Jacob: Damn it, answer the phone! Missed call at 6: 37 p.m. Missed call at 6: 41 p.m. Jacob: What's gotten into you? Just leaving like that… Have you completely lost your mind?! Jacob: Oh, come on, Josie. It's not what you think it is. Talk to me. Missed call at 7: 52 p.m. Jacob: Where the hell are you? I'm at your front door. Open up!! Missed calls (13). Jacob: Fine. Ignore me, but don't come crying to me later, saying I didn't try. You've really screwed this up. Missed call at 10: 54 p.m. Jacob: This is not like you at all…

I chose Rome as my travel destination in homage to my mentor. My former literature professor always raved about the Eternal City and told me countless times how Goethe experienced his rebirth here. He praised that he was happy in Rome for the first time in his life, like my professor. A rebirth, a new beginning— maybe I gambled too high? As fascinating as a city can be, it has no magical healing powers.

Couples upon couples, only I seem to be all alone. Surrounded by togetherness, I feel even lonelier.

´So where was I? Oh yes, the tennis match of the year, and I was there live. It was truly impressive! Afterwards I visited my cousin, he lives here in Rome for a few months and showed me a few of his secret spots. We sat half the night by a small fountain, drank wine, ate pizza, and talked to Italians. The taste is still on my tongue. Crunchy and soft at the same time! It's like a food magician cast a spell on my tongue ! Italians really know how to spoil a palate!´

´The truth is, I love to write. I would like to be an author,´ the words bubble out. ´When I write, I dive into a place where I can be much braver and everything is possible. Creating my own worlds with words feels magical. Often I find this variety of feelings, you know, like when a good book is much more captivating than real life.´

Well, I don't know …´I pause, trying to think of a suitable phrase. ´ Artists lead adventurous lives, are always on the move and I … I just write. Mostly at home, within my own four walls, not even in a café.´

´Listen, it's not your job to live up to the expectations of others. You don't live to please other people or to be as comfortable as possible. You are here to find your personal happiness. Life is a damn gift, don't waste it.

Part of that problem is that I don't know what I want. In order to answer the question of what kind of person I want to be, I must first become aware of who I am.

´Breakups are complicated,´ I offer vaguely .´ Even when you realize you're not meant to be with someone, adjusting to the change takes time.´

´All we have is now.´ I smile up at him encouragingly. ´Let's make it epic!´

´Indeed,´ Leo agrees. ´Although in Rome it feels like every alley has a history. All those churches and old buildings— nothing like Chile. Most of the buildings there are a few decades old, not centuries . Here in Rome, on the other hand, you could stay for weeks and there would always be something new to discover. That's what I like so much about this city.´

´Look at it this way : if you fail, at least you tried. You stood up for what is important to you. You may not have gotten it right the first time, but you learned something in the attempt. So you are a whole step closer to your goal than if you had not dared to do it in the first place for fear of failure. Don't let your fear paralyze you. It should be more of an indicator that you really care about something.´

´You know, everyone deserves a great adventure at some point in their life. An absolutely unique experience that you can think back on and say: ´ Back then, I did something crazy.´