Chapter 4: The Get Away

[When the girl is an enigma it is hard to fall out of love]

I’d pulled off the road in desperation and sat with a loss like an eternal vacuum. I was in shock and I needed to talk to Maria.

Several moments passed and then I realized our encounter with Sophia was all kind of nuts. That happened too fast, utterly, and didn’t make sense how she fastened herself to us for such newly invented love. She acted completely like she fell in love with me or us in a matter of minutes. And then she was able to kiss me off because I wasn’t fertile?

“Huh? Really.” I looked at Maria for answers but she had none for the moment.

“She took us to her parent’s house, introduced us and within moments fucked us in the next room? She even went out through the house naked to get the wine out of Herman, right by her parents and in the morning her mother winked at me like she knew what we were doing all night. Sophia is young, younger than me. What an experience!

“I had an experience in the Army, not directly but my two friends, two great guys who owned a VW bug together with me. They got a 30 day leave and went up to Sweden to camp out. One of them, Sonny, met the daughter of a Swedish couple camping next to them. The daughter liked Sonny, he was dark and good looking, was from LaJolla, San Diego, a professional tennis player and teacher. The daughter moved into Sonny and Steve’s tent with the blessing of her parents. Sonny made love to her for like a week and Steve had to sleep out under a picnic table. Imagine, the parents were okay with Sonny, an American, fucking their 18 year old daughter in the next tent. This European culture is SO cool and so different.

I looked at Maria and said, “She truly was a gorgeous love partner.” “Yes she was,” said Maria as she hugged me. “I’m sorry you have so much sorrow but you do have my love.” “I’m sorry for being such a sap. You have been such a good friend. I don’t know why you put up with me but I love you more than ever.”

Often, when upset, I’d get in my rig and drive. I did that in Hawaii. With school and work and other problems piling up I would drive in the evening up the windward side of the island and go a ways to sit on the beach and stare at the ocean. It just was a cleansing thing, running away, sort of, but on an island always coming back was the realm.

I shrugged at Maria, smiled, turned Herman around and headed for Rome.

We got to the outskirts of the city and began to realize what Sophia was talking about. It was going to be a huge traffic packed city and really there wasn’t anything there we needed to see, Maria agreed. In my travels I would avoid cities. I much preferred the countryside in Europe thus far and so we turned around again. We headed back north and would be passing La Spezia.

Somehow I felt a real attachment still lingering.

I thought about our time with her, so special. I thought I really didn’t want to cut it off with her like I did. I did tell her I loved her. That was really true. I thought about everything transpiring and I decided to go see her one more time just to say I did love her very much and I wanted to stay friends, follow along and wish her luck as life went on.

I asked Maria if that was a good idea, if it was okay with her. She said she understood and yes it was a nice idea but then we should not overstay our welcome, needed to move on for Sophia’s sake.

I did understand Sophia’s need for kids. I thought I did understand her and it didn’t mean we had to completely break it off. No! We could be friends. My special time in La Spezia ours mine to keep and hold.

I drove back to the house, took a deep breath and walked up to knock on the door. I did. I was nervous. The door opened and it was her father. “Sir, may I talk to your daughter, please?” “She is not here.” “Oh, sorry, could you tell me where she is please.” “She went to the restaurant.” “Thank you!”

“Did she end it with you?” “I fell in love with your daughter and she decided I wasn’t the one for her. It broke my heart but I can accept that. I just want to ask if she and I could remain friends. She’s special. My time here has been very special, you, her family, were so gracious to accept me. Do you mind if I go and speak with her just to see? I will not be a burden.”