“Amazing. Terrific” I mustered under my breath.

I have just discovered that the wheel in my baggage was broken, just what I needed to top that awful morning. The train station was completely full with tourists like me, and we were all trying to find a way to pass through each other without crashing too much – which seemed impossible. But people had not much to do with my mood, no, but with the message I have just received from María:

Hey Kat, Im so sorry! Still having troubles with this flu, I cant take the train like this! Ill meet u in some days, so dont worry and just go to the place I told u. Giulianna will receive and take care of u. Enjoy the carnival in my place!

My friend María was one of this extremely extrovert people who could get everyone to like them in a blink, and so thought that meeting new people was for everyone as easy as it was for her. She was also an experienced traveler, so when she suggested that we could go together in a trip I was quick to agree. And how could I not! I have been waiting for a chance like this forever! All my life I have been trapped in my small town, hardly ever leaving it. So when she said she could get us a place to stay in Venice, for the carnival to top it all! I almost went crazy in joy.

Venice was like a dream. Beautiful buildings, the rivers, the masks, and those romantic trips through the rivers in gondola! I could imagine myself riding in a gondola, with a beautiful Italian guy by my side, and a musician playing the accordion (or did that just happened in the movies?). And the carnival! The marvelous masks, the shows, the boat parade! How could I say no to María? Of course I took all my savings and said yes. If I was with my friend by my side, how bad could this trip be?

But there I was, alone. I am not exactly a social person – very introvert, actually -, this was my first trip this far from my house, and of course, I couldn’t even speak Italian! How was I supposed to survive?

While I was there on the side, thinking about my own problems, I was unable to notice the man that was on the other side of the railway station. Staring at me. Even if I had, I would have probably thought he was just a creep, and forget about him.

How was I supposed to know that this man would be the reason of my future problems?