I was 16 and it was a school trip overseas. Florence. Rain hung thick in the air and the sights and smells of the tourist squares were dizzying. Wading through nausea, fever tugging my mind away, I slumped on an ottoman in the Uffizi. Thoughts muddling, eyes darting, resting on whatever could hold their attention.

And then there she was.. larger than my entire field of vision. Caught off guard by it, I drew in a breath and took in the details…

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