𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗩𝗘𝗦

𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗥𝗢

𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗔

-- ⚕ ⚕ ⚕--

I give myself one more once over before grabbing my small red purse and leaving my house

I wave to a few of the neighbors who were either on their way to drop off their kids to school or on their way to work like I am

I stop by my favorite local coffee shop to get my caramel French vanilla ice coffee

"Hey Alora, you're getting the usual?" Chiara, one of the workers that I've gotten to know better because of my frequent visits asks me

"Hey Chiara, and yea the usual but could I add a dozen of sfogliatella and maritozzo"

"Of course, is there a special occasion today?" she asks as she places the pastries in a box

"Yea it's my first day at my new job, I might look like a kiss ass but who doesn't enjoy free pastries?" she chuckles as she passes me the box and her coworker passes me my coffee

"Very true, I'd never say no to free food"

"Me either, have a good day Chiara"

"You too Alora" I smile at her one last time before making my way to my car

I put the pastries in the passenger seat and my coffee in the cup holder, I drive off after triple checking that everything is secure

-- ⚕ ⚕ ⚕--

After an hour commute, I make it to Florence and soon enough I'm in the parking lot of the clinic

I easily find the parking spot dedicated to the nurses, which was pretty small but made sense for the size of the clinic

The Adelina Carvalho Clinic

It wasn't small but it wasn't as big as the big hospital systems in the U.S.

I grab the pastries and my bag before locking my car and entering towards the front of the clinic. When I walk in I make my way to the woman at the front desk who had just finished up talking to someone.

"Hi, I'm Alora-" the tan woman who couldn't be older than fifty interrupted me

"Alora Taylor, the new RN. It's nice to finally meet you, I've heard nothing but good things" a kind smile takes over her face and her dirty blonde bob shakes as she speaks excitedly

I am taken aback a bit, I didn't think I left a good first impression during my interview with Mr. Del Santo

"Really?" I ask setting down the pastries on the desk

"Yes! Mr. Del Santo spoke very highly of you to Ms. Giulia and the doctors- Oh here he comes" she gets up from her chair

At the corner of my eye I see a tall figure approaching us