CURASEPT.IT
Via Parini, 19
We often talk about the importance of oral health for physical, mental and social wellbeing. In this section, we’ve decided to tell you about it in a different way, using a narrative format that might be a little nostalgic, but which we believe is effective: a photo story!
We hope that by following the stories of the young people at Via Parini, 19, you will come to realise just how much oral health is a fundamental part of your overall health, but also a part of everyday life that carries deep meanings of care, attention and respect for oneself and others, and an opportunity for sharing, light-heartedness, joy and optimism.
1. Via Parini, 19: where it all begins
There is a story we want to tell; the story of a group of friends, ordinary people who face opportunities and challenges, have experiences and make decisions in the year 2026.
They are all different, with their own personalities, goals and desires, but they share one thing in common: their attitude to life.
Smiling, optimistic, kind, affectionate, attentive to the well-being of their families and friends, without ever forgetting or neglecting their own health.
Their stories revolve around Café Smile at ‘Via Parini, 19’, a place where they often meet, and in the flat where two of them, Mila and Elena, live, right on the first floor of the same building.
2026 will not only be the year in which they write an unforgettable chapter of their lives, but it will also be the year in which we discover their stories, following them step by step through a journey of friendship, challenges, opportunities and love.
This is the story of smiling, kind people, full of life and ready to face anything.
2. Mila: herself, always
Having moved from central Italy, Mila can finally live independently, just as she had always dreamed. Moving away and making a fresh start is always daunting, but Mila has always been resourceful and determined.
Sweet-natured and always smiling, Mila is ready to start her new life away from home and fulfil the dream she’s had for as long as she can remember: working in the fashion industry.
For Mila, the word ‘fashion’ carries a rainbow of meanings: for her, it means exploring her creativity, deepening connections with the people she meets along the way, giving free rein to her love of colours, and studying how the fabrics of clothes allow one to express oneself. Fashion is also a way of telling one’s own story and, above all—Mila’s favourite aspect—a way of expressing oneself, even if it sometimes means coming across as a bit quirky or unconventional.
Empathy is what makes Mila who she is today: someone capable of being herself, welcoming towards others, very sweet and protective of the people she cares about; discovering people’s souls and getting to know their true selves is, for her, a delightful challenge that brings only positive outcomes.
The real turning point for Mila, however, lies with her flatmate…
3. Elena and her routines
Elena has always lived by the rhythm of numbers. With a degree in Economics and Marketing, everything for her revolves around precision, percentages, and punctuality. Detail-oriented and highly organized, she is the one who plans outings and get-togethers with her group of friends, family reunions with her large extended family, and now the one coordinating everyday life with her best friend.
Elena has wanted a sister for as long as she can remember: she grew up with two cousins much older than her who always loved her dearly, but she always missed the kind of bond they shared. Few things have been so deeply desired, but for Elena, that sister who never arrived has always been a source of melancholy. Or rather, it was until she met Mila at university and they went on to live together; in Mila, Elena found a kindred spirit with whom to share her days, her hopes and her uncertainties.
For Elena, being meticulous is a way of life—something she applies to everything around her. She is the one who makes sure the fridge is full and that there is always fruit and vegetables in the house, that there are no empty containers left on the pantry shelves, that she notes down all the birthdays and reminds her friends to book appointments for their regular check-ups, knowing that prevention is the key to a healthy and fulfilling life.
Her days are always hectic and packed with commitments; work often leaves her no respite, and keeping up with such an exhausting pace is becoming really difficult, but there is one moment in particular that is sacred and untouchable to her: her morning routine. It doesn’t matter what season it is, what the weather is like or how warm it is. Elena wakes up early every day, goes for a long walk in the large park near her home and, before heading back inside to have a shower and rush off to work she stops for a fresh-squeezed juice and a hot coffee.
It is precisely when he sips it whilst it is still hot, almost always burning his tongue – the only time his meticulousness fails him – that he takes a moment to himself, reflecting on the events of the day gone by, on what lies ahead in the day before him and, above all, appreciating what he has. What he does not know is that something else special is about to enter his life…
4. Stories and cheers
Mila’s arrival was a turning point for Elena too. Their similar personalities make living together a unique, fun and exciting experience, which is why the months have flown by. Living together has taught them to make the most of life’s little rituals: a hot chocolate after a bad day, a slice of chocolate cake at Café Smile, a quiet stroll under the arcades, gazing with curiosity at the new items in the shop windows, and heart-to-heart conversations that echo within the apartment’s walls.
