Proserpina

We entered the small store that was tucked at the corner of the lane leading off into a narrow, cobbled road that seemed to be climbing up to more houses and then swerved away. Picturesque, I thought but the beauty of the scene was lost on me.

On entering the shop, we discovered that it sold things like soap and other necessities. The afternoon sun was waning, and we just had a meal at the local restaurant, a quaint little place.

Perhaps in another time, I would have been fascinated by the old-world charm of the polished wooden chairs and the small room with the furniture that seemed to...