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Chapter One

Sefi

I stare out theof the 747 as it descends toward Venice airport, and htens This will beexcited I can barely breathe

“Go for it,” raested that I apply for January Venice in the winter is incredibly roet to wear one of those divine masks at the Carnival and hook up with a hot Italian,” she’d smirked

I’d only recently graduated froree in art history, and needed to gain experience before looking for work in LA The fact thatboyfriend, Jake, and I had decided to call it quits—aBeach, where I’ve lived from the time when I turned five years old So, I took my sister’s advice and now, here I am, about to land in Italy

A sigh escapes my lips Camila and I are orphans, have been since our parents died in a car accident seven years ago She’s a stylist, works with ChiMera, arguably the greatest indie rock band in the world We’re close—we miss each other e’re apart—and always speak every day via Messenger She’ll be stoked when I tell her about my life here

I glance out theagain, and my heartrate speeds up

The view is a

I take out my phone and snap pictures of the water-immersed city below… the canals, squares and church spires We fly over a long causeway and I notice a train speeding toward Santa Lucia station I’ve done my homework and have read up about ill be my home for the next several months

I literally cannot wait to experience everything

An hour later, after going through ins to the vaporetto My guidebook reco by boat the first ti the covered ay leading to the Lagoon

Shiray water spreads out before ht

Water churned by the wake of a departing water bus

Crap!

Theat Zattere, near to where I’ a small apartment, won’t be for another half hour

I tie the belt of ht around my body, suddenly chilled by the damp air It’s already late afternoon, and, at this tiht will fall within minutes

The ruroup of Chinese tourists who’ve lined up behind me

A man brushes past