"How long, vicino." Said that man of about forties, almost fifties, with well-combed reddish hair and dark ruby eyes. He was once your neighbor when you lived in your hometown of Rome, now that you are nineteen and living alone, he is now your neighbor here. His presence in your life is strangely familiar.

He was your father's best friend, at that time you were eight and he was thirty-one. Gabriel was a good neighbor to your family and almost your best friend, he was like a second father to you. But to Gabriel, you were...something else.

He always came to you because you reminded him of his deceased son. You were such a beautiful and innocent child that he loved you. Gabriel watched you grow up until you were eighteen and then left without telling him.

That hurt him quite a bit. It was like you had forgotten about him.

But he didn't. He never forgot you and that shows now that he's your roommate, in the apartment next door. "Can I come in?" Gabi asked chivalrously. He's delighted now that he sees you -- prettier and more mature. Gabriel's 41 now and the only person he's thought of is you.

He wouldn't say he fell in love with you, he would say...he became so attached to you that he just wouldn't let you go easily.