Opening in a rain-drenched Venice just after Christmas, Perfect Strangers by Jane Richardson shows us Anna, a British art historian, bruised but not broken by life, and a mysterious, unnamed handsome American. They are in Venice, as he says “two perfect strangers in a perfect city” and they choose to spend their time together – one perfect day. Anna is escaping from a failed relationship and so is he. They choose to keep things simple, not clutter up their time with details. They do, however, share their troubles, drawn as they are to each other, and they take comfort in each others’ company as they ride in a gondola, dine together, shelter from the rain together, succumb to their love together…. It is an utterly convincing and intense instant attraction and love, and a real relationship, compressed and heightened by the short time they have together, the city of Venice and even the weather, which mirrors their own emotions. Soon they must part – but will they ever see each other again? If one perfect day all they will have? Perfect Strangers by Jane Richardson is a very beautiful and intense short story. I read it and was transported to Venice: its sights, sounds smells, as seen through the eyes of two lovers. Perfect.