ROME: THE BOOK OF " HO VOGLIA DI TE" ABOUT PONTE MILVIO AND THE VIRTUAL LOVE LOCKS

"Love Locks at Ponte Milvio: A Tale of Connection and Courage"

Stop here, slow down." I don't think twice and do it. Abruptly, on the fly, just like her. Good thing no one was coming from behind. My brother... Who cared anyway. Well, he could always blame the thief. Gin quickly exits the car. "Come." "But where?" "Just follow me, so many questions you ask." We're in front of Ponte Milvio, in a small square on Lungotevere, where Via Flaminia begins, leading all the way to Piazza del Popolo. Gin runs onto the bridge and stops midway, in front of the third lamppost. "Here, this is it." "What is?" "The third lamppost. There's a legend about this bridge, Ponte Milvio or Mollo as Belli used to call it..." "Are you trying to impress me now?" "I'm cultured! On very few things, but I am. Like this, for example, do you want to hear it or not?" "First, I want a kiss." "Oh, come on, listen... It's a beautiful story." Gin turns around and sighs. I hug her from behind. We lean against the railing. We look into the distance. A little further, another bridge. Corso Francia's bridge. I lose myself in thought. And no memory disturbs this moment. Do even the ghosts of the past have respect for certain moments? It seems so. Gin lets herself be kissed. Below us, the Tiber, dark and silent, flows smoothly. The dim light of the lamppost gently illuminates us. The slow rustle of the river along the embankments is audible. Its course suddenly breaks around the columns of the bridge. The water gurgles, rises, bubbles, murmurs. Then, immediately after, it reunites and silently continues its course towards the sea. "So, are you going to tell me?" "This is the third lamppost in front of the other bridge... See this chain around it?" "Yes... Seems like someone messed up tying their scooter..." "Nonsense, fool. It's called 'the lovers' chain.' You put a padlock around this chain, lock it, and throw the key into the Tiber." "And then?" "You never leave each other." "How do these stories come about?" "I don't know, this one has always existed, even Trilussa tells it." "You take advantage because I don't know." "It's true... It's just that you're afraid to put a lock." "I'm not afraid." "That's from Ammaniti's book." "Or Salvatores' film, depends on the perspective." "Anyway, you're scared." "I told you, no." "Sure, you take advantage because we don't have a lock." "Stay here and don't move." I come back after a minute. With a lock in my hand. "Where did you find this?" "My brother. He carries the lock with a chain to lock the steering wheel." "Right, as if he could imagine it's his brother stealing it from him." "Look, you're as responsible as me. And by the way, you still owe me 20 euros." "What a rascal." "What a thief!" "A thief? Oh, what do you want, the money for the lock too? Let's make it all one final bill..." "You'll owe me too much then." "Fine, stop, let's end it here. So, do you feel up to it or not?" "Of course." I put the lock on the chain, lock it, and pull out the key. I hold it for a while between my fingers while I stare at Gin. She looks at me. Challenges me, smiles at me, raises an eyebrow. "So?" I take the key between my index and thumb. Let it dangle for a while, suspended in the void, undecided. Then suddenly, I let it go. And it flies down, headfirst, spins in the air, and gets lost in the waters of the Tiber. "You really did it..." Gin looks at me with a strange, dreamy, even a bit emotional look. "I told you. I'm not afraid." She jumps on me, straddles me, hugs me, kisses me, screams with joy, she's wild, she's crazy, she's... She's beautiful. "Hey, you're too happy. But does this legend really work?" "Silly!" And she runs away, shouting on the bridge. She meets some gentlemen walking in a group. Pulls the coat of the most serious one, makes him spin around, almost forces him to dance with her. And she runs away again. While the others laugh. Playfully push the serious man who is annoyed and would like to scold her. I pass by the group and spread my arms. Everyone shares Gin's happiness. Even the serious man finally smiles at me. Yes, it's true, she's so beautiful that she forces everyone to be happy about it.