Chapter VII-
The Trip
I prepared my mini bad for this trip in the mountains. The village was pretty far, or at least I knew that way, and my rich imagination didn’t leave me alone, visualizing a village like Santorini, with white and blue houses, donkeys all over the place, women wearing long dresses and the Aegean sea, extraordinary blue. And me with Laurence standing out, wearing short pants with black sunglasses.
But I refrain for thinking much farther, and I called Lars.
“Hey babe, how are you?”
“Lars, I’m ready. Are you coming?”
“Yeah, in 10 minutes I’ll be at the hotel.”
“Ok, I’ll wait.”
Therefore, I hang out the phone and took my bag, with some clothes in it, ready to get out from the room. Somehow, I had the intuition to go to Damian’s ex room, like a desperate woman and take him out from it, but I knew I will never find him in the hotel, or in Greece, and I didn’t struggle to call him, considering that he didn’t bother to answer his phone.
I closed the door in my way back and I went down to the reception very quietly, trying to not think too much of some consequences.
On my way out, Helen stopped me.
“Where are you leaving?”
“I will meat with my boyfriend, how are you?”
“Never mind, not today…we have to talk Abby; you’re making a huge mistake. I found out that your boyfriend is also your subject, you’re not allowed to implicate sentimental in…”
“Listen, it’s not your business. I do what I want…”
“It is my business, because I’m your supervisor. You are not allowed. You are not coming to shopping but you’re going out with a psychopath?
“Just leave me alone Helen.”
“No. This will not end here Abby, I can promise you that.”
She already pissed me off and I avoid her, but she didn’t give up that easy, starting to follow me in the reception lobby.
“You are not going no where Abigail Woods!”
“ABBY!” I yelled at her, turning suddenly. I was red as the twilight sun at my face. I understood that she was stupid but not hypocrite.
“Abby, I will talk with you teacher and you will leave Greece in a jiffy.”
I couldn’t resist to bear her, therefore I came closer threatening to her, in the way that she could sense my breath.
“Dare and you’ll see!”
I didn’t say a word after that, walking away furious. God, what a woman, I couldn’t believe that she had a temper when she started to throw rocks on me. She didn’t got a kick ass from Damian, but definitely from me she will have it. I got out totally irritated from the hotel and saw Mill family’s car, and my first sight was on the car’s capote, remanding me that I suffered on it, while her possessors mocked me, but I give it away that horrible image from my mind, trying to enjoy the moment. Laurence got out from the car, wearing a curved blue shirt with sort of a capri type of pants, and he had black sunglasses, smiling and kissing me gentle on my neck.
“I missed you so damn much; I thought I would never see you.”
“Now you see me, right? Shall we go?”
“Abby, don’t!” Helen shouted from the balcony, and Laurence looked straight to her.
“Let’s go.” I said quickly, pulling Lars to the car. The boy opened the trunk, where I thrown my bag and got up in the car, saying hi to his parent. The dearest was his father, because he was such a joker and even he knew why I was there, he still accepted me as his son’s girlfriend. I remember a conversation with him like it was yesterday.
I was at Laurence’s place, but he with his mom were out in town, planning a little party at his house, considering that was his dad’s birthday. He invited me polite and told me to help him with the cutleries, with the arranges, I agreed especially that I wanted to talk with him privately, I never got the chance to catch him in hi free time.
“Abby, can you put those glasses on the table? The guests have to arrive.”
“Yes, sure.” I said polite, putting the glasses nicely on the table.”
“Abby, how is the project going so far?”
“It is pretty good, for now.”
I was more reserved, because I was talking with my subject’s father and in the same time with my boyfriend’s father.
“Just be careful my dear. Laurence speaks about you with enthusiasm. Since when you are in his life, he stopped acting weird or to be locked up in his room. And every time at the dinner, he speaks about you. My wife is worrying, because she knows that Laurence truly loves you and you are here for the project.
“But I love Laurence too, Mr. Mill.”
“Abby, what did I told you? Call my name. Would you like if I would call you Abigail?”
“Horrible.” I joked.
“You see? Same as me. Please call me Jay, otherwise I will have no choice but to find a nickname for you, which will make you kill me.”
“Ok.” I laughed.
“Now seriously Abby, I know Laurence it’s your project and…”
“No Mr…Jay, it’s not my project, he’s my lover. He was at the beginning a subject for studying but he is a human and all the time I saw him human, nothing else. I know that some how I am making a mistake, and if my teachers will find out…”
“Imagine him finding out.”
“I really don’t want to know how he will react. I will hurt him by this.”
“From my side…everything ok, me and my wife are happy that you love our son. You are a good kid same as him, just that he has a little problem.”
