I knew I'd met her but I never imagined to be with you in closed an elevator cab.
I had come to New York with an Alitalia flight from Rome in the evening before, I slept in a room at the Hotel Hilton and I was still upset for the jet - lag. The appointment was for ten at the Flatiron Building in Manhattan, home of Microsystems, one of the largest manufacturers of personal computers in the world. The company was launching on the international market a new PC , revolutionary, ultra lightweight and , and needed a new microprocessor equally innovative. Were invited major microchip companies to present their products. After skimming initial, the Microsystem announced he would auction itself and chose the highest bidder. It was a contract to be several hundred million dollars, is capable of changing the fortunes of a company and take it from failure to raise. I was there to be able to sell to the Americans that I had designed the microprocessor.
Certainly I met Nora. Had recently been promoted business manager of Eletronic LTD and she would bid on behalf of his company. Almost ten years had elapsed since the last time we spoke and I was not happy to meet you on this occasion: it was very smart and good at selling their products. Would not it be easier to improve its offer.
I entered the lobby of the Flatiron Building as half an hour before my usual. I need to study the site, see the faces of the employees understand , short , that pulls air in order to be convincing and give the best of me. I walked for several minutes in the lobby, spoken with an Indian girl at the reception and I was waiting for the elevator to go up to the twentieth floor. Strangely, I was alone and this provoked in me a sense of relief. I hate to be with other people in the elevator, I do not know why but this embarrasses me, you never know what to say and where to look back: utter a few platitudes? Fix a person? Look at his feet? I have not yet figured out what is best .
The elevator shaft was wide and well lit, I noticed in particular cleaning: no written smeared the walls and especially no bad smell. It does not happen often. I traveled a lot and I found that in almost every country in the world, lifts, even luxury hotels are dirty and smell rancid. Hung on a wall, there was a poster advertising a show at a theater off Broadway. I read the show times.
I was waiting for the elevator door shut when a Luiss Vuitton bag stopped moving, then , the woman who held her made his way into the small crack and went in the cabin with me .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Mi scusi>> said without looking. I recognized it immediately, even though she was slightly changed from the last time I had seen, strangely enough the years had improved. Shoes with heels, which previously did not, made her to my height. The hair color, now a raven black, had long hair and highlighting the deep green eyes. Some slight wrinkles around his eyes had appeared but the skin was still smooth and bright. A light touch of makeup will highlight the lips. The dress, complete with a Valentine, conveyed a sense of elegance combined with simplicity. She did not say anything, I was watching her as if paralyzed. She, too, once noticing me, he became confused and pretended not to know .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Anche her to ventesimo?>> I asked, sure of the answer.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Yes>> replied simply, without leaking any emotion from the tone of voice. The door closed and the elevator started up .
The red LED indicates the number ten when we were shaken by a collision, the car stopped and the lights went out. There was a moment of panic, then the lights came on again and caught my breath some of the lifts ready . I was wrong , indeed both are wrong. Wait a few minutes in silence, and then tried to crush button several times in the wind: the elevator did not move, tried with all the other buttons, nothing changed.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ecco we bloccati>> Nora said, annoyed. \u0026lt;\u0026lt;Try L'allarme, with warnings that come to get us fuori>> ordered.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ho provato, not happen nulla>> replied .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Scommetto that she was to stop pushing all those buttons l'ascensore pazzo> a>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;What nonsense, there will be a power failure, no? Wait a few minutes and everything will be okay. These things happen every now and then, is it?>> Unexpected response, I continued:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;But once there we took the tu?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not riconosciuto> you had> said clearly lying, then changed the subject:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Just today and just had to happen? If you do not arrive on time will lose an important order>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Do not you think maybe others are in our situation and that this is a sufficient reason for postponing the meeting? And then I do not think that your company is to make the best offer>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Maybe you're saying that you'll get it back? - Grinned ironically - Do not make me laugh, your company is short of capital and your antique i686>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;No I'm here to offer the i686 processor but I designed the H898. Revolutionary performance twenty times higher than the previous generation, consumes one-fifth and costs much less!>>. Nora became dark in the face, more than it already was to the disadvantage of the lift.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Avrete need a new facility for produrlo, with what money you think you costruirlo?>> churches, was convinced that my only hope, no chance of realization.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;I have reached an agreement with three major banks, if we get the job, are ready to offer a credit line immediate and unrestricted>> I answered promptly. I saw his face a gesture of annoyance.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;time're not so sure of getting l'appalto, vero?>> I said proudly, as if I won a personal battle with her. \u0026lt;'I Am io>> and stressed that raising the tone of voice the pronoun I, \u0026lt;\u0026lt;What I have to leave as soon as this damn elevator because I have a better chance of making l'offerta migliore>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ecco then see to get us out of here as soon as possible because this does not move nulla!>>. I picked up the phone and dialed the front desk but I got an answer: "Number out of reach."
