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.