“It’s not a problem. They don’t exist, only the solutions do.”
“Spoken like a true psychologist.”
“I think that he can eliminate the ill, if he will not be alone or to be angry.”
“I know. That’s why I’m happy that he met you, but the only thing that I cannot understand is when you will leave this island, how will it be?”
“I am still thinking at that part.”
Mr. Mill or Jay, how he forced me to call him, took a seat right next to me on the white sofa.
“Listen dear. I am happy for you both, honestly. I really want to be ok in the future, just that…I am afraid that he could hurt you, physically.”
“I thought about this too, but don’t worry, I know how to temper him.”
And I woke up hugged by him and after that he kissed my forehead like a true parent. What a great man. After a couple of minutes, Lars and his mom came in.
“What?”
“What’s wrong with you? You’re not paying attention.”
Laurence was talking to me in the car about an hour, but I was looking outside on the window, lost in thoughts. We were going at the road known by me, namely the road to Hersonissos.
“I’m sorry Lars, I was…”
“In love with you my son, didn’t you get it? It’s all your fault.” Jay joked at the wheel.
“That’s right, this little beauty of nature.” Said Lars, playing with me, hugging me, and stealing from me a big sensual kiss.
“What is the most beautiful thing then love?” Jay Mill said, drivinf carefully.
Another memory came into my mind, like it had a device or something.
I was seating on the beach, full of blood, in my favorite dress, waiting for Helen to arrive, after I talked with her at the phone, those 10 minutes transformed into 20. I heard a horn and I ran crying to the source. Helen got out from her car and she got scared seeing me in the way I was.
“What…what the hell it’s going on?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Please, drive me back to the hotel.”
I got in the car, and Helen didn’t say a word.
“Oh my God, Abby, we have to take you to a hospital and to call the police.”
“No Helen, just drive me to the hotel, we are not doing anything. I just want to seat and relax.”
“Yes but…”
“I told you, I don’t want to talk abo
ut this.”
She didn’t argument with me no longer, maybe realizing that I had nothing to say. She was driving like a beginner, being sometimes horned by the other cars on the rode.
“I don’t understand Abby, he did you implicate with your subject and…”
“Helen, please, shut up. I don’t want to explain to no one, it’s strict my business.”
“It’s your decision, but still.”
“But still, can you leave me alone?”
“Ok, I will not talk.”
Arrived at the hotel, I ran quickly in my room for Damian not to see me, I didn’t want at all to give him the satisfaction that he was right about Alex hurting me, so therefore I entered my room, went straight to the shower, and after that I change nicely in my pajamas. I throw myself in the bed, trying to sleep, but can I seelp when a person you cared about, raped you. I couldn’t explain my mood.
Next day I went to see Damian, but seemed to be that he was ignoring me completely and I really needed to talk with him, because I couldn’t bear no longer for him to be distant with me all the time. So, I dressed and went to the next floor, being decided. I knocked the door and nothing, I thought to myself that he wasn’t in his room; therefore, I went to the reception and asked the woman there if she saw him. She told me that he was taking his breakfast at the restaurant. I went there and nothing again. Where the hell he could be? I was heading back to the reception and I’ve seen him entering the elevator.
“Damian!” I shouted but he didn’t hear me, so I ran up the stairs, thinking that I could catch him behind before he will enter his room. I arrived at the third floor, gasping, and I saw him at his door.
“Damian.”
He didn’t turned around, pretending that he didn’t hear me. He opened the door and I ran to him.
“Damian!”
He closed fast, and I started to knock the door like a desperate woman, ready to demolish it.
“Damian, please. Damian! Please open the door.”
Nothing, I already felt how my tears wanted to come out. I knock again and again much harder.
“Damian, I know you can hear me. I just want to talk. Damian?”
After some minutes, seating there like an idiot, he opened, avoiding to look into my eyes, looking somewhere down, being white as paper.
“Damian…I just…wanted to apologize for the last days. I know I was an ass.” I said whispering.
He still pretended as if he didn’t hear me.
“Ok.” He said, and to my surprise, he wanted to close the door, but I put my foot in it to not accomplish his plan. I didn’t want him to get away that easily.
“Not so fast Damian. Listen, please. Stop being so stubborn. I just want to talk.”
“About what?” He said with cold, avoiding intentional my look
“I know you probably hate me, but I will not let you ignore me forever. We have a lot to discuss. Please, let’s go to out place.”
“It is not our place any longer, since you spoiled with Laurence.”
What a kick, his voice was so calm but still so harsh, cold.
“Ok then…let’s go in the reception.”
“No. Come in.”