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Strano not respond nessuno, maybe there are telephone lines intasate>> exclaimed and began to think that perhaps not everything would be solved soon. Composi other numbers including that of the President of Microsystem but the answer was always the same .
Nora drew tabletPC from a bag and connects to the Internet: his face became very dark , even more than before if possible.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;A big blackout paralyzed the entire city, flipped the phone lines, many people like us , are trapped in elevators, no one knows how long it will take to restore power>> said bewildered. I waved, too, tore hand the tablet to Nora to read the news, I could not because it lost the connection, try to connect but there was nothing to do, now we were totally isolated.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ecco everything that touches , stops funzionare>> scolded me.
\u0026lt;'If telephone lines are blocked it is logical that the Internet connection is not interrompi, credi?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;For How long do you remain locked qui?>> asked me disconsolate.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;I do not know. An hour or two, maybe more. Several years a power failure had lasted twelve hours>>. Not consoled even more stirred, began to walk back and forth in a small space like a caged lion.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Maybe you should calm down, sit down and think. For example , what we profit? Something to eat or drink if the wait is very long>>. Digging into our pockets and bags: I had a bottle of water, a packet of sweets and a cracker. Nora, a yogurt, and a pint of peppermint tea with lemon .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ecco this is our lunch dispensa, oggi>> said.
Nora had been standing, began to feel warm and took off his jacket. He was disturbed, as well as the situation , also from my presence. Was not comfortable with me around. If it were not I closed the elevator with her, would have tackled the situation differently, might have even laughed. He took a mint and took a sip of tea.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ho hot and throat secca>> said apologetically that it has begun to consume our food, then fell silent. The calm before the storm. When he spoke, I knew what I would have asked, I expected , was bound to happen given our past .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Frequenti any woman since we lasciati?>>. Sentence dry, direct, bluntly, as was his habit.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;In this moment, no. I had a couple of stories but did not lead to anything and you some man?>> I asked.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;None. I prefer that. Now I am calm, I have the job that gives me a lot of satisfaction, I do not need anyone next to me. I am happy>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Really are you happy now? Did you find the source of happiness? I find it hard to believe right now that you're happy but since you left me to pursue happiness , are glad you have reached>>. I said sarcastically.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not lasciato, I have never been a coppia>> replied annoyed.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;And chiami, How do you live under the same tetto, be of promesse, organize matrimonio?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;They were fantasies, assumptions, nothing concrete! I can hardly believe that you thought that those speeches were serious. And then "lived under the same roof", we rented two rooms in the same apartment. We were students, after graduation was only right that our ways part>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;L'anello engagement but l'avevi accettato!>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;L'ho brought a notte!>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Of course, because the morning after you've returned it to me. Did you pack your bags in hand, you said to me you would never have been happy and that he had wanderlust and search for true happiness. I have not even given a chance to talk and try to stop you. Did you run, that's the right word. Now at least be sincere , say that you have been afraid, and that your pursuit of happiness was an excuse>>. Nora jumped up, maybe I had hit a nerve, when pressed he did not know what to say.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Here's to you you never talk. Damn, but why waste time arguing with you>> said in a voice shrill and now, red-faced, began to frantically press the emergency button of a lift. Increasingly nervous punched the keypad.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Ahi>> exclaimed \u0026lt;\u0026lt;mi are cut , dannazione>>. The blood began to leave, her shirt is stained with red.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Aspetta me vedere>> I got up and took her hand.