Allessa sat down on the stone balustrade and looked at the lights of the sleepless streets. Down there, four million people played their roles and dreamed their dreams. The eternal city was home to some of the mightiest of the world, but as her gaze drifted off to the Saint Peter's dome, she knew that even the most powerful people in the world have hopes and fears. Would the pope never be lonely?

Seven time zones away, the sun already cast its golden glow upon the fragrant harbour. Wai-Ming moaned the soft groan of someone who tries to cling on to a dream, but knows it's slipping away like grains of fine sand. All that remained where the words... Dreams were so fleeting and a newborn day rose above the Pearl River.

Four million people in the city, six billion in the world, and she sat all alone upon the chilly Aventine, watching a place that seemed made for lovers. The full moon stood brightly against the sky over Rome, and she knew that down there, couples were kissing on the Spanish Stairs, or throwing coins into the Fontana di Trevi. From all over the world they came to taste the sensuality of the city of symbolism, but she had no-one to share it with. Why was she tormenting herself with so much beauty?

Wai-Ming pushed aside the curtains and glanced at the windows of the building on the other side of the street. Thirty floors, each with a view on his bedroom, and yet he didn't know a single one of the people who lived there. There were eight million people in Hong Kong and six billion in the world, yet he only loved in his dreams.

She'd better go home and sleep the restless sleep of someone with too much boiling passion. Some day her heart would simply explode from longing and there would be no-one to pick up its shattered pieces.

There had been this European lady, and he had taken her by the hand and showed her the Avenue of Stars. Together they had watched the neon lights across the bay. They had joked about each other's accents and she had told him about her own country, half the world away. Then they had gone up the Peak and sat down on a quiet bench. She had embraced him and they had hugged tenderly. It seemed to last forever, but when at last she let him go, the scenery had changed. They stood in front of a huge baroque fountain, with waterfalls flowing over carved marble and naked statues struggling with horses.
" Throw in a coin over your left shoulder", she had whispered, " And promise me that you will come back."
" Ngo oi nei"

Seven time zones to the west, Allessa smiled in her sleep. Her lips parted and she muttered a phrase.
" Ti amo..."