimming pool at long last joined as family, although not as lovers, watching Paulo and Maria in each other's arms.

Sometimes, I think Marietta understands I have a special affection for her but, since we are now family, it would be a sin to be lovers although my affection for Marietta continues as strong as ever.

Perhaps one day we will talk about our final resting places and it would be nice if we could be somewhere together but that is not a subject for this happy and festive occasion.

Today the sun is shining and the smell of the olive trees is in the air. My son is handsome and his new wife is beautiful. The birds are singing, the band is playing and everybody is happy.

Now there is no need for an excuse to see each other, perhaps I can sell my petrol station, which has become a burden recently, and retire. Marietta stopped selling her oranges when she moved next door and going to work each day now means leaving her behind.

Although I know I will never be Marietta's lover, I am still content that we can spend our time together and watch the sun going down each day - not as lovers perhaps - but always in love.


The End

Bye for now

Rob
(Rob Hopcott - free online author)


Enjoyed this? You may also enjoy Undiscovered Beauty - my flash fiction very short story about a love of art, artists, communication and mistrust by Rob Hopcott

This short flash fiction very short love story about unrequited love, loving and lovers is copyright Rob Hopcott 2008, all rights reserved. All characters and places in this short flash fiction about unfulfilled love and other free on-line humor, short stories, flash fictions, science fictions, micro-fictions, sudden fictions, post card fictions or very short stories on this site, are fictitious and no reference is intended to any person or organization, living or otherwise.