Forbidden Love

“You’re a damn fool, you need to lay off that booze is what you need”. The elderly man laughed at Michele as he recited his tale.
Michele looked down at the floor and let out a deep sigh. “It’s the truth, I don’t understand why none of you believe me, if you’d just come with me and…”
The elderly man slammed his glass down on the bar interrupting him. “There ain’t no woman longing for you on that cliff top. Hell, there ain’t no woman anywhere longing for a crazy man”.
He cackled loudly, almost toppling from his bar stool as Michele furiously stormed out of the bar into the heavy night air. He stared up at the cliff in the distance, the moon shining just above the ridge casting a warm glow across the landscape.
“She’s waiting for me, I know she is”. Michele whispered to himself as he turned for home.
The words of the old man continued to plague his mind as he journeyed back to his small house, back to the empty space, back to his meaningless existence. Alone.
He stepped inside and slouched down on the spacious armchair in his living room.
“What can I do? How do I prove you exist? Why…why do you never stay?” He put his head in his hands, rubbing the temples of his aching head.
Pouring a glass of good wine, he settled in for the night, casting his gaze out of the window towards the distant shimmering speck flowing back and forth on the clifftop.

Michele awoke with a start as a backfiring vehicle sped past his home. The empty glass that lay on the floor beside his foot rolled away as he kicked it in his fright.
“Eurghhh that damn old man!” He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He
looked up at the clock above his door before slouching back into his chair with a deep sigh, the small hand on the six told him all he needed to know as the sun began to rise in the East. Swirling the almost empty bottle in his grasp he popped the cork and downed the remaining dregs before flicking the radio on to a local station. He settled down into his chair listening to the comforting melodies and waited for his work day to begin.

His work day went like any other, he was the local carpenter in his village of Laino Castello and spent most of his days building furniture or crafting unique sculptures for the populace and citizens who would frequent his home from afar. He wasn’t a wealthy man but his skills in crafting were unrivaled in the area which allowed him the freedom to work when he wished and spend his evenings searching for the mysterious woman who frequented his dreams yet always remained just out of reach.
He was in the middle of carving a large stump into the form of a beautiful woman, her dress flowing around her as the winds blew around her slender legs, when an elderly woman approached him, her gaze casting thoughtfully over his work.
He stopped working and smiled in her direction but she paid him no attention as she passed from item to item, inspecting each thoroughly until her eyes landed upon the half-completed stump. She froze on the spot and stared.
“Can I help you ma’am?” Michele asked her politely setting his tools aside.
The old woman appeared to ignore him as she fumbled around her chest, finally grasping the glasses that hung at her neck and slipping them on to inspect the work more closely.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Or at least she will be”. Michele returned to the incomplete work, pointing out different parts and details. He went on to explain how he planned to shape the bottom of the stump into a ledge on which the woman would be dancing. The old woman continued to stare, her lips moving but no forming no words.
“I’m sorry ma’am, could you repeat that a little louder?” Michele inquired, approaching her.
“M…Maria?” She whispered, barely audible enough for Michele to catch.
“Maria? Is that your daughter perchance? Does this resemble her in some way?” He asked, trying to engage her into conversation.
“Maria!” She whispered again.
Michele looked at her in confusion before stepping around his work to stand beside her.
“Are you okay ma’am? Is there something I can help you with?” He gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“MARIA!” She screamed, tears forming in her eyes as she dropped to her knees before the sculpture.
Groups of people in the area immediately turned towards them, some looked on in shock while others rushed over to see if the woman was alright.
“Ma’am what’s wrong?” Michele repeated over and over as people crowded around them and the screaming woman.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” A young woman rushed over to the old woman’s side.
“I’m not sure, she just collapsed”. Michele replied in bewilderment.
“Ma’am are you okay? Can you stand?” The woman asked her as she attempted to lift her from the ground.
The old woman continued screaming the name Maria as another woman aided the first in taking her over to a bench on the other side of the street, soon enough she was surrounded by concerned citizens as they attempted to calm her down.
