Sitting On A Cloud

"Sitting On A Cloud" is the first novel written by Alberto Vallini. It is a romance novel, pulp-tinged and full of pop culture quotes, which tells the story of Alex, a man with a turbulent past full of emotional scars who begins working as a driver for teenagers with disabilities. This experience, quite unexpectedly, restores his self-esteem, causing him to discover a talent (unknown to himself) in caring for others, a talent that gives a meaning and a purpose to his life. Among the faces he meets every day, there are some that leave indelible marks on his heart and soul (and vice versa): Maya, suffering from a very rare syndrome, finds comfort and love in his mannerisms and begins to have visible improvements thanks to his company; Serena, a wheelchair-bound Equestrian champion, finds in him a sincere friend with whom she can be herself and talk freely about everything; Leo, suffering from emetophobia, thanks to his advice is able to free himself from his fear and panic attacks; Yassine, a victim of bullying, thanks to him learns Kung Fu and acquires physical strength and self-esteem; and finally Emma, a beautiful and smart girl suffering from mental disorders and with a tortuous relationship with her mother with whom Alex shares a passion for Rap music and the dream of becoming a successful musician. Maya, Serena, Yassine, and Leo become like children to Alex, meanwhile a deep and passionate, out-of-the-blue love affair is born between him and Emma, a love story to which everyone opposes only because of their age difference. Amid music, martial arts, hilarious and romantic heartwarming moments, "Sitting on a Cloud" is a story that celebrates resilience, love and the beauty of accepting oneself and others for who they really are, without taking age, background or any physical or mental disabilities into account. "Can love be a solution against any evil, issues and sicknesses?" "What if diversity is what makes us whole and gives meaning to our lives instead of backing us down?" "Does love have age limits and precise canons to adhere to?" Alberto Vallini weaves together real life experiences lived by himself in the first person and literary invention to tell a unique journey that moves and makes people reflect, leaving a message of hope and strength, as well as many emotions, laughter and tears.