by S. L. Giger
‘That’s what growing up with three sisters teaches you.’ He winked. ‘Plus, this “no strings attached” thing is very recommendable. We’re both having fun but still enough time for our hobbies and goals.’
I shook my head. ‘What happened to the world? I feel like you turned into me and I turned into you.’
Eric understood what I meant and clapped on my back.
‘Fiona will come around and fully be with you again. You were good together and the way you still talk to each other despite the distance proofs that there still has to be something.’ He said.
‘I sure hope it won’t take her much longer.’ I replied.
The couch requests were successful. In my messages, I told them about the situation and Lucy’s wish to “surf”. In the end, we just picked the first one who had replied which was a young couple, 27 and 28 and the woman was heavily pregnant.
Subject: Florence
Hey Fiona
Now I finally have something exciting to tell you too. All your talk about traveling and Couchsurfing made me itch to have something exciting in my life as well. So, I planned a trip to Lake George. I used to go there as a child and I can’t wait to see how it is today. I will also stay with Couchsurfers.
Thank you for all your postcards and letters. Soon, my whole bedroom wall will be plastered with pictures from Europe J.
I miss you
Xoxo
Kev
Two days later a whole envelope with letters from Fiona arrived. As always, I locked myself into my room. I wanted to seize her handwriting and absorb her words, since I didn’t have anything else from her.
Hey Kev!
Milan, fashion metropolis of Italy=) And we did do some shopping but mostly on the market or in stores you can also find in the US. Unfortunately, Dolce & Gabbana and their friends are a little bit over our budget. But nice to look at their vitrines anyway. Here, we’re staying with another Couchsurfer. He is a student from Denmark who is living and working in Italy for a year. He takes his role of a host pretty serious and takes such good care of us. First, he took us to the town center. We got out of the metro at Duomo and the first thing we saw when we climbed up the stairs was this huge cathedral. That was amazing! We walked around a lot and saw many beautiful buildings. However, I think one day is enough to see the most important parts of Milan. I would have liked to see the original painting of Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” though. But Jens had been right of course, when we arrived there, they told us that it was booked out for the next two weeks. We should have signed up to see the painting… I mean, come on, you walk in there, have a look for a few minutes and then you go out again. How can it have too many people who do this for the next 15 days?!
In the evening, Jens took us to Navigli. It’s a part of town where many bars and restaurants are lined up along the river. We paid 7 Euros for a delicious and beautifully made cocktail and included in the price was also a buffet with food. Moreover, the food was amazing! And the atmosphere along the river was nice. I guess, I’d like to spend some more evenings here, but you should be here too! But I am looking forward to Switzerland tomorrow. I’ll probably sleep well tonight. Amanda and I both have our couch=)
So, good night!
I miss you.
<3 Fiona
Good night. Although it was 9.30am, I imagined how Fiona would cuddle up next to me whispering these phrases into my ear. I tossed the card from Milan aside which had a picture of this Duomo on its front and dedicated my attention to the second letter.
Salüü =)
How are you today? We arrived at the house of Amanda’s relatives in Bern. Switzerland really is beautiful and I’m glad we will be spending a whole week here! On top of that, Amanda’s relatives completely spoil us. They give us so much food, they must think that we haven’t eaten anything since we’ve arrived in Europe.
They showed us the city with the parliament building and a little park with bears. There also is the river Aare which is cutting through Bern. With its bright blue-green water it’s a beautiful contrast to the houses and trees. From a bridge we saw that there were hundreds of people in the water. The Eggers said that on hot summer days almost every habitant of Bern would jump into the Aare and float down the river, accelerated by nothing but its current. We wanted to do that too, so we got back to get our swim suits. They warned us that we shouldn’t underestimate the current and that we really have to hold on to the handlebar of the exit and then quickly get out of the water. I couldn’t have been in there for too long anyway, the water of the river was FREEZING!!!! But it was so much fun! You don’t have to do anything; the water just carries you down the river.
For dinner, we had a Rösti and Bratwurst. And for dessert the best chocolate cake ever! Gaby, Amanda’s aunt, wrote down the recipe for me, I’ll also put it in this envelope.
Tomorrow, we’re all going to Zermatt and we’ll stay there for a night. From there we should see the famous Matterhorn.
Hope you’re well.
Fiona
Sounded nice, that floating down the river part. Everything sounded nice actually and attached was another postcard which I could hang over my bed. I also found the recipe for the chocolate cake. I’d try that sometime this week.
I found another postcard. I didn’t even have to turn it around to read that it was the Matterhorn. Even I know the model for the small Toblerone chocolates. Of course there was another letter, too.
Hey, it’s me again=)
I’ll put several letters into one envelope this time because I didn’t have the opportunity to run to a post office yet.
Right now I’m sitting on the terrace of our hostel from where I have a view over the small town of Zermatt. The houses in the village are exceedingly pretty, most of them are made out of wood.
