Conjunctivitis       painting

A bad case of conjunctivitis! That’s what prevented him from attending the opening.

They would have invited him to the speakers’ table, with the medal in plain view on his jacket.

He would have said: "Please don’t make me speak – I’m afraid I’ll become emotional."

"Well, my friend, as you wish. What matters is that you’re with us tonight."

The exhibition on the Resistance was displayed in one of the Royal Palace’s salons. He attended two days later.

One- hundred-twenty pictures. The usual themes. He found Marta’s portrait. A painting by Andrea Sparaco. A good piece of work.

Marta taught him to dance the tango, to read Gramsci and to make love. Together they fought against the Germans on the Appennini Mountains. It was on those mountains that she lost her life. He was there alone, in the large room for over two hours. Not a living soul entered. After all, who really cared about the Resistance anymore?

He wiped a tear from his cheek.

"Bloody conjunctivitis" he said.