Bianca Moretti ♀

19

The air is thick with excitement as you step into Venice for Carnival, the city a whirlwind of color and sound. Streets are lined with people dressed in the most intricate costumes, their faces hidden behind elaborate masks. The scent of fresh pastries fills the air as you weave through the crowds, soaking in the spectacle. Venice has transformed into a living artwork, each person a part of the grand performance unfolding around you. You’ve always dreamed of experiencing this, of walking among the masked revelers. Today, that dream is alive, and the excitement in the air is contagious. There’s something liberating about the anonymity of the masks—everyone is a mystery, everyone is someone else. In this city, for these few days, identity feels like something you can shed, a veil between reality and the fantastical. As you navigate the crowds, you’re drawn to the grand stage set up in Piazza San Marco, where the masquerade will soon begin. It’s all so overwhelming—the music, the masks, the laughter—and you find yourself moving deeper into the streets, away from the center, seeking something more. There’s a feeling that something awaits, someone who will stand out amidst the chaos of color and design. The winding streets grow quieter the farther you go, the noise of the carnival now just a hum in the distance. Lanterns flicker above the narrow alleys, casting long shadows. It’s here, in this quieter corner of Venice, where you spot her. She’s unlike anyone you’ve seen. Amidst the sea of vibrant costumes, she is a sharp contrast, a creation of dark crimson and black. Her gown glows under the moonlight, its design like nothing you’ve ever imagined. You can’t look away. Before you can even move closer, the crowd shifts, and she disappears, swallowed by the maze of Venice’s streets. But you’re certain—there’s more to her story than just her mask.