Someone to Love by Lucy Scala Page B

an idiot,” she said with a half smile.
    It didn’t seem like the kiss had annoyed her that much.
    â€œHey, guys, calm down, not here,” I ventured with a smile. “I’m not ready to see certain things yet,” I added, amused.
    Antonio gave me a little nudge. “Oh shut up, you dream about them with that policeman.”
    Fiamma instantly gave him a withering glance. I merely ignored the gaze focussed on me.
    The bell informed us that someone was needed at reception.
    â€œYou go, Fiamma. I’ll take care of the dogs,” I said, putting on scrubs and placing the cup on the desk.
    I went down the corridor and walked quickly towards the cage with the young pit bull, I pulled the safety latch and opened the cage.
    Before I knew what was happening, I found myself receiving an enthusiastic welcome. Her tail beat against the wall and her wet tongue licked my hand, hoping to receive the meaty biscuit I held between my fingers.
    I had a moment of inspiration.
    â€œHappy. I will call you Happy,” I repeated, stroking her brown coat.
    Happy looked at me and raised her ears. Yes, she liked her new name.
    â€œYou’re a beautiful little dog, you know? If Bubu saw you, he would go mad.”
    She was young and would easily get over her terrible ordeal. I looked at her in silence for a few minutes, her eyes were full of infinite sweetness. Expressive and intelligent.
    â€œHow could they have done this to you?” I asked, more to myself than to her. “Look at you, you haven’t got anything aggressive about you,” I thought, continuing to stroke her curious nose.
    My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I looked at the name on the display and my good mood vanished instantly: it was my mother. After a while I answered it.
    â€œMia, Mia!” she was apparently in the grip of hysteria.
    I moved the phone a little further away from my ear. “Breathe, Mummy. What’s happened? What’s wrong?” I asked, worried.
    â€œWhat do you mean ‘What’s wrong’? Can’t a mother call her daughter?”
    â€œYes, sure. It just seems so strange—”
    I couldn’t finish my sentence before she confirmed my theory.
    â€œWhy do you always have to embarrass us? Isn’t Alberto enough for you?” she asked argumentatively.
    â€œAlberto? I don’t understand…” I said no more. In my mind the pieces of the puzzle began to connect. I already knew what she was going to tell me.
    â€œWhy among all the possible daughters in the world, did I have to end up with such a dumb one? Why do you hate me so much? Tell me, and I’ll deal with it,” she added. “What’s wrong with Alberto? He’s rich, intelligent and a charming man. What else are you looking for?” she pronounced the final sentence with contempt.
    I was tempted to get hold of a cage, shut my mother up inside it and abandon her at the zoo. Why was she only interested in my love life? As if I couldn’t live without a man beside me.
    I held the phone to my ear to make sure I had really heard her properly. I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. I tried to remain calm so as not to hurt myself.
    â€œI love you too, Mum. Alberto did nothing wrong, the problem isn’t him. It’s you. When will you stop treating me like I’m a nothing?” I asked, angry and offended. “When will you learn to look beyond the money and figure out who your daughter really is and what she wants?” I went on, my voice trembling. “You always put my sister on a pedestal, just because she’s married to a puppet full of money, and her only concern is to have more clothes than her friends.” I spat the words out with all the anger I had.
    My mother was silent for a few seconds. “It’s not true. For me you are equal, I only want the best for both of you. I didn’t want this life for you.”
    I looked up at the