I just like to push it.

Those who know me are well aware of my legendary skill for forgetting items. It made me a disservice countless times, like ending up locked out places because I forgot the keys.

Yesterday it almost did. After work I went downtown to buy a few things for the trip, well aware that the national public transport strike would have made slighly difficult returning home. But I'm subscribed to two car sharing services, car2go and Enjoy, so even without the subway I could have returned home.

So I did. Went to the right shops, managed to find everything I needed, decided to go back. Found an Enjoy car not too far from my position. Got home without much of a hassle, I even found a parking not too far from home. What could go wrong?

Leaving the bag in the car, that's what. With the damn camera in.

From the moment I realised, the rollercoaster began. I ran where I left it, only to see that in the meantime someone else rented it. So the calls to the company started. After all, I left it in front of the passenger's seat, in the dark. Difficult to see, unless one had, of course, a passenger. So I managed to plea some help, they would call the client and ask if they found the bag.

«He's not answering» tells me the actually kind customer car girl. Well, of course he's not, love, nobody answers calls from Unknown numbers anymore. We live in such a paranoid state of mind that we refuse the idea of answering someone who hides their number. And I'm pretty ready to bet that those who don't have their number hidden themselves.

«What we can do» she goes on «is to check from time to time if the car returns available and reserve it for you» All right.

In the meantime I do the backpack, but I'm nervous and sloppy. Losing the camera just the day before the trip would really make everything bitter. But after a while, an sms with the confirmation that car has been reserved in my name arrives and the countdown (30 minutes, the time you have to reach the car after you reserve it begins). The company also calls, to confirm it. I don't immediately recognise the street.

«It's close to Sant'Agostino» she says. Of course it's close to fucking Sant'Agostino. It's the other side of Milan, the strike is still going and I have 30 minutes, which now are 29.

I tell Luna, my current CouchSurfing guest and patient witness to my inability to exist, that I decided to make a run, grab a cab and go. For expensive it might be, it's still cheaper than a mirrorless camera with an extra lens. But just for the sake of it, I check if there are other cars available in close proximity. This has to be car2go, as I already am booking one from Enjoy. There is one. I run, take it and go. 26 minutes.

The traffic is still quite intense. 23 minutes.

Damn traffic light, are you doing it on purpose? 20 minutes.

I am not even half way. 17 minutes.

DON'T CRASH ON ME, IDIOT!!! 14 minutes.

Traffic light again. 9 minutes. I will never make it.

Almost there, ALMOST THERE. 4 minutes.

It's red again, of course. 2 minutes.

Come on, come on... YOUR RESERVATION HAS EXPIRED.

DAMN! One minute later I arrive. The car is there. Same plate. I park mine, run to it and check inside with the phone flashlight. The bag is there. My breathing turns normal again.

But the car is not showing on the map. Someone reserved it, as the light on the dashboard confirms, so I can only do one thing. Wait for them to show up and ask to retrieve the bag. I terminate my car2go use, and wait.

A few people pass by. They glance at me, I must really look conspicuous. More than usual, anyway. Nobody comes for the car.

Finally a group of three arrives. As they go to the car I approach them, with the most pleasant smile I'm capable of (...) and tell them about the bag, how I chased the car from Lambrate to here. They don't seem overly surprised (Ah, Milano!) and after a bit of struggling with the app, they open the car, I grap my prize, thank them and take my leave.

I go back to the car2go car, still there, swipe my card with nonchalance.

Someone booked it.

In a normal situation I would have been pissed, but the retrieval of the bag (with all inside) really lifted me up, so I just looked for another.

I found one. Just in front a statue of the Virgin Mary. I think I got the message, thanks.