Everything is rather expensive here; luckily dinner is included with the overnight stay at the hostel.
After dinner, we made a little walk in the outskirts of town, from where we could see the Matterhorn perfectly. The shape of this mountain beyond doubt is unique.
Tomorrow we’ll take a cog-railway and a cable car to Gornergrat. It’s 3089m above sea level and there is snow up there all year around. Maybe we’ll get the chance for a snowball fight =) – I’ll just continue writing here tomorrow, so, sleep well.
So, now we’re on the train to Lugano which is in the Italian part of Switzerland. The scenery we ride through is simply amazing. Such tall mountains on both sides of us. Down here, everything is green and you know that it’s summer but if you look up, you see that the mountain tips are covered with powdered sugar snow.
Today was awesome. The ride with the cable car alone was already an adventure. I felt a little dizzy so high from the ground, moving towards the sky.
There really was a little snow field up there. I should have remembered to bring a sweater. Was a little cold in my t-shirt…
Although we were up so high, I still felt small because there were so many taller mountains around us.
The best part of it wasn’t even the amazing view, it was the air. I’ve never breathed such clean air in my life. I think it was like a trip to the spa for my lungs.
I’ll write you again from the Italian part of Switzerland.
Take care until then.
xoxoxoxoxo
Fiona
Some mountain air probably wouldn’t be the worst for mine and Lucy’s blood either. But we would get our recuperation at Lake George. Therefore, I was slightly annoyed at my mom’s first reaction.
‘Is this getting serious between the two of you?’ She asked me.
‘What do you mean with serious? We’re just friends and should be allowed to drive away together for a long weekend.’
My mom gave me a long look. ‘You are very sweet with Lucy. I’d just imagine that Fiona would get jealous.’
‘She has to learn to trust me and so should you.’ I exclaimed. ‘I should have just told you that I went with Eric. This conversation is not worth i
t. It’s none of your business what I do or don’t do with Lucy and I don’t want to have a bad conscience for not doing anything.’
My mom smiled. ‘You are right. I’m sorry.’ She sighed. ‘Lucy really doesn’t look too good though. Be careful with her.’
‘I had cancer myself. I hope I know when to push her and when not to.’ I gave back, walking out of the room. I knew my mom only acted this way because she cared but now it felt like too much caring. Something was clear now though; I wouldn’t tell Fiona in an e-mail that I was going away with Lucy. Too much room for misunderstandings. This would have to wait until she’s back.
Chapter 20
Subject: Switzerland
Hello my dear
It felt like Christmas when I received that envelope with all your letters. Again, I wished I could have visited all these places with you and floated down this river, too.
However, my bag is packed; tomorrow I’ll head up to Lake George. I can’t wait. Maybe afterward, you will also receive a longer e-mail because I will actually have something interesting to tell you.
I wished I could hold you in my arms now.
Counting the days.
Kev
The next morning I found Lucy cheerful on the bench in the hospital garden at the appointed time. She was even wearing the surfer towel.
‘Ready?’ I asked.
‘Yep, sooo ready, let's roll.’ She got up with a small backpack in her hands.
‘I hope you didn't pack a book.’ I pointed my eyes towards her bag. ‘I need somebody to talk to while I am driving.’
She laughed. ‘I had to, if not my parents would have got suspicious.’
‘What did you tell them anyway?’
‘I told them the truth actually. They didn't like it at all and we had an argument about it but it was worth it for in the end they realized that they can't keep me like a prisoner on parole and that I still have the right to make new experiences and have some fun. I need to call them tonight though.’
I laughed. ‘Sounds like the conversation I had with my mom.’ Then I frowned. ‘But now they probably dislike me even more than before.’
‘They never disliked you. They mainly didn't want you to,’ she hesitated, ‘grow too attached to me. They probably wanted to keep me for themselves.’ Lucy nudged me.
‘Your parents should read the poem that is inscribed into my birth photo album. Something like; your children are not your children.’ I hesitated to think how it went on. I once learned it by heart for a social studies project during High School. Now it felt as if that was decades ago. Still, the words came back to me, ‘they are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts. For they have their own thoughts.’ Lucy listened intensely. ‘You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.’ I opened the car door for her. ‘I’ve read it so many times and I’m still not sure whether I have understood it right but I just love how it sounds. Above all that we live in the tomorrow. So that like every generation always brings something new which the older generation can’t understand and it’s important that we move on to something different.’
‘How wise. Who wrote this?’ She climbed into the seat and then closed her eyes for a moment letting go of a breath.
‘Khalil Gibran. Are you okay?’
‘Yes, this seat was just quite high to get on to.’
It was a normal pick-up truck.
She continued. ‘I know that my parents do above all love me. Perhaps even a little too much. But they already had to suffer so much because of me; I'd like to keep it at a minimum bay for as long as I have an influence over it.’
I nodded. ‘What music would you like to listen to? There are some discs in the glove box, you can pick one.’ I pointed to the box.
