Sunstroke."

 

"But I love you, I'd do anything for you," the little man exclaimed, jumping up and down around me playfully. "Don't you believe me?"

I'd been trying to get rid of this intruder since morning, but he wouldn't leave my side, deaf to my pleas and threats. I tried not to react to what he said, but I was increasingly provoking him. He was actually funny, but irritating.

"Don't you believe me?" he repeated. "That love makes a person capable of the greatest sacrifices? Sacrifices? I could... Tell me, what do you want? I have plenty of money, don't think so! I'll fulfill your every whim!" I pretended not to hear this otherwise very pleasant and tempting offer. "What do you want most in the world?" I stubbornly remained silent. "What could I give you? What could I do for you?

" "Could you leave me alone..." I sighed.

"But no, my dear, that's not what you want!

" "That's exactly what I want!" Besides, I don't need anything!

"Are you sure?" He stopped suddenly, and so did I, instinctively, and for a moment I hoped he'd finally back off.

"Are you sure!

" "Oh, nothing for yourself then..." he thought. "But perhaps you'd like, for example, feel free, I'm rich, to help your parents, give them a beautiful gift. For an acquaintance, a friend?

" "For a husband?" a malicious suggestion escaped me.

"Oh, do you have a husband? Yes, I'm stupid, how could I have thought that such a beautiful lady, such a wonderful, enchanting woman, was single! But he's not here, why isn't he with you now? I'll tell you, because he doesn't love her as she deserves! You don't love her as I do, and that's why he's not here and I am! And if, despite everything, you want to give this man, who doesn't even realize how lucky he is, something, even though I personally believe he deserves nothing, please tell me, I'm at your service!"

"No, I don't have anyone, I was joking," I interrupted him sharply. I could have skipped the correction, since he seemed indifferent anyway. "Besides, I've already bought souvenirs, thank you."

"What souvenirs, madam, but that's not what I had in mind. I can buy you a Ferrari, a villa on the Adriatic coast, diamonds, anything you can think of. One word from you..."

This time I stopped, I must admit, in awe, though it was obvious to me that, as usual, he was exaggerating.

"Do you really think you can impress me with your wealth?!" I tried to make my whole being express the most righteous indignation.

"Madam, I know, I know, you're so beautiful, so... spiritual, please forgive me, but I thought as soon as I saw you, you have such a face, such eyes, like those of the Madonnas in holy paintings, that's why I fell in love with you, of course you don't think about material things, fool that I am, you're beyond that!

" "Did you think so? Like the Madonnas?

" "Like the Madonnas, exactly...

" "Sir, do you realize how much you've offended me?" I openly mocked him, and the biggest fool would have realized, but not this one.

"But... How? Me? I've never in my life, you've misunderstood me...

" "Not only do you think I can be bought, that I'll be greedy for expensive trinkets...

" "But no, no, exactly..." He was already starting to apologize, already bowing.

"You're offering me some useless toys, ready to spend mountains of gold on them...

" "Anything for you!"

"And you dare to say such things to me here, in this place? Don't you see these poor people—we were passing through a square swarming at this hour with beggars, street performers, and old women selling bouquets of wilted flowers, most likely picked early in the morning from their little gardens—these people, probably hungry, whom you could feed for a fraction of your wealth?!

"Oh, how kind you are, how noble you are, that you think of these unfortunates who live like animals, who don't grow to your feet! For you, only for you, with your name on their lips, so that they know to whom they should be eternally grateful, so that they can honor their new saint, right now, I will give each of them as much as you wish?" He took out his wallet, which was indeed stuffed. "Two hundred, three hundred? I can have more anytime, I'll give everything! To that poor fellow without a leg? Tell me, and everything I have will be in his hat this very moment!" Or maybe that one?" He pointed at a terribly thin man of indeterminate age, selling paintings, quite good ones by the way.

"You want to buy from him...

" "For you...

" "No, no, thank you...

" "Then I'll give him the money, he'll have enough for dinner, what am I saying, for a hundred dinners, at the best restaurant, because he looks like he's had nothing in his mouth but a few drops of water from some fountain for a month...

" "Are you kidding?! First you insult me, now this man?!!" I was ashamed to admit it, but I was enjoying making fun of him.

"Nothing of the sort, I just want to help him, for you, on your behalf, you said yourself, I'll give you everything I have on me, and if necessary...

" "He doesn't want your money, he'd rather you steal one of his paintings, take it, and not pay...

" "I always pay...

" "Because maybe you didn't have any money...

" "I have it, I have plenty!"

"But his work delighted you so much that you had to have it at any cost...

" "Yes, yes, at any cost, as much as you want...

" "Do I really have to explain this to you? I thought you Italians had more understanding of art!

" "What do you mean?"

"He's an artist, not a beggar.

" "I said, I'll buy—no, I'll steal, if you want—all his paintings for you!"

"Oh, how many times must I tell you I don't want any paintings!" My impatience was only half-feigned.

"So what?!!" He almost cried.

"Nothing!!!

" "Then how can I show you how much I love you? How can I prove my feelings are sincere, how can I pay homage to your beauty and kindness?

" "You don't have to prove anything to me.

" "But you...

" "I believe you.

" "I really do

." "And I'm flattered by your... interest. But please understand that I don't love you!

" "But you'll love me, just let me..."

"Enough!"

"Give me a chance...

" "Enough, don't you understand your native language? I've had enough of you, your adoration, your boasting, and your ignorance...

" "You're so cruel! But no, no, you're good, good as an angel, forgive me, oh, I dare not ask, but...

" "Then don't ask!

" "Just...

" "Sir, if you don't leave me alone immediately, I'll start screaming. I'll scream for help, I'll call the police, the carabinieri, and I'll tell them you're harassing me!

" "But no, never in my life... I wouldn't dare!"

"I'm not joking this time. You have five seconds to get out of my sight!

" "Madam...

" "I don't want to see you!"

It finally hit him. He must have heard the desperation in my voice, seen the genuine anger in my face; he seemed to have finally stopped being deaf and blind, and suddenly he cringed so much that he seemed even smaller.

"I'm sorry." I'm so sorry, ma'am.

"It's okay."

"Forgive me, ma'am, it's because I love you, only because. Out of love...

" "Okay, I forgive you, and you can go! "

He started backing away, but very, very slowly.

"Just remember... Remember, you'll fall in love too someday!" The last words echoed from the surrounding buildings. "It will happen to you too!"

His curse sent shivers down my spine.