Living together and sharing personal space turned out to be much easier than expected: as an only child, Elena had always grown up without really knowing what it meant to share with someone her own age. Her parents had always given her time and space, letting her learn from her mistakes and giving her plenty of freedom, which allowed her to feel independent and become meticulous. Mila, on the other hand, grew up in close contact with her brother Ivan, whom she adores, but living with a friend is a completely different experience.
At the end of the day, while going through their evening routine before bed, they always find a moment to share with each other: they sit together on the edge of the bathtub and talk about their fears and dreams, support each other through moments of uncertainty, and celebrate each other’s successes…
In the bathroom, they also share their evening routine: from thorough brushing to untangle the knots in Elena’s beautiful red hair to using make-up remover to take off the coloured mascara, which Mila uses more to reflect her mood that day than to make herself look pretty. Meticulous oral hygiene is also part of the routine, something Elena always reminds everyone to do, so as not to overlook any aspect of their health.
One evening, the sound of a notification distracts Mila from the conversation. “It’s my brother Ivan,” she tells her friend. “He’s asking if he can stay here for a while.”
5. Strong roots for new horizons
Ever since Mila moved away, Ivan hasn’t missed a chance to ring her, ask how she’s getting on, and share the ins and outs of his daily life and updates on his career.
He misses the day-to-day routine and the playful squabbles with his sister, which is precisely why, when he’s offered an important interview in the city where Mila lives, he doesn’t let the chance to spend time with her slip by.
The two friends’ flat isn’t huge, but it’s cosy, and above all, he’s sure that the soft, comfortable sofa will be a great place to sleep for a while. The two have always been very protective of one another, a trait that some people in the past had mistakenly attributed to the fact that they were both adopted: the two young people, in fact, came to their families from China and Hungary when they were very young. In reality, Mila and Ivan, with just a year’s age difference between them and having grown up together for as long as they can remember, have always shared the sense of protection and close bond typical of siblings.
Spending these days together is important for both of us: if Ivan’s interview goes well, he could end up living in the Netherlands for as long as three years. It’s a real challenge, and the anxiety is setting in even though there’s still quite a while to go before the final interview.
“Thanks for putting me up for a while,” Ivan says to her one evening before hugging her.
Mila decides not to press her brother on his last remark, as she is sure that when the time is right, he will open up of his own accord.
Taking such a big step is never easy; Mila, for one, feels both proud of her little brother and sad when she thinks about the fact that he might be moving to another country for years. But today’s world is full of ways – often quick ones – to stay in touch and never lose sight of one another. And their bond certainly won’t fade because of the distance.
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
“I hope so; I really want that job.”
Mila encourages him: ‘Those with strong roots always find a way to bloom.’ In the meantime, what better way to take his mind off things than to accompany his sister to a fashion event?
6. Sketches and fears
“How did the event go?” Elena asks excitedly at Café Smile.
A great story can only be accompanied by a good coffee. Elena, observing Mila’s enormous smile, understands that the event went great, but she can’t wait to hear her friend’s point of view. Even though Ivan accompanied her, he’s very shy and couldn’t get any information from him, so she can only wait for her friend’s story. Mila loses herself in a liberating tale, traveling through the scenes of the fashion show she attended, recounting in detail all the innovative materials used and the incredible things she saw. Elena doesn’t know much about fashion, but seeing Mila happy is all that matters.
“I had my sketchbook with me, and the fashion show gave me incredible creativity!”
Mila never leaves that vital object alone; she carries it everywhere, maintaining that it’s impossible to predict the next wave of inspiration and that every moment is a good time to sketch something unique.
She dreams of one day launching her own designer collection. But for now, she’s content with having found a job she loves in the fashion industry, spending hours drawing and daydreaming about her future.
“Why don’t you seem convinced of something?” Elena asks at the end of the story.
She senses something strange in her friend’s tone, and she darkens as soon as she hears those words.
“During the breaks in the fashion show, I prepared a few sketches, but I didn’t realize I had the ‘Boss of Fashion’ sitting behind me.”
Elena looks at her, confused, but lets her friend vent without interruption.
“The ‘Boss of Fashion’ is a nickname we gave to the Creative Director of the News and Accessories section at the office. I’ve certainly told you about it: it’s the division that scouts emerging designers, proposes the following year’s new releases, and decides on communication projects with publishers.”
Elena, however, still isn’t clear on Mila’s intentions.
“When she noticed I was drawing, she gave me a cold look, as if it were a reproach for not having chosen the right moment… I’m very sorry because my hope was to be moved to that division in a while: I was planning to gain some experience where I am now and then ask for a transfer because that’s where most of the creative and innovative work takes place!”
The story, indeed, seems to contain some critical elements for Mila, but Elena chooses to focus on the glass half full and let her see all the positive aspects of the day.
Mila has no idea what awaits her in the immediate future.