So from then on, we were rolling along with Gym Class Heroes in the background.
We arrived at Lake George shortly after 1 pm and had lunch at a small diner in town.
‘I can’t believe there still is the same ice cream truck.’ I pointed out excitedly. ‘And in that Italian restaurant, there is a pinball machine.’
Lucy laughed. ‘I imagine you were as hyped when you came here on vacations as a child.’
‘I’m just happy to be back.’ I replied. ‘Instant holiday mood.’ I put my fingers together like a zen yogi.
After lunch, we drove to the address which Amy, our Couchsurfer, had written us. We pulled into a private driveway leading towards a house slightly hidden by the forest. The house wasn’t big but it had a nice wraparound porch with chairs installed on it.
I stopped on the graveled parking lot. A red haired woman with a very big belly became visible behind the screen door.
We both climbed out of the car and she waved at us, so we made our way towards her.
‘Hi, Amy, nice place you’ve got here.’ I said.
‘Yes, it’s wonderful to live where other people spend the few days of the year on which they want to forget all their stress.’ She smiled and stepped away from the door so that we could enter. I was fanning myself. Today was turning into a rather hot day. I hadn’t really noticed it with the AC in the car.
‘I know and in my condition this heat is hardly bearable. I'm glad that I could cut back at work and can spend most of the time inside these cool four walls. I don't want to imagine what it would be like carrying this one through August, too.’ Amy tapped on her stomach.
‘Well, it doesn't look like this one will have to stay in there for much longer.’ Lucy smiled.
‘No, two more weeks.’ Amy leaned against a counter and pointed around herself.
‘This is the living room and as you can see, we do have a couch but it’s quite small. For Lucy alone it would probably work. But usually our Couchsurfers stay in the guest room with a real bed.’ Amy said.
I shot Lucy a glance. I naturally assumed that Lucy and I would sleep on separate couches or in sleeping bags.
Lucy shrugged. ‘The guest room sounds great, Amy. So, you already had Couchsurfers at your house?’ She then asked.
‘Yes, many. From the west coast, from Canada, from Norway, France and Spain.’ Amy listed. ‘With some of them we’re still in contact.’
I noticed many pictures of Amy and Ben travelling together. I had to think of Fiona who was jetting around Europe right then, without me. I wanted to be there with her. We should have shared such an adventure together. We. I wondered whether there ever could be again the “we” that we used to be.
Amy pulled me out of my thoughts.
‘So, unfortunately, I can't accompany you but that's definitely worth doing.’
‘Sounds like fun, let's go there, Kevin.’ Lucy looked at me with enthusiastic eyes.
‘Sure, where?’
‘Haven't you been listening?’ Lucy shook her head. ‘To that canoeing place.’
‘Ah yeah. Good idea.’ I liked canoeing.
Amy wrote down the directions for us and we got back into the car for the short drive. I parked in a secluded forest area next to the lake. The trees lined up on the waterfront and green branches were hanging into the water. In the middle of this idyllic scene was a little cottage which was like a garage for small boats.
There was an entrance with a dusty counter on the far side of the water. As we waited there, we heard footsteps and shortly afterward, an old man arrived. He was dressed in Jeans and a tank top and from the sweat, we could guess that he must have been working.
We paid for two hours and the man took us inside the cottage where all the boats were stored. He handed us some lifejackets which we put on. The center of the cottage was hollow and open, so that the water could float inside. Some boats and canoes were already in the water; others were piled up along the walls. I steadied the canoe for Lucy when she climbed int
o the boat and once I sat down as well, the guy gave us a little push out of the shade of the cottage and suddenly we were under the bright sun above Lake George.
‘It’s beautiful.’ Lucy leaned back. ‘Look how nice it is with the trees surrounding the water and the blue sky in the background.’
With a few strokes I moved us even further out on the lake.
‘Yes, wonderful. How about we paddle to that island?’ I pointed to the center of the lake about 300 yards from us.
‘Yes, Amy said it’s the best place to swim because there aren’t as many people.’
With each of my movements, we glided further across the surface of the water.
‘Do you want to paddle?’ I offered after a while.
‘Why, are you tired?’
‘No, it’s fun. I thought maybe you wanted to also.’
‘Okay.’ She said and I gave her the paddles.
Lucy had a great handling with them but after about 10 strokes she rested and we slowed down in silence. I looked around and felt tiny on that big lake.
Lucy let go of a long breath. ‘My arms are tired already. I don’t have any muscles anymore.’
I took the paddles from her. ‘That’s okay. The guy is supposed to row anyway and the lady should just enjoy.’
We reached the island after about 15 minutes and canoed along the shore to find a good landing. Some other people swam in the water and rested ashore but we found a small area without anybody else around yet. I hopped into the water which was about knee deep so close to the island and pulled the canoe next to the grass, that Lucy could climb out.
‘What a service.’ She smiled.