I was surprised when he step aside, sticking himself to the wall, making room for me to enter. I took a seat on his bed, looking at him with a serious face.
“Do you like something to drink?” He asked.
“Water, please.”
He was still looking somewhere else then me, taking a clean glass and pouring water in it, handing it to me. My hand was shaking and eventually he looked into my eyes, grabbing a chair. I felt like I was at the police for a murder.
“Damian…” I whispered, and this time was my turn to lean my look.
“Yes Abby?”
“I know I was, somehow rough…but I don’t…I don’t want to break out. Like friends.”
“Abby, I…”
“No, please, just listen…I care about you to much to let you go away. I will not let you to do this to me. You’re…”
“I’m an ass, that’s who I am! I am an idiot because I let myself away with the flood, because I was jealous. That I…looked into your eyes different.”
I opened my mouth but I didn’t know what to say. He left me speechless. What he meant with let myself away with the flood? I wanted so bad to cry and I was looking at him with mercy, considering that he had an up look like I was a killer.
“I am an ass, because I had to keep just a fellowship with you, friendship, but it seems to be that everything is mess up.”
“Why are you saying this, Damian?”
“Anyway, I no more matter in this business. By the way, how is going with Laurence?”
At that question, I wanted somehow to tell him the truth about that night, but I preferred to lower my look back to my knees.
“Well…we had a little fight.”
“Why?”
“I saw Alex last night, for the first time.”
I didn’t want to tell the all truth.
“And? Are you ok? Did he hurt you?”
“What? Ah no. He didn’t hurt me.”
“Why are you lying to me Abby?”
I remained shocked. He had a serious look, but I wasn’t surprised that he noticed that I lied, because I had a retention in my voice. He smiled softly, ironically and he stood up, placing himself near me.
“This Abby, gives you away.”
He puts slowly his finger to my injured arcade and I put quickly my hand on it, somehow to cover it, but was too late. Damin sighed and got up back on his chair.
“And it’s not the only lie Abby.”
“What…what do you mean by that?”
“Simple. I talked with my teacher, Mr. Bines, and he told me the truth. First Abby, when we finished here and collected all the information about our subject, and we have 20 pages of our project, then we can return home. But you lied, telling me a bunch of craps that I have to stay here a bloody month. My question is; why?”
“And it’s not the only lie. Is one more, and has the same answer as the first one.”
I already hate Mr. Bines, he found out the truth and I was ready to tell him one more.
“And that is?”
„When you tried to run away, when I stopped you. The next day after you came here. I lied. You wouldn’t possible ruin me, only yourself. I could continue alone the project.”
He was just looking at me without saying anything. I was sure that he was chewing everything he heard, what was going on. I bowed down my eyes, feeling that I was this close to cry. But I had to tell him the reason, so I took a deep breath and I rattled.
“The answer to the both lies is: I didn’t want you to go! I didn’t want to be alone here.”
“You are so selfish”
“Is not about selfishness Damian, only that I care about you, I just wanted for us to spend at least a month together.”
He sighed. I was not capable of telling him more or what to believe. I really didn’t want for him to leave.
“Abby…I want to be alone.”
I wasn’t surprised. I agreed and I got up, putting the empty glass on the table, heading towards the door.
“Abby” He called me, and I turned fast to him.
“I love you.”
I remained shocked; I didn’t know what to say. My heart was demanding me to tell him back the same words, but my mind flew to Laurence.
“Me too.”
“What?”
I love you. I wanted to tell him this, but other words came and replace them. And in the end I managed to say:
“Bye Damian.”
I went out the door, starting to really cry. I hated myself for the simple fact that I couldn’t say I love you to him, just because was not that powerful like Laurence. Therefore, I ran to my room crying the hell out. My phone started to ring and I saw Laurence number. I rejected his call, still crying. I was wondering why I was such a bitch with Damian and why in the world I couldn’t watch him w
ith the same look like I used to do before? He was so dear to me when he was just with his head in the clouds, but since when I met Laurence and I observed his look…I fall in love immediately. The phone rang again, but this time to announce me that I’ve got a message. Even if somehow I knew how possibly sent me one, I take it and look too see it. I knew well, was from Laurence:
”I know you are mad at me, I would be mad at me too. I don’t know what happened, I just woke up this morning, realizing I was in bed. I cannot remember what happened since when you went to the bathroom. You found out my secret, please I just want to see you and talk, to tell you my story. Let’s see each other at the terrace in an hour. I will wait for you, love you.”
