Santa Maria Novella Station

I thought of many places, but in the end, I chose the simplest one—the train station. I imagine even tourists from the farthest corners of the world would know of this station, but for me, it holds a special meaning because it is a place I visit every week. The first time I boarded a train there was during my first weekend in Florence, heading to Milan. I can still vividly recall the stories behind every arrival and departure. My life in Florence had unconsciously centered around the station. After school, I would visit the station not only to board trains but also to buy food, clothes, and even souvenirs. On countless weekends, I stopped by to catch a train and grabbed a panini for breakfast on the way. Just as Villa Natalia captures my entire school life, this station records the chapters of my life beyond campus. In the final scenes of a movie, the protagonist often bids a heartfelt farewell to the places they once called home. But in reality, when I left Santa Maria Novella for the last time from Milan, I left in silence. Since 1848, countless others have departed just as quietly, and I am merely one of them.---Ellie Li