Diamond Read online

  Chapter 2

  The beauty

  In October, I was only thinking about Eleana almost as much as diamonds. I woke up and I was reminded of her smiles that filled me with joy. I wore the serenity of a childhood that I had not lived. I opened my mind to the principles that I considered not important, I seemed to feel her strength in the hope of future life.

  It was a sort of solar heat and took me whenever I was with her. I was with her and I felt graphite black, but all I wanted was her like a rare diamond. When I asked her to get engaged, and I did it officially to assure that my intentions were serious, my father told me that I had behaved well.

  I was thinking that he should reflect on how we behave with a child, and I remained inside the grudge for having denied permission to work his stone. I repeated every day that I would have done a great job. I tried to make him understand that he could not keep me in suspense that way so cruel, that united among them my happiness and his death, but to no avail.

  When in February, I was convinced not to insist on more than, one day said to me: "But you must promise me to keep the tradition and will not stop the activity, however the diamond you'll get out of it will only be your heir." I was stunned, I would have promised anything. I have worked months on the project, and months to make the cut best among all the parameters of evaluation is the most important.

  I repeated the words of the professor: "When the proportions are perfect, all the light is reflected, the cut sacrifices size and weight and the value is higher", he added: " The cutter cannot afford to make any mistakes" and I felt so full of anxiety and tension in the fear of committing one who forced me to reduce the gem too and would compromise the quality of the work that I did not sleep more at night.

  In September I worked to finish and I obtained a brilliant diamond weighing approximately seventeen carats. It was perfect and I felt so happy to feel bad, I had become part of his spiritual nature. The international certification came to me with a specific offer to work in a laboratory to Antwerp. Le journals had mentioned the event.

  My father wanted to celebrate the event with a reception which he invited collectors, important people and the everyday citizen. I was not much of an opinion, it seemed exaggerated to emphasize what for me was just the beginning of my career, I was still happy to have next to me on that occasion my friend Verter and Eleana.

  She was the most confused between all these people, and when the reporter that interviewing me, suddenly asked me if I had given a name to the diamond, I came quite naturally answer "Ele, diminutive of Eleana" I added:"my future wife", Eleana was made of fire in the face and bent her head, unable to say a word. Life was smiling at me and I could not wait to leave for the diamond cutting factory.

  Then, contrary to what I could imagine, that same year, my father died suddenly. I was agitated by conflicting emotions, I missed him and at the same time as I was insensitive in that part of affection that I always thought should have a son for his father. I realized that our relationship had not had. I was not enough to be an only child to feel truly loved by him.

  I felt rather than the open grief at the loss, more a sense of frustration to find me crashed without a parachute in his profession, which he ruled with clear awareness and spirit of the guild. I find disconcerting to imitate him, mentally repeating his every gesture and every attitude, which to me felt awkward and unnatural.

  I worked, and the laboratory of horology, sitting at the counter, Vittorio supported me with that tenderness which I always thought would have a father. I lacked the time to devote to the world of gemstones, but I was committed to carrying out my collection of jewelry art.

  I sold splendid examples of my exclusive line, which over the years have allowed me to renew the jewelry. I had reached my certainties and could realize the dream of marrying Eleana. I had wanted from the start and she had not exercised any pressure and this had made me wanting more.

  My mother was not so satisfied, he preferred a girl who in the future would help me in jewelry store, and according to her Eleana did not have what it takes. She had not appreciated her simplicity, or the manner in which he expressed too direct. I considered them virtues.

  The first years of marriage, we lived with my mother's family villa in the hills. Every now and then we had company from a small group of friends including Verter and refined wife Stephanie. Eleana organizing simple things like preferred. With sauna, pool and dinner, were weekends enjoyable. From the furnished garden with lawn and ornamental plants, the view of the sunset, almost distracted by the lights of the city of towers and red roofs and so lingered in the indoor pool, hot whirlpools between.

  I have built a comfortable life, but also challenging and stressful enough. The costs were not lacking, the shop, the house, the car; I wanted an original model full of accessories but expensive. Every now and then I allowed myself to relax with my collection of gems.

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