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not graffio, just here waiting for the hours you fascio>> I took my handkerchief, and wrapped it around his hand and tied tightly .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;You'll see in a minute cease to bleed>>. I sat leaning his back against the wall of the elevator, Nora also dropped and stood by my side. I do not gave up his hand. Sitting in silence for breath from the discussion, we saw the flashing light of a lift then this went out and there was total darkness.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;'s over the emergency light and failed to turn generators. Here you make bad>> I said worried, but Nora did not listen to my words, he was thinking of something else .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;You Remember when we were together?>> asked. His voice was now lying , maybe he was relaxing in her or something had changed.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;All, Nora , remember all of us. I remember when I saw for the first time. In the third year examination of information was common to our guidelines. I saw you sitting in the original file, close to the teacher, take notes and were concentrated. I do not find you. I was in the back row and spent plenty of time to fix them: I have not heard a word from the professor. It took some time because I had the courage to talk to you. Every time I turned around I saw you move or change direction, I thought you'd never agreed to go out with me>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;But you and I noticed that I could not wait to come and talk to me. I also went to talk to Mark, your friend then, I asked him if he knew your name and if you were interested in me. He replied that you were only interested in a wizards to revolutionize the computer>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Marco l'ha not ever tell me that you had talked to lui!>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;I remember - I went on - like it was yesterday , our first kiss. At night, the sea, sitting on a bench. The full moon reflected on the ripples of the sea. I remember the lapping of the waves and the taste of salt that I was on the lips>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;I felt my legs shaking and I had an upset stomach. Kissed well. Next to you I was not afraid of anything I felt safe, it was like being at home in a safe>> , interrupted Nora. He said
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;I liked the lunches you prepared, right? I was good at cooking. Now I have more time I have not stopped , or go to the restaurant or reheating something ready>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Sì ricordo, I was crazy about those pancakes , with pasta dishes and , especially loved your cakes mele> >. I stopped to talk and looked at her, but even if my eyes were accustomed to the darkness, I could not see anything, just a shadow. Stroked her face. I felt her face wet with tears.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Why did you leave me? You were not happy with me? Now you really find happiness?>> I asked.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;You were right, I was afraid. I did not know what happiness was, I thought it would be a very strong feeling and I did not feel inside of me. I was in India and Tibet, you know? I learned the techniques of meditation, various Gurus have taught me that it is the absence of feelings to create happiness. I deluded for a while 'time I believed. The first concern, or when things were not going well, could alienate my mind and my thoughts returned serene. That's what I thought happiness. By the time I realized the error but I had done. The absence of feelings is not happiness>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Allora what true happiness te, ora?>> I asked.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Happiness is love. Living in the simple little things, have passions, try the pain, if necessary. Give my best and act according to your conscience>> he said. I was the one to finish the sentence:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Viverre as a wild flower in autumn. Soon come the winter and the flower will be covered by snow, but until then the flower will brighten the eyes of the viewer with bright colors>>. I paused and then asked:
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;time you regret that scelta?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Yes, and I would not have you never returned the ring and let>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Not want riprovarci?>>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Tu I ridaresti possibilità?> a>.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;In any time Nora>>.
My words were interrupted by the sound of a lift who resumed his race. The lights went on and since then me and my grandmother we never left.
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;this is really your story Grandpa? Since then, you and Grandma have always been together?>> .
\u0026lt;\u0026lt;Always, but now it's time to sleep. Good night, my child>>.
END