Probably he wanted to tell me about his illness, not knowing that I already knew about it. I dried my tears and started to unmake-up. Now suddenly I don’t want Laurence anymore, after what he did to me, and that I love you I didn’t feel it, like I felt it for Damian when he told me those words in his room. I was a coward and I couldn’t decide what I wanted, Damian as a friend or lover? What can I say? I played with fire and I’ve been burned. After I refresh myself, I dress casual and I got out again from my room, thinking to meet Laurence this time, I was still curious what he possibly could tell me about his disease. Was a method to discover what he is thinking about what he has, which was great, even if I paid a very expensive price for this. I entered the elevator and I pushed the ground floor button, waiting in silence, looking in the elevator’s mirror. I got off from it and I went throw the reception with my look down, not wanting to meet someone especially Helen, who probably will ask me again thousand of questions. I have the impression that she thinks we are best friends forever or something like that. Anyway, I took a cab being stressed and I told the driver where to take me. On the road, my mind was flying to Damian, how honestly he could tell me that I love you. Even Laurence didn’t manage until now to touch my soul that deep like Damian did. Arrived at the terrace, I paid the driver and got off the car, more retained and of course, you could easily read the upsetting and sadness on my face. I noticed Lars at a table in the back, waving his hand. He looked cheerful, only that I was far away from that feeling. I went slowly to him, and I saw a big bouquet of white roses on my chair. I remained amazed for a second.
“Do you like them? I honestly don’t know what your favorite flowers are, and because the other night you liked them so much…” He said, with a big smile on his face.
He stood up, wanting to kiss me, but I just thank him for the flowers and I took a seat elegant in front of him.
“What do you want to drink?”
“I prefer nectar of oranges. On this heat, the coffee can explode my heart.”
Laurence made a sign to the waiter, and he came with a false smile on his lips. He was irritating me.
“The young lady whishes a orange nectar, please.”
“Sure.”
When he left, Laurence returned his attention to me, looking straight into my eyes, and I raised them looking at the sea.
“What you wanted to talk about, Laurence?”
“I missed you.”
“This is not the reason.”
I turned my sight to him, seeing that he was smiling to me like this action could resolve all the problems, and with his smile I can erase that horrible episode.
“I really don’t know what to start with, trust me.” He said.
“I think you can start with the beginning. But if you like to start with the end, be my guest.”
“I don’t deserve for you to be so sarcastic with me.”
“No?”
“No. No matter what happened, I have a reason for this.”
I looked at him serious, becoming emotional. I wanted to pay attention at what he was about to say, because in this way I could discover his opinion about his ill. The piece of the project puzzle witch missed. I was anxious, but in the same time I wanted to look hypocrite and upset.
When Lars opened his mouth to say something, the waiter came to our table with the drink. I smiled to him and he left in time. I returned my attention back to Laurence, watching him very serious, and he bowed his look in the ground. Took a deep breath and he started.
“Look…somehow I know what happened…I don’t remember much.”
“What do you mean by don’t remember much?” I act.
“Well. It’s difficult…I mean, I don’t know how to tell you…I’m afraid that I will going to loose you.”
“You’ll not loose me. Trust me.”
I gave up on the bitchy attitude, because somehow I knew what he was going throw, in him was a bloody war. But I knew from the start about his mood and still I fall in love with him. Was impossible for me to let him go after he will tell me the truth.
“I don’t think so. I’m scared, but it’s my fault that I didn’t told you from the beginning. Many girls when the heard the truth they left me alone. And I’m afraid that the same thing will happen with you.”
“Please Laurence, have faith, anything you will tell me will not change the situation.”
“Ok.”
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, holding very tight my hand as if I was about to run away.
“I…am sick.”
“What do you mean? Did you catch a cold?”
“It’s not a physical sickness. It’s a mental one. I don’t want to be consider crazy.”
I smiled encouraging to him to honestly demands.
“Go on.”
“When I invited you on the beach, to the romantic dinner we had, at the bathroom you were attacked by three guys. I got furious and…I become another person.”
“Alex.”
“Yes. Alex. He is my alter ego. I took him out from me a while ago, when I isolated myself, after I found out that my girlfriend died.”
“So, you are schizophrenic?”
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes, taking some deep breaths. I was happy in some way that he admitted his condition, but I had to act a little like I was so sorry for him and I was amazed. In reality, I was mercy for him.
“My dear. I really don’t know what to say, just that this Alex took care for hurting me.”
“This thing frustrates me the most, what happened actually? Tell me! What Alex did to you? I personal don’t remember.”
I looked towards the sea, thinking. Maybe was not such a good idea to tell him the all truth. I turned my head to him, and saw that he was disparate, having the eyes swimming in tears, waiting for me to tell him the truth.
“Well, he left me alone on the beach.”