Michele watched on from where he stood when a younger man approached him from behind.
“Her daughter’s name was Maria”. He said as if it were common knowledge.
Michele turned to face him. “I’m sorry?”
The younger man pointed towards the old woman crying on the bench. He was wearing a stained white uniform, his hair slicked back to his head as if he had been caught out in the rain.
“That woman over there. Her daughter’s name was Maria, she died in an accident many, many years ago”.
Michele turned back to the old woman who was beginning to calm, wiping her tears onto a dark navy handkerchief, her cries lessening as she was comforted.
“No mother should ever outlive their child”. Michele spoke softly, bowing his head to the old woman’s suffering.
“It’s my fault she was there”. The young man whispered beside him.
Michele furrowed his brow at the words and turned back to him. “What do yo…” He stopped, the young man had disappeared, he spun on his heel searching all around him but there was no sign.

The woman from before approached him again. “I think she’ll be okay now; do you have any idea why she was screaming like that?”
“No I…” He stuttered. “Maria was her daughter”. He cast his gaze back at his unfinished work. “I think maybe my work resembles her daughter in some way”.
The woman looked over all his pieces smiling widely. “Your work is incredible; you make all of these yourself?” She asked as she knelt down and inspected the piece he was currently working on.
“Thank you and yes, that one is the woman who appears on the clifftop at night”.
The woman turned to look at him in confusion. “I’m sorry? I don’t know that story, is it a local legend?”
Michele waved his hands in a fluster. “Oh no, it’s no legend. Every night a beautiful woman stands atop the edge of that cliff, dancing in the breeze. I hoped that if I could create a gift that resembled her beauty, she may one day notice me and come down from the edge”.
The woman’s confusion faltered into that of worry. She slowly stood up and took a step back. “That’s…that’s beautiful. Well, I wish you luck and hope she appreciates your gift”. Michele smiled brightly. “Thank you Miss. Should you ever be interested in a custom piece of your own I would be more than happy to help”.
His genuine smile put the woman at ease as she returned the gesture and bid him farewell. Michele returned to his work, carving away at the cliff face to perfect the vision of the waves crashing at its banks.

It took a few days for him to finish his piece as he painstakingly worked from the rising sun in the morning to the darkness of the night. He put down his tools as the sun began to set and looked into the distance as the tiny speck wisped from side to side, almost floating in the golden light of the sunset. Carefully lifting the sculpture, he took a deep breath and journeyed to the cliffs edge just as he had done many moons before, and hoped this would be his last. As he made his way through the town a familiar voice called behind him. He turned and was met with the woman he’d spoken with at the market a few days before. She wore a simple dress, her hair flowing loosely down her shoulders as the cool wind brushed it over her face, partially obscuring her features.
“Hello again Miss”. Michele smiled, happy to see her again. “My apologies, I didn’t catch your name before, I’m Michele, was there something you needed?”
The woman slowed as she approached, brushing the stray hair from her face and smiling brightly.
“Lovely to see you again Michele, I’m Mia, I wanted to catch you before you went up to the cliff, I’ve waited for the past few days but you’ve not visited since our last meeting”.
Michele was taken aback a little, he assumed she was interested in the crazy man who saw spirits or ghosts and wanted to laugh like the rest of them but he remained polite and courteous, letting a small chuckle out.
“Yes, it has taken me a little longer than I had planned to complete my work”. He lifted the sculpture slightly. “I usually visit each night however my mind has felt drained the past few days”.
Mia looked down at the sculpture, stepping forwards to inspect it more closely. As she got closer the fragrance of her perfume blew towards him, it was heavenly, like jasmine. His mind swayed suddenly at the intoxicating scent, causing him to stumble slightly.
His foot slipped on the smooth stones, almost causing him to fall. Thankfully Mia’s fast movements grasped the sculpture from his hands as he stopped himself falling.
“Are you okay?” She asked him anxiously as she eased the heavy sculpture to the ground.
“Yes. Yes, I’m fine, thank you”. He smiled at her, immediately turning his attention to the sculpture, inspecting it for any signs of damage.
