I jolt awake from my nightmare. Im sweating and its bright out. Too bright for 6 am. I look at my clock and its 9. Shit. I quickly jump up and sprint to the bathroom. I am so late.

As quickly as I can, i get dressed in a short, red printed dress and pull up my hair in a half up style with a big clip, grab my keys and walk out my apartment.

I walk as fast as I can through the streets of Sicily. People are walking around, everyone looks happy I guess. I keep looking around as I walk to work, just in case i see him. I dont. I never do. There is no way he would come to Italy he's too cheap for that. Thats why i came here.

When the small, cute bakery comes into view, i jog quickly towards it. I peak in and see that its pretty busy. Im an hour and a half late. Damn it. I walk in and pace to the back, grabbing my apron I walk to the kitchen and see Aunty Tania.

She owns this bakery. She is so nice i cant begin to imagine what i would have done when i first came here if it wasnt for her. I approach her, ready to apologise my ass off.

"Im so sorry, I-i couldn't sleep last night and then i overslept i didn't mean to, it wont happen again, im sorry" i say as fast as possible and she shakes her head.

"Oh darling, its ok, its like, the first time you've been late, in the 4 months you've worked here, it is ok." she says in her italian accent, patting my cheek. "Besides, it gave me an opportunità to bake some stuff, altrimenti you do all the work, i just feel like a businesswoman not a baker" she flails her arms around for effect, using the occasional italian word while speaking english. I smile at her antics and nod.

(opportunity, otherwise)

I sigh and start on the croissants. Baking is so therapeutic to me, its a way of distracting myself and i get relaxed doing it too. It doesnt even feel like work. Working the counter does though, thats why i like to keep in the kitchen, while Tanya, my coworker, does the counter well. She's a little mean though, sometimes when Aunty isnt around, she leaves the bakery to me, its hard and i get anxious dealing with, well people.

The day passes in a blur, i make baked goods and display some things in the little show case. On my break, i had a brownie that i made fresh and then i did some cleaning around the kitchen.

After my break, i start on baking a big batch of two types of cookies, in the 4 months ive worked here, ive noticed that in the later hours, we sell alot of cookies, so I like to make a batch of sugar cookies with icing and my famous chocolate chip cookies.

Aunty helps me with the sugar cookies and we have so much fun. It reminded me of the time when i first came here and she was training me.

The clock reads 4 when i look up after finishing up the icing on half my batch of sugar cookies. Thats the end of my shift.

"Ciao" i hear Mario greet and i look up briefly.

"Ciao Mario, im almost done with these, then the kitchen is all yours" i say. Mario is a baker here aswell. He works at a breakfast place nearby for the morning, and starts here at 4.

"Hey, it is good. I like having you with me in kitchen" he says as he starts collecting some stuff. I giggle at his way of speaking english.

"Grazie" i say, shaking my head.

*****************

ZARA

Okayyy, that was the first chapter, i hope you like it.

edited