romano aiello was practically famous amongst the greater area of toscana for surfing.

between his charming looks, outgoing and daring personality, and his skills on a surfboard he had become something of an celebrity. nothing crazy, but people seemed to recognize him, nodding in greeting. even his instagram had a decent amount of followers.

he also won every competition he entered. he was seamless on the waves, confident on his board….

until the day of his accident.

there had been a sudden wave that had wiped him out. all he’d felt was pain before he’d blacked out.

his friends had told him he had split his back open on a rock, that they’d had to pull him out. that nobody had known if he was alive or not.

he’d been rushed to a hospital and taken into surgery. it had been a miracle he hadn’t been paralyzed.

bedridden at the hospital, he hadn’t wanted visitors. his surfing career was as good as over, he could barely walk, and he’d spent all his waking days terrified, terrified of being unable to surf ever again, of being trapped on land for the rest of his life. even the local news had started his story before he’d turned it off. yet you had insisted on visiting.

he looked… rough. bedbound, russet brown hair unkempt, sea blue eyes dull.

“ciao.”

his voice was dull, too.