“I’m sorry, I just grabbed it on instinct, I hadn’t realized it was that heavy! I haven’t damaged it have I?”
He glanced over every part of its surface, everything was immaculate. “No, it’s perfect, thank you. I think I’d be jumping off that cliff if I’d dropped it”.
They both laughed as he carefully lifted it again and gazed over at the cliffs edge.
“Perhaps your mind hasn’t returned to its full capacity yet”. She smiled so softly his heart felt as if it had skipped a beat and he was about to fall again.
He gazed back at the cliffs edge where he could just barely see the light radiating off the woman’s dress, swaying through the blades of the rich green grass.
“Perhaps you’re right”. He turned back to her then looked down at his sculpture. “Maybe I should return once I’ve had a good night’s sleep”. He chuckled to himself.
“I think that would be for the best, for a piece like that I’m sure she’d wait a lifetime”. She nodded at the sculpture in his hands before turning to leave.
“Miss…?” He called behind her.
She turned back to him. “Please, call me Mia”.
He smiled. “My apologies. Mia, would you care to accompany me? I can show you some of my other work? Should one take your liking I’d be honored if you’d take it as a gift for saving me from my own stupidity”.
Mia smiled her beautiful smile again, he could feel his face radiate with heat before she spoke.
“Thank you, I’d love to”. She waited for him to lead the way as he took one last look back towards the cliff before heading home, Mia walking closely beside him.

They reached his home in no time at all, talking with Mia made everything seem to speed up tenfold. He opened up the front door and ushered her inside. He placed the sculpture on a small table in the centre of the room and led her out the back to his workshop.
“Do you make all of your furniture?” She asked, admiring everything she passed with awe.
“Yes, anything that doesn’t sell or I grow fond of ends up back here. Some call it hoarding but I prefer to think of it as admiring my own art”. He slid his hand across the smooth wood of the kitchen table.
“If I didn’t live in such a small space myself, I would certainly do the same, I’m guilty of the simple pleasures that art brings”. She ran her fingertips over the same table, admiring its craftsmanship and the detail in every grain.
They exited the home and stepped across a few stones to another large building, this one resembling a barn. He swung the double doors open and immediately they were assailed with the scent of wood, oils and varnishes, Michele was used to the smell however Mia choked a little over the chemical like odour.
“I’m sorry, I should have warned you!” He began rushing around closing pots and tins and throwing sheets over paints and oils.
Mia continued coughing as she waved her hand in front of her face, laughing. “Not a problem”. She coughed. “I’ve smelt worse things on the beach when the fishermen return”.
Michele laughed as he covered up the last of the tins and returned to her. “So, this is it. feel free to look around and again, if anything catches your eye, please don’t hesitate to take it for yourself”.
Mia was already entranced as she walked around the vast room, every wall, every shelf, every surface brimming with sculptures, hangings, plaques and furniture. Every single one made with the utmost care and attention.
“It’s all incredible!” She was spinning on her heel as she gazed up and down at everything.
Michele remained in the doorway watching her as she span, the hem of her dress fluttering upwards as if she was dancing in the wind. As he watched the woman from the cliff returned to his mind, this time in a different way than before. Mia’s dress began to brighten and flutter as it took on the form of a beautiful white gown, her walnut hair fading to a dazzling white. She continued to spin and dance around the shop as his knees weakened and he fell back against a table to support his weight. The new form of Mia stopped and turned to him, her lips were a dark shade of grey yet they still shone as brightly as the wet stones of the cliffs face.
“Mi…Mia?” He stammered.
“Please”. Her voice so soft he felt himself grow faint again. “Call me Maria”.
“Ma…Maria?”. His breather grew rapid as he stared at her, unmoving.
“You have done me a great honour all these years, you have visited me and allowed my spirit to remain as I awaited the return of my love. If not for you, my soul would have left long ago and I would have never known his fate”. She lifted a hand and gestured toward the door behind him. Michele turned and almost jumped back in fright as the sailor from a few days ago was stood in the doorway, the sculpture in his hands.
