Unspoken - 13. Mi Vuoi Sposare?

It was called Rampe del Poggi, according to Nicolo. A stairway, and we were climbing it predawn. We’d been in Firenze for a few days, and the Bucellos has been amazingly welcoming. Even Giuseppe had pulled me aside to have a nice long talk about the differences between living in Italy and living in the US, making some headway in becoming family.

Most of our time, however, had been spent touring around the city’s historical landmarks, starting with the Ponte Vecchio. We visited the Duomo di Firenze, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore; the Basilica di Santa Croce; the Pallazo Vecchio; and the Piazza Della Signoria, just to name a few.

This morning, though, Nicolo hadn’t told me what our destination was. He’d made mention of the names of landmarks along the way, though, which is how I knew the name of these steps.

It was still quiet in the pre-dawn hazelight as we reached what Nicolo called the Piazzale Michelangelo. As we walked through the place, he pointed out various artworks, that were quickly revealed as reproductions. We eventually reached a railing, and though it was difficult to pick up details, I could see a panorama of the city across the Arno river. We were silent for a moment, just looking at the splendor of the city in the quiet, but then Nicolo turned to me.

‘Why dawn?’ I signed to him, and he smiled down at me.

“Bello, each big change in my life was like a new dawn. Graduating school, beginning and graduating college, moving to America, meeting you, finding my career. Looking at each moment, it always seemed to me like my world was darker before, and the change was the dawn, heralding a new day full of light and life. You always wanted to know why I love the dawn, and this is why. I dated in high school, to hide myself. I dated in college, free to be myself, but there was still no light, no love. There was no dawn.”

He leant down and deftly lifted me, confused about where this was going, to sit me on the railing, so we were closer to eye-to-eye.

“I brought you here, Alex, because I want to share with you the sight of sunrise over my city, and to see if maybe you would join me in appreciating dawns.”

I followed his right hand up to cup my cheek, as he leant in and gave me a chaste kiss. I smiled back at him, still confused, but enjoying our time together in the chill quiet. There were silhouettes of others, possibly couples, moving around us, but none close. Nicolo’s hand dropped to his pocket, to pull something out, and I followed it up, a small black box peeking from his large fingers.

Was…was he…

I looked back to him, and he was looking slightly down, as if at my stomach, and his face was showcasing an anxiousness that wasn’t there when he kissed me. He looked back up at me, and spoke, no anxiety in his voice, as if rehearsed. I think I knew what was about to happen, but this time and place was utterly unexpected.

“Alexander Aklen Addison, you are the light of my life, and the reason that I wake up in the morning. I would have this be for the rest of our lives, if you will have me. Mi vuoi sposare?”

He opened the box, and guided me to look, showing a matte black ring resting in the middle. I looked back up to eyes, shining with the question, tears streaking down my face, and nodded. He slipped the ring onto my left ring finger so gently and lovingly, and pulled a second matching ring out, so I could do the same for him. The size difference was staggering, and I was touched that he managed to get matching rings. He gave me another chaste kiss, and wrapped his arms around me, turning us to watch the sun rise over Firenze, beginning a new day for the city, and a new dawn for not just Nicolo, but now for me as well.

I would hope that I don’t need to translate the new Italian in this chapter
Brownie points to anyone who understands the meaning of Alex’s name thus far!
I agonized over where to have this scene take place for weeks, and didn’t intend the Piazzale Michelangelo, but Nicolo gave me puppy dog eyes and made it happen his way instead of mine. 
Thanks so much for reading, and stay tuned for more! Same midget time, same midget channel!