Roberta stared at the white ceiling of her hospital room at the Polyclinic of Modena, trying to ignore the throbbing pain coming from her cast foot. She had fractured her metatarsal when she fell badly from a ladder just as she was preparing for the beginning of the harvest. It was a moment she’s been looking forward to all the year: the smell of fresh grapes, working in the fields and laughing with her family as they picked the Trebbiano grapes from the hills.
But now she was stuck there, forced to observe the harvest from afar. The days were long and boring, broken up only by visits from family and friends who tried to lift her spirits. That afternoon his sister Elena arrived with a smile and a scented package
“Look what I brought you!” Elena exclaimed, placing the package on the table next to the bed.
Roberta raised herself slightly, curious. “What’s inside?”
“Chicken rolls stuffed with sautéed mushrooms with the sweet and sour White Condiment and scamorza,” Elena said with a triumphant smile. “I know how much you like them.”
Roberta smiled, her mood improved immediately. “Elena, you’re a sweetheart! I was missing something good to eat.”
As she opened the package, the aroma of mushrooms and chicken filled the room, bringing a touch of warmth and familiarity to that sterile environment. Roberta took a roll and savored a bite, feeling the delicate and creamy taste of scamorza mixed with the intense flavor of the sautéed mushrooms, enhanced by the White Condiment.
“Elena, it’s delicious. This seasoning is really special.” She closed her eyes, enjoying every bite. “Tell me about the harvest,” she said then, eager to feel part of that world she loved so much.
Elena began to describe the atmosphere in the vineyards: the colors of the leaves that were starting to turn yellow, the scent of Trebbiano grapes that filled the air, the sound of scissors cutting the bunches and the laughter of friends and family busy picking the ripe fruits.
“Mom and Dad work hard, but without you it’s a little different,” Elena added. “They know how much you care about the harvest and can’t wait for you to come back.”
“I can’t wait either,” Roberta sighed, looking out the window. The hills of Modena were visible in the distance and almost seemed to be calling to her. “Next year I’ll be there again.”
Elena took out a bottle of Trebbiano. “To celebrate anyway, here’s some wine. Just a sip…” she said softly in a conspiratorial manner.
While Elena poured the wine into two paper cups, a young nurse entered the room for the routine check-up. Seeing the scene, she raised her eyebrow. “Ladies, do you know that you can’t drink wine in the hospital?” Roberta and Elena exchanged a guilty look. “Just a taste to cheer you up,” they said with an innocent smile.
The nurse, after a moment of silence, smiled. “Hurry up, and don’t let the doctor see you!” Roberta laughed and raised her glass. “Cheers! And to the doctors and nurses who get me back on my feet so well,” she said, grateful for the excellent care she received at the Polyclinic.
While they drank the wine, the warmth of the Trebbiano and Elena’s company filled the room, transforming that day into a special moment. Even though stuck in a hospital bed, Roberta knew that she was not alone and that the love of her family and the call of the Modena hills would help her overcome that difficult moment.
With a heart full of hope, she closed her eyes, imagining the vineyards and promising herself that she would soon return to the rows to harvest the fruits of her beloved land. She could almost smell the grapes and hear the laughter of her friends, and this thought brought her incredible comfort.
