Episode 3

Sophie says goodbye to her friend and leaves Isabella's workshop, where she spent hours talking and distracting herself. Isabella was her real support.

"Goodbye, friend. Take care and tell me how your date goes," Sophie says, smiling.

Isabella had given her the idea of ​​setting up a date with Ricardo so that he could make amends for yesterday, and he, to get out of it, accepted. That was the blonde's idea: that he would mess up again and so Sophie would have the perfect excuse to ask him for anything, and he would say yes. She was also very sure that he would stand her up, as always.

"See you later at Savini Milano," Ricardo warned Sophie by message, after she proposed another dinner.

Sophie arrives home and dresses spectacularly. She puts her hair up in a bun, puts on an emerald green dress designed by Isabella, puts on makeup, and sprays her favorite perfume. Once ready, she takes her car and heads to the reservation she made herself, as her beloved was "busy" for that.

Upon arrival, they receive her in a kind and cordial manner and take her to her table. Sophie only orders a glass of white wine to wait for her husband.

Sophie observes her third glass of wine and her husband still hasn't arrived. She is sitting at a table by the window at Savini Milano 1867, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Milan. She had chosen the place carefully, hoping that the elegant atmosphere and exquisite Italian food would help repair the cracks in her marriage. She looks at her watch for the umpteenth time. Ricardo had promised to arrive at eight, but it is already half past nine.

The waitress, an older woman with a warm smile, approaches for the third time.

"Shall I bring you something else while you wait, Signora?" she asks, with a mixture of compassion and curiosity.

"No, grazie. I'm fine," Sophie replies, trying to maintain her composure and smiling. She had even learned Italian for Ricardo, although it was not the only language she handled.

Sophie looks at her watch again. Another hour has passed; the diners look at her with pity; it is obvious that she has been stood up. Finally, she decides to send Ricardo a message. "Where are you? I've been at the restaurant for an hour and a half. She sends the message and waits. Ten minutes pass, then fifteen, and there is still no response.

Sophie sighs; her eyes sting wanting to cry. She decides that enough is enough. She gets up and heads for the exit, but just as she is about to leave, her phone vibrates. It is a message from Ricardo: "Sorry, Sophie. Something came up at work. I won't be able to make it.

Sophie feels a mixture of anger and sadness, but decides that she is not going to let the night be completely ruined. She turns to the waitress and says:

"You know what? I think I'll stay a little longer. Could you bring me another glass of wine and the dessert menu?"

The waitress smiles at her and nods.

As Sophie enjoys her wine and a delicious tiramisu, she begins to notice the conversations around her. At the next table, a couple argues heatedly about the best way to prepare an authentic carbonara. At another table, a man tries to impress his date with clearly exaggerated stories about his adventures in Tuscany.

Sophie can't help but laugh. The situation is so absurd that it almost seems like a comedy. She decides that, instead of feeling miserable, she is going to enjoy the human spectacle that is unfolding around her.

Suddenly, the door of the restaurant bursts open and Isabella, Sophie's best friend, enters. With her characteristic casual style and a radiant smile, she imagined that Ricardo would do that and didn't think twice about going to her friend's rescue.

"Sophie!" Isabella exclaims, approaching the table. "What are you doing here alone? Where is the broken GPS?" she says, referring to Ricardo.

Sophie tells her in detail, with a lump in her throat, what Ricardo has just done.

"Well, if Ricardo doesn't know how to appreciate a good dinner, we do!" she said, raising her glass of wine. "For us and for all the times we have had to put up with clueless men!" They clink their glasses and laugh at everything that has happened.

Sophie couldn't help but laugh. Isabella always knew how to make her feel better. The two friends spent the rest of the night laughing and sharing anecdotes, enjoying the food and the atmosphere of the restaurant.

At one point, Isabella got up and, with her usual sense of humor, began to imitate the tourists at the back table, who were trying to sing "O Sole Mio" with a terrible accent. Sophie was laughing so hard that she almost choked on her wine.

The scene was so surreal that Sophie couldn't contain her laughter. She realized that, despite everything, life was still unpredictable and, sometimes, hilarious. She decided that, even though Ricardo wasn't there, she was going to enjoy her night.

And so, Sophie spent the rest of the evening laughing and enjoying the company of her friend Isabella, promising herself that she would not let Ricardo's disappointments ruin her ability to find joy in the small moments.

The two friends, staggering slightly from the effects of the alcohol, supported each other as they walked towards the taxi. Laughter and conspiratorial murmurs filled the night air, but their steps were clumsy and uncoordinated. They decided to leave their cars and pick them up the next morning, aware that they were not in a condition to drive.

The taxi dropped them off at their respective homes, and when Sophie crossed the threshold of hers, the bubble of joy in which she had been immersed burst suddenly.

Reality hit her with the force of a hammer. The walls of her home, which had previously seemed cozy, now felt cold and empty. Every corner reminded her of her loneliness and the sadness she was trying to drown with each glass.

In her drunken state, Sophie allowed herself to question her life. Did she really deserve all this? Was so much sadness worth it? Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she headed to the guest room. She didn't have the strength to change, so she fell onto the bed with her dress still on, her makeup smudged, and her heart in pieces.

Despite everything, a spark of hope shone within her. She would use this situation to convince Ricardo to attend couples therapy. Although it was a bit low, at that moment, anything was better than continuing to feel so miserable and alone.

Sophie had her hopes on this therapy. What she didn't know was that the last thing that would happen would be saving her marriage.

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