“Just that?”
“Yes. He saved me from a rape then he left.”
I know. I lied him, but that truth with the rape thing he has not to know. At least he and the rest of the world, I didn’t want to imagine Damian if he would found out the rape scene.
“I promise to you, Abigail Woods, that no matter what will happen, Alex will stay locked away.”
That day I will never forget not even Laurence explanations or meeting Alex on the beach. I came back with my mind, being in Laurence arms, on the back seat of his parent’s car. Jay was talking about the village where we were heading, it was at 800 meters sea level, which I could see it from the window, being very extended, because we were on sort of a serpentines.
“Look babe, a ship.” Lars pointed me one in the coast.
I smiled, but I couldn’t not possible think that Damian left with one of those. The Damian’s memory somehow made me quiet and I didn’t paid much attention at what conversation was in the car, just that I woke up suddenly when Jay called my name.
“Sorry?”
“I asked you what your future plans for life are? What you want to become?”
Maybe it was me or Jay wanted to put fuel to the fire or he tried somehow to help me in front of Laurence, considering that his parents knew what were my plans for life. I had to invent something.
“Well. I’m studying the medicine, same as my mom. I l
ike to help people. And I really don’t know what I want to become.”
“Medical assistant? Lars asked amused.”
“Maybe. I propose something more bigger then that, like a family doctor.”
“Very nice Abigail. Let God help you.” Jay said with a warm smile, and I hated myself for lying but what could I do.
“Dad, how long it will take until we’ll get there?”
“Are you already hurrying to be alone with Abby?”
I started to laugh, noticed Lars all red.
“Not really, but yes.”
“Not yet son, be patience.”
“I will take a little nap.” I said, laying somehow with my head in Laurence’s lap, popping into my mind the memory of my first day in Greece.
Was an unusual heat for me. Was very hot outside and Helen and me were seating in the airport. I didn’t got it, why the blonde had hills on that heats outside.
“Helen, don’t your feet are dead because of that high hills you wearing? They are pretty big.”
“Relax, only a professional can resist with them.”
“Yeah, not like amateur of me, right?”
“I’m not saying in this way. We have to take a cab until the Blue Paradise Hotel.”
I didn’t want to stay in that hell heat in the front of the airport, especially in a not so great company like Helen. I just wanted so bad a shower, I would give my soul for it in that moment. A shower, a shower, my kingdom for a shower.
We got into the first taxi, which arrived, and Helen took the front seat right next to the driver.
“Will be awesome Abby, you’ll see.”
“Yeah.” I said, with a lack of enthusiasm.
“We’ll be great friends. I heard that the Greek guys are hot. Much hotter then Italians. Plus shopping cannot wait.”
Ah, I almost vomit, seeing her so happy at the thought of shopping in the expensive Greek stores. I just smiled, trying somehow to hide my face expression of disgust and to watch outside on the window, while she was speaking non-stop like a broken mill, about how cooler will be. So cool. I was sarcastic, by the way.
“Tomorrow your project partner will arrive.” She said, gaining my attention.
“Really?”
“Yeah. He comes from Grand Britain. I hope his cute. But most of the British guys are rained like their weather.”
“Honestly Helen, I’m interested to meet hot guys or to have love stories with them. I came her for the project.”
“Oh, you are such a fun sucker.”
Yeah, a bitch in heat. I was praying to arrive already at the destination, to not be needed to support her.
“Ah…speaking of British. I remembered. Once I met one at a party, when I was in Milan. If you know what cool clothes are there Abby, on everyone’s tastes…”
God, kill me now until I will not be intoxicated by her stupid brain. To not hear a word from her mouth, I took from my bag an mp3 player and I put my headphones in my ears. I was amused seeing her talking and gesticulating, while I couldn’t hear a word, only good music, but the driver didn’t resist much, rolling his eyes.
When finally arrived at the hotel, I got off with the speed of the light, taking off my headphones as if I was listening her all the way here. The hotel, at least in the appearances, was leaving you with mouth opened.
In the next day, I went into the restaurant for lunch, and I was somehow enthusiastic of my partner arriving, because I could spend time with someone in this short summer trip on an island, without me and Helen becoming bffs.
After lunch, I decided to go into my room, and when I was at the reception lobby, Helen was running on hills, like a crazy woman.
“I’m so late! I am so late!”
To not be impolite, I’ve asked her at what.
“Your colleague will arrive in 5 minutes and I don’t know where the sea port is.”
“It’s close to us Helen. But he isn’t coming with the plane?”
“Apparently not.”
“But you didn’t know at what time he will arrive?”
“Of course I knew, but I didn’t know what to dress with.”
