Marina couldn’t look away from those enchanting sapphire irises. She saw unearthly beauty, an impossible hue. Were eyes really windows to the soul?

She gradually forced herself to break the contact that had been forged between her and the stranger. It was a painful task, similar to letting go of a part of her self.

Instead of focusing on the eyes, the Italian measured the one she’d harmed.

The girl who sat on the pavement was young, in late teens perhaps. She was short and slender, had delicate features and slightly tanned skin. Her hair was straight, silky, auburn-colored, and hung around her face like a cloak. And those eyes…

‘I’m so terribly sorry.’ Marina stuttered. It was the first time she’d felt thrown off-balance because of a girl or woman in her entire life. ‘Are you hurt?’

‘No, I’m fine.’ The teen cradled her left hand in her waist, away from the woman’s sight. Her voice was high-pitched and soft, with the smallest hint of a Spanish and Italian accent. It reminded Marina of blue velvet, somehow. ‘It’s Ok. There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.’

‘Yeah, you just happened to be testing the gravity laws when I showed up.’ They both chuckled and the girl beamed easily, earnestly, as she glanced at Mrs. Ferrer.

‘It wasn’t your fault. It was mine. I do that all the time.’ The young one said. ‘I should look at where I set my feet.’

‘I was distracted as well. And I was the one who made you fall.’

‘No, I just tripped. Those jutting rocks are awful for daydreamers- ‘

‘You didn’t trip. I felt you bump against me.’ Marina countered stubbornly, crouched so that they’d be in the same eye level.

‘I never said I didn’t bump against you. But instead of falling forward from stumbling I fell backward because you took the blunt of- Ah, never mind.’ The teen shook her head, was visibly uncomfortable with their closeness.

Marina grinned at her convoluted explanation. ‘Let me see your hand.’ She offered her own, motioned for the hidden one.

‘It’s all right! Nothing but a scrape, don’t worry.’ She tried to pass it as a minimal, stupid thing. However, the woman saw pain in the girl’s eyes and gently grabbed her left wrist, brought it close for examination.