Qual cor tradisti?

“Qual cor tradisti, qual cor perdesti, questa orrenda ti manifesti; da me fuggire tentasti invano, crudel Romano, tu sei con me. Un nume, un fato di te più forte ci vuol uniti in vita e in morte; sul rogo istesso che mi divora, sotterra ancora sarò con te.” (in Norma by Vincenzo Bellini)

“The heart you betrayed, the heart you lost, see in this dreadful hour what heart it was; in vain you sought to flee from me; cruel Roman, at last you are with me. A god, a fate stronger than you wills us together in life and in death, in the same pyre which consumes me; I will be with you even under earth.” (in Norma by Vincenzo Bellini)

Pollione betrayed Norma. She feel in love with him, gave him two beautiful children, and years later he fell in love with Adalgisa…

This week I will share with you two stories of heartbreak and betrayal.

Catherine is madly in love with her boyfriend Tarik; she lives for him, each of her heart beat pumps his name throughout her veins, making her cheeks blush with love. She seems to be the apple of his eyes too. They keep a steady relationship for 10 years. One day she finds out she’s pregnant; she is so happy…her dream finally comes true: having a baby from the love of her life. She gets home and prepares herself to tell Tarik, and when she hears «Cathy, we need to talk”», she becomes excited imagining that he’ll pop the question…

«My parents found me a wife; she’s from our circle, her dad makes business with my father; so we (my family and I) decided it is a good idea…» Catherine can hardly believe in what she’s hearing: she turns pale, her gaze gets lost, her mind wanders yet she still hears «…I will keep you, though…the deeds of the flat are already in your name; I’ll give you an allowance…nothing has changed, darling!» she places her hand on her belly, grabs her purse and leaves the house…in her mind she visualises an abortion clinic…

Sophia strolls around her neighbourhood when her eyes meet Bernard’s; they instantly fall in love! They talk for hours in a small garden nearby her house, and agree to start a relationship.
Sophia loves Bernard passionately; whenever he calls her “So” her whole body shivers, her skin gets all goosy and she yearns for him like she never has for anyone before…

Bernard is a loving and considering chap; he’s the kind of man who does anything for the woman he loves; he is like…the man most women dream of…

After 3 happy years, Bernie is returning home from work when a short old lady tells him «Child, she does not deserve you. Before you get home you will know what I mean!» Bernie frowns and when he turns to reply, he sees nothing but air…He is so in love that he decides to pass by the spot where he met So «I just might propose to her here!» then, he hears her laughter, he turns around…Sophia is flirting, kissing and cuddling with another…woman. Bernard becomes speechless (he’s in shock). In his mind he beholds all the possible things he could do to his girlfriend [slap her, choke her or even kill her…]; he feels sick to his stomach… «Quite a stab!» he utters while walking away…

Bernie is on his way home while thinking «I’ll pack her stuff and throw them out the window…» when suddenly Catherine, crying, bumps into him «I am so sorry!» she says, he looks at her with a mix of compassion and tenderness in his eyes «Are you all right? Can I be of any assistance?»…

Next episode: Recondita Armonia...