I started to laugh, and she ran away outside. I just wanted to smack my forehead, but why should I punish myself when I should smack her to come back to reality. Therefore, I went to my room, thinking to take a shower and to prepare for a possibly going out with the British guy, because we had to know each other and I didn’t want to do this in the hotel, where Helen could mess up our good mood, only if he was that same type of person like me, who appreciate the good taste.
Back into the car, I smiled in Lars arms, when I remembered that I promised myself to not make love stories with any good-looking guy on the Hellenic land, just to concentrate on my project.
Believing or not, the life has other plans for me. I pretended that I was sleeping, because I wasn’t capable of talking with Lars’s parents or with him. From time to time, I felt moisture on my cheeks, sign that Laurence was kissing me softly and I loved the fact the he knew how to be careful with me.
“Kids, we are here. Lars, if you want, don’t wake Abby and carry her in the house, where you can put her on the bed to get some rest.” His dad said, finally stopping the car.
I got up suddenly.
“Are we here, finally?”
“Look who pretends is sleeping.” Laurence said amused.
“I wasn’t pretending, just that I was laying down a little bit because I had a little car sick.”
“Are you feeling ok now, Abby?” Laurence’s mom asked me, on her name Jane Mill.
“Yes, much better.”
“Come on kids, let’s go. Or if you prefer to sleep in the car, I don’t mind. Only that in the morning you will see everything upside down.” Jay said, while he opened the trunk.
I got off fast, with Laurence, watching around. Was pretty cool the place, pleasant. The Mother Nature was a little selfish, because the view was not that rich in the vegetation side. The village was small, I mean that the houses was united right next to each other, and around them, I saw lots of olives trees, or bushes specific for am arid zone. In the distant, was sprawled a plateau with rock and sand, with some olives or small bushes, and after that I could saw the mountains dressed in the same thing as the plateau. The sea was gone in view, being hidden by the mountains. And of heat, not to mention it. Narrow cubic streets waved the village. Jay parked the car in a small parking lot, where was a cart and a scoter. Up above, a donkey was bind. But something else gained my attention. A woman was dressed black all over. I didn’t hesitate to ask why she was dressed in that way on that heats.
“She’s a widow.” Jay explained to me. “In Greece, the widows have to wear all their life black.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“And I wonder how they manage with the heat?”
“Well Abby, think in this way. They were born here. How the Africans manage their heat? Same thing.”
“Yeah. I’m so clumsy.”
Jay giggled. From a near house, a woman got closer to us, but wasn’t dressed in black but in open colors.”
“Kalimera Jay. I see that you brought a new person.”
As I observed, the woman was not Greek or at least after the first sight, having olive skin, being thin at 40 years old or more. She had a hoarse voice but with a special gently.
“Mara, this is my son’s girlfriend, Abigail Woods, or Abby. If you knot wish to die, call her Abby.” Jay said, making me blush. But the woman laughed, shaking my hand polite.
“Yes. I’m very pleased to meet you Abby. Welcome.”
“Thank you.”
“I think both of them want to sleep in the same room, no? Even if the Greek disagree with a boy sleeping with a girl in the same bed until they are married. They are very orthodox.”
“Well I’m catholic. I don’t think the Pope forbidden this.” I joked.
“Good. Let’s stop chatting and let’s go to work.” Jay said.
Mara
and Jane went into the house, I took my bag, and Lars, with a force, which impressed me, took two big luggages.
“Can you carry them son?” Jay asked him.
“Of course dad.”
“My Hulk.”
I laughed, imagining him all green. I entered myself in the house, and at the enter a small dog, was enjoying the guest arriving. I pet him a little bit, while I was enjoying the coolness from inside. The house was pretty beautiful, having blue walls, and from where we entered was sort of a kitchen, and I was amazed to discover that everything was so modern, against the outside house which looked traditional. Like I said before, seemingly always wrong.
“Both of you can go upstairs. And mother and father I will show you where you will sleep.” Mara said, with a smile on her lips.
I climb some woods stairs, which were making noise, at the next floor, where again I remained with open mouth, because the furniture was so modern, and a big bed was there with blue sheets. What I loved the most about that room was the window in the ceiling, which was a little inclined after the ceiling form. Lars puts down the bags and I put my own down
Lars dropped the bags, and I put my bag near the huge bed, still watching around.
“Are you ok?” Lars asked me.
“Yeah, of course, just that I’m so impressed by the way everything looks here.”
He got closer to me and kissed my lips, hugging my thin body.
“Hope you’re feeling better, anyway we’ll not stay longer here.”
“But what are we doing actually on this trip?”
