Short Story

Giustizia e Libertà

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

This is The Unicorn Challenge
where we are encouraged to write
a story in 250 words or less using
the photo below as inspiration.
This is where the photo took me.

© Ayr/Gray

Italy, 1944. A passenger train wound its way through the countryside toward Florence. Among the passengers was Lorena, a daring member of the Italian Resistance, disguised as a modest schoolteacher. Her mission: deliver crucial intelligence to Elio, an undercover operative embroiled in a plan to sabotage the Nazis.

As the train thundered through the countryside, a squad of German soldiers boarded, searching for Resistance fighters. The tension in the air thickened as Lorena and Elio’s eyes met; an unspoken bond formed between them. Her heart racing, Lorena slipped Elio a folded note; sensing her fear, he was determined to protect her. In rapid fire Italian, he whispered his plan for them to pose as a young, romantically involved couple having a heated disagreement. He hoped this staged argument would divert attention from him and Lorena.

However, their plan only succeeded in attracting the soldiers. As the Germans approached, Elio and Lorena’s feigned confrontation escalated. The Germans stopped directly beside them, watching curiously. In one swift motion, Elio pulled Lorena close, kissing her passionately. Shocked, Lorena pulled away and slapped Elio across the face, unnerving him. As the soldiers roared with laughter, Lorena gave Elio a quick wink and his eyes widened in understanding.

No longer interested in the bickering couple, the Germans moved on. At the next station, the soldiers disembarked; Lorena nearly collapsed with relief. Elio disappeared at the next stop, the contents of the note now committed to memory. Lorena wondered if she’d ever see her comrade again.

NAR©2025
250 Words

This is “Bella Ciao” (“Hello Beautiful) – Italian Partisan Song

The Unicorn Challenge-11/07/25

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

25 thoughts on “Giustizia e Libertà”

  2. I absolutely LOVED your story when I first read it. Second and third reading have also been awesome. I always love the music you choose, but I didn’t get a chance to listen until today. Bella Ciao — new to me and I loved it. I also loved the Leonard Cohen song because, well, Leonard Cohen.

    You write so beautifully. Thank you for this story.

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    1. Thank you, Sally, for that very kind and gracious comment. Bella Ciao originated in the late 19th century as a protest song by mondine (female rice field workers) in the Po Valley who were bemoaning their harsh working conditions. Later it became an anthem for the Resistance. Leonard Cohen … yeah, I get it. Thanks again!

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  5. Comrades in (their) arms, against the arms of the Germans, … such a beautifully written story Nancy, … and with their history at the time, Germans , we don’t know how many times a story like this ended badly,… hope you’re fine and dandy Nancy, or should I be sending more ice cubes?… I’m just cooling down, drinking lots of water still, … I’ll send the ice cubes anyway, …💫🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊🧊💫

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    1. My pleasure, Jim. Glad to know you enjoyed the read. Thanks!

      The Battle for Florence in 1944 ended in the liberation of Florence from German occupation during WWII. The city was liberated by the Allied forces, specifically the British Eighth Army, after intense fighting and a civilian uprising. The Germans had occupied Florence since 1943 and, before retreating, destroyed most of the Arno River bridges except the Ponte Vecchio which was considered too beautiful to destroy.

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  9. Exciting and gripping, Nancy, you really capture the tension.
    And a very satisfying conclusion.
    I’ve only ever known the chorus to the Italian partisan song, so it was good to read the lyrics.
    And, of course, a listen to Leonard Cohen is always a cause for heart-fluttering!

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    1. Thank you, Jenne. My apologies for not commenting last week; just life, ya know?
      My inspiration was the Battle for Florence in 1944 which ended in the liberation of Florence from German occupation. As the Germans retreated, they left behind a trail of bombed out bridges …. except for the Ponte Vecchio which Hitler considered too beautiful to destroy.
      A little Mr. Cohen is always a good thing.

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  11. A thrilling and compelling story, with a pleasing outcome, Nancy (I thought you were heading for one of those sad endings) … I suppose you guessed I would pick this song …

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