“How did you…?” Michele began but the sailor put up a hand to stop him.
“I’m sorry it took me so long, I had to serve my time before I was allowed to return”. He was speaking directly to Maria.
“I waited for you as I promised, but you never returned”. She spoke as if she had been holding onto the words for more than a lifetime.
He stepped into the workshop, slowly approaching her, the sculpture still in his hands as Michele watched from behind.
“I wish I could have returned to you sooner my love. Our ship was taken by the storms and before I knew it the waters icy cold embrace was pulling me down to her depths. She gave me a choice, I could pass on and know peace or serve and be released to an eternity of walking this mortal realm”.
Maria smiled, looking down at the sculpture. “I was given a similar choice. I chose to remain on the cliff until my true love returned or I was forgotten by all”.
Maria’s spectral fingers hovered over the sculpture, gently stroking down the gown she wore herself.
“If not for this man, I would have soon faded from existence. As my mother aged, I felt my spirit grow weaker, her mind was failing her, and I was slipping from her memories. I did not blame her, that is how the fates fall, I was happy to know she would finally have peace…even if I had to remain and be forgotten”.
She stepped by her love and approached Michele.
“If not for you, your visits, your love, your commitment. I would have been lost long ago. It was you who kept me on this plain, it was your sculpture that allowed my mother to remember me, if not for everything you have done my mother would have died not remembering I existed at all”.
She took his hands and kissed him on the cheek, her lips were warm on his skin, he could smell the salt of the ocean in her hair.
“Thank you, Michele. Thank you for keeping me in your heart”.
She turned away from him and returned to her lover. Taking his hand in hers they made their way to the workshop doors and stepped back out into the moonlight as her dress radiated once again like a shining star.
The sailor stopped and released her hand as he turned back to face Michele.
“Sorry friend”. He hurried back to Michele and handed the sculpture back to him. “I almost forgot”.
Michele took it from him, his hands still shaking gently.
“Thanks again”. He winked at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m Francesco by the way”. He squeezed his shoulder tightly. “Thank you…for everything”. He patted him one last time before returning to Maria. She blew him a kiss, while Francesco gave him a single wave, with that, they disappeared into the night and were gone.
Michele dropped to the floor, clutching at the sculpture as he finally caught his breath and began panting heavily. An almost silent groan emerged from outside as a dazed and confused Mia stepped inside.
“Michele? What happened? Are you okay?” She blinked rapidly trying to focus on Michele.
He stammered as he tried to speak again. “I…They…” He smiled to himself as a single tear fell down his cheek. “She’s finally at peace”.
Mia looked at him quizzically clutching her head. “What?”
He shook his head and laughed, getting up from the floor and placing the sculpture on the side. “Nothing, I’m sorry, are you okay? You look as though you could do with a sit down”.
Mia shook her head out. “I think so, I feel like I’ve just woken up. Do you mind if I rest a moment?”
Michele quickly rushed to aid her. “Yes of course, please, come inside”.
They headed inside and Michele set her down on the chair closest to the window before returning to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. On his return he saw she was gazing out of the window.
“It really is a beautiful view from up here, I see why you like visiting the cliffs at night”. Her words were almost slurred as if she were barely able to stay awake. He placed the glass into her hands and looked out of the window. For the first time in as long as he could remember, the cliff was empty. Maria was no longer dancing at its edge. She was free now, free to do what she wanted. Mia groaned and slumped against him, the glass almost slipping from her hands. He took it gently from her and lent her into the soft cushions of the chair. She mumbled something but didn’t fight him as she pulled a pillow to her chest and held it tightly. Michele smiled and placed the glass down before returning outside to close up his workshop.
He swung the heavy doors closed and headed back inside, Mia had pulled her legs up and was snoring softly into the pillow she held. He smiled again and draped a thin blanket over her. Instinctively his gaze turned to the cliff once again, he spotted the same glimmering light he’d seen some many times before, but this time it wasn’t alone. Now there were two, dancing together like two stars under the moon’s watchful gaze.