So they’re in each other’s arms right now.  I did what any self respecting fool with a broken heart would do.

I ran.

Before he could tell me not to, before any empty explanations…  I know him.  I know her.  I know how he pulls her, because he pulls me the same way.  I did what I should have done when I first found out she loved him.  I should have ran then – before our indiscretion hurt her.  Before I could let theirs hurt me…

I talked to Beth’s friend Andrey before I left Volterra.  He is so in love with her.  We commiserated a bit.  We both talked about what happened, licked our wounds.   He has an incredible secret power; he can freeze things – including people.  I suspect he often does this to himself when he is hurting to shield himself from experiencing the pain for a while.  I watched him do it on the beach.  While watching him, he froze me in that state with him.

It was amazing.  It was like sleep – the sleep I have been longing for, for so long.  My mind and my heart were numb; for a while unfeeling.  Before completely freezing, I shielded us so we couldn’t be seen by anyone that happened upon such a strange sight: A huge frozen cocoon on a remote Italian beach.   I don’t know how long we stayed that way but the solace was welcome. Upon awakening, we discovered that in our slumber we had inherited each other’s powers.  An interesting development; one I will explore once I get my mind right again…

Andrey offered me the use of his house and I took it.  I told Renata that I was going away for an extended leave of absence.  I will visit Maggie (who is also currently without country) in Paris, and then maybe make my way to New York City where I will live for a while.  Yesterday, I left my home of the last 19 years to an unknown future.