Laurence smiled to me without answering my question, going to the luggage, starting to unpack them. Me instead I took a seat on the bed, watching him suspiciously.
“Lars?”
“Yes babe?”
“Why we came here?”
He sighed, but still didn’t answer, having his attention on the unpacking. I sighed back, thinking that wasn’t ok to insist. If he didn’t want to tell me, means that he had a good reason for it.
“Lars, what are you hiding from me? You saw that I didn’t ran from the table when you told me about your condition. Why you don’t have faith in me?”
I watched him how he sighed again and somehow he was grudging me. I didn’t say a word, just that I wished for him to have more faith in me, especially that I gave up on Damian for him.
“Is…I don’t know…hard. I want somehow to forget my problem, and to try to enjoy this trip.”
“But still Lars, wouldn’t be much better if you will tell me why we are here? Why we came here actually? It’s not just for a small cute family trip, I know it’s something more then that. I would fell much better if I would know the truth and in this way I would enjoy the trip with you.”
He was so silent, felting that the frustration was making it’s way to my mind, and I got anger by the minute was passed on the clock. Therefore, I got up from the bed, with the idea to found out this damn truth from somewhere else. Lars instead, stopped me at the door.
“Please Abby, please don’t go. Don’t be so mad on me. I care to much about you.”
“If you would really care about me, you would tell me.”
“Why you don’t understand, that it’s better like this?”
I didn’t say anything, I just walked away from him. The evening came and still I didn’t find out the real reason why we were on that village, and I was pretty frustrated not to mention irritated. I just want to find out the information from my ally, Laurence’s dad, but sadly, and like he had an intuition for what I wanted to do, Lars didn’t left me alone even a second in his parents view, trying somehow and of course without any success, to make me forget my question but was like purring gasoline on fire . The fire was inflaming in me and I was about to do anything for finding my answer. But for my surprise not only Jay was my ally.
The next was the dinner, one extremely delicious, Greek traditional recipe, then some music; Mara proved that she is a great host; she invited us to dance on sort of oriental and Greek music. I took the plunge to drink a Greek shot namely Uzo, which managed to numb my sensations. Lars got a little dizzy from drinking; therefore, I took him up into our room, laying him on the bed.
“Ab, I’m a little sick.”
“Who put you to drink that much? Since when you start to call me Ab?”
“Since now…it’s funny. Ab. If you mind, I will stop saying Ab.”
“It’s ok. Take this pill to not be hangover next morning.”
I made him swallow a pill, knowing that in the next day he could have problems with the sick, so I forced him to do it, because he was making a great to-do like a baby, after that I stand next to him until he felt asleep, petting him with love.
He was so dear to me when he was sleeping. Me instead I couldn’t rest, so I went outside in the courtyard and I discovered a nice bench. Was a silent night, only the crickets and some barks father away could be heard. Probably was late. I took a seat slowly, worried, trying to not make much noise.
“You cannot sleep?” Said a voice, making me jump in the air.
Mara was near me, wearing a white scarf.
“Ah…no. I’m sorry if I was making noise.”
“Ah, don’t worry. Look, this will help.”
She handed me a glass with hot chocolate, and she took a seat next to me on the bench.
“What a beautiful summer night. To bad that only in the summer I can see it, when it is so hot outside.”
“But you are not from here Miss…”
“Please, call me Mara. I insist.”
“Ok, Mara?”
“No. I’m from Cyprus, my family comes from Azerbaijan.”
“The country near Turkey. From what I know, the Greek don’t like that much people from the Orient zone.”
“But not everyone has to know that, right Abby? My neighbors see me only in summer time, and they know I came from Cyprus.”
I smiled, drinking my chocolate.
“Anyway, not about me I want to talk, but about you.”
“Me? It’s not much to say.”
“I don’t think so. Miss Psychologist.”
I made big eyes, watching her little amazed.
“Don’t worry. Laurence’s father told me about your goal here. And he also told me that you are a very special person for the Mill family. Even if it is a school project, which can affect your future carrier, you consider Laurence a person, a human, not just a lab rat. And this thing makes you a good psychologist. Even myself I treat my patients like this. And I’m in the business for a while.”
I remained a little confused for a second, and my question about why we were here, started to get some answer.
“Patients? Are you a psychologist?”
“Yes. I am Laurence’s personal psychologist. I brought you here and Damian Jones too, on this island on this case.”
“W…what?” What do you mean brought us here?” I remained shocked.
“What I will about to tell you, will be our little secret, ok?”
“I agree.” I said, being very curious.
“Good. So, your project presumes a careful study on a subject, to observe how a mental illness can manifest, to become friends with the subject, am I right?
