"One Winter Moment" is an intriguingly original coming-of-age story, a delicate romance that delves beneath the surface to explore our various family dynamics and the ways in which they shape us, influence us, and make us who we are.

Romance, passion, family, and cultures collide when 20-year-old college student Giorgio Meducci finds himself faced with the decision of a lifetime. Torn between beautiful Meghan Elliot, the girl of his dreams, and his fear of disappointing the close-knit Italian family he adores, Giorgio has an age-old dilemma all of us have grappled with at one time or another: Is it more important to follow his family or to follow his heart? If he follows his family and leaves Meghan for the "ideal Italian girl", whomever that may be, he knows he will regret the decision for the rest of his life. If, however, he follows his heart and stays with Meghan, he will inevitably be forced to confront the reality of having ashamed his family and once again being upstaged by his older brother and younger sister, both of whom can do no wrong in the eyes of their parents.

To complicate the matter, Meghan is growing weary of Giorgio's secrecy where their relationship is concerned. She demands Giorgio make up his mind, one way or the other, by New Year's Day. January first is fast approaching, and Giorgio is in a panic. It does not help matters that his brother, Claudio, Claudio's perfect Italian wife, and their two beautiful little girls are staying with the Meduccis over the holidays, or that Claudio delights in teasing Giorgio about his own future Italian wife.

Giorgio is tired of his lies, his deceit, his sneaking around. He wants to date Meghan openly, while at the same time, he deeply desires to be a source of pride for his mother and father.

Short Story Press publishes short stories written by everyday writers.

Alicia Guillen

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