“Yes. This is what they told us to do.”
“Ok, but your study it is not chosen randomly. I collaborate with colleges from around the world, our council. There are many psychologies, which choose students for a project like this. I studied many resumes for Laurence’s case, I wanted the best students for this, and so I put a trick question. I saw your grades and I loved so much your answer at my question, especially that your mother it is a psychiatrist doctor, I thought that she could help you on this case.”
I was all red on my face at that affirmation. I wondered if she knew. I took another drink from my warm chocolate, watching the stars. I sighed and said:
“But I made mistakes Mara. I easily can say that I’m about so close to blow the all project away, going with my future
carrier. First of all, I remained alone here, my colleague left, and I got to much affection for my subject, becoming his girlfriend. I shouldn’t do…”
“On the contrary, my dear child. You implicated with your soul, you look at people, as they are, human. By the way, you know why I picked Damian?”
“No, why?”
“Because even he is at the edge of schizophrenia.”
“I know that, I mean he is closed itself.”
“But you know what the reason is?”
“No. He didn’t tell me.”
“It is very hard time for him. Even if ironically, he wants to become a psychologist and he has a big problem.”
“I talked with him. He wants to know himself better so…”
“My dear, a psychologist never reveals what he speaks with his patient.”
“Yes, but Damian wasn’t patient for me. He was a friend.”
Somehow, I felt a sorrow when I pronounced the last word.
“You are a smart girl. The reason he is closer to Laurence’s condition, let’s name it problem, is because his father.”
“He abused him or…?” I was curious.
“No. Damian was witness to a murderer. His father’s. He have seen him how he committed suicide.”
“Hi…his father killed himself?”
“Unfortunately yes. Somehow, I wanted to save him. I always wanted to help children to overcome this terrible disease. Once you enter in, it waits you a dark nightmare world and a world of pills.”
“I think that at Lars, well his illness it is about gone.”
“Laurence’s problem won’t evaporate so easy. If he will take his medicine at time, he will be fine.”
“Yes.”
I wanted in a way to tell her the beach episode, when Alex came into picture, it was like I have give wrong answer to an exam, therefore I didn’t risked. Instead, I was thinking about Damian and somehow I felt guild, but how should I know about his drama.
“I am going to bed, before the sunrise. Are you coming?”
“I can’t sleep. I will stay here a bit.”
“Ok then. Good night.”
She stood up and went slowly in the house, but she turned suddenly.
“I forgot to mention. Laurence told me that you are very curious about why you came here. Now that you know the truth, I would ask you to not tell Laurence.”
“Of course.”
“You want to know one more thing? When I spoke with him today, from three words, two were about you. He loves you very much Abby. Good night.”
She entered the house, leaving me on the bench with the glass in my hands, thinking. How interesting was to discover the truth, but more sadly was with Damian, poor of him. I was afraid that he will try something reckless or he will become a schizophrenic like Laurence, or maybe worse then him, considering that he hasn’t anyone to help him in England, just a pessimist mother.
The last day of the trip, or the next day after we came. The shortest trip I had in my life came to the end. The idea was that Laurence saw me happy again and I knew that somewhere in his mind was wondering if I’ve got my answer. I didn’t want no how to tell him the truth, otherwise I would give myself away, in that he would discover the truth about me coming to Greece, with what reason and I didn’t want to loose him.
Jay suggested me to stay a little bit more in Greece, because would be great for all of us to go back in the States, but something was telling me that wasn’t possible.
On our leaving day, Mara called me in her office. It was a cute one, comfy, having light blue walls like color. I took a seat on a sofa, and she smiled at me.
“Abby, I wanted to thank you.”
“Why you want to thank me?”
“For the simple fact that you make Laurence smile again, to actually remember why he is living.”
I smiled at that affirmation. But I had something else in mind.
“Mara, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“If it’s possible, can I stay in Greece with Mill family? I want to go with them back to the States.”
“I will see what I can do. Would be very good if you could stay more with Laurence. At least a period, but Abby…”
“Yeah?” I said, standing up.
“Sooner or later he will find the truth. You should tell him this, and explain to him.”
“But you told me to not tell…”
“To not tell him now. But in the near future.”
I smiled to her and together we went to the corridor. There Laurence and his family were waiting with the bags.
“I still don’t understand why we took luggage with us just for two days?” I said confusing.
“I planed to stay a little bit more, but something came at work and I have to rush back into the town.” Said Jay smiling. On the other hand, Laurence was watching me in silent, thinking. He wasn’t smiling, and that thing putted me to think.
Mara smiled to me with courage and together all five of us got out in the sun, heading to the car.