Escaping The Loop

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"Let us indulge in the true Greek experience, shall we?" I remarked. I really did want to experience Greece. Especially Santorini. It was actually on the list.

Our room was simple yet tasteful. Every single item in the room seemed to fit into the theme of the house-on-an island. Completely white with white furniture, it couldn't have been more than 6 meters in length, approximately. A double door leading to a very small balcony overlooking the city and the sea. White. Everything.

We freshened up and joined Cecilia's family in the courtyard. The courtyard took the majority of the space on which the house was built. Cecilia's uncle wedded two of his daughters there. Her uncle was a simple modest man who settled with his wife of 35 years after retiring from the German air force. Weird right? A German and a Greek woman, what are the chances? Well fate right? The general concept that seems to delude us all when explaining simple coincidence and chance.

He had seven daughters. Yes seven. Ages ranging from 32 to 10, three married, two in colleges, one in high school, and the youngest still in elementary school.

As soon as we sat down her aunt started reprimanding us, don't know what for but she really is upset. I turn to Cecilia and asked what she was talking about, "She thinks we are trying to kill ourselves, not eating and wasting away and whatnot. She says no one will look our direction in our current state"

"That is kind of the point, I am …", then I remembered and looked at my right hand. This is the third time it slips my mind. I left. I left. The other day I was unpacking with Cecilia and when we were done I said, unconsciously with no realization, "I need to call Zen and tell him well arrived safely", it took a micro second to remember what happened. That I did not need to tell him anything. He was no longer affiliated with me. The friendship he offered was a desperate move I know, but I needed space, I need to do the things I want to do. That offer, that friendship, seemed like a mist, this ooze of nostalgia seeking refuge in my present. He was the past. And I wanted to escape that. That loop.

"That happened to me too, first couple of months after the divorce. Random tasks and thoughts involved him. 'Where were my keys?', 'Did you pick up the dry cleaning Alex', even once I started yelling that I lost my ring then I remembered I threw it in his face the day the divorce was finalized. You never realize how important a person is until you realize that your day starts and ends with them, and that’s when it is too late."

"Cecilia the difference between you and me, is that I left. He didn't leave me. I did it with full awareness."

"Exactly. You will know exactly what I just said." Then she exited the room with no other word on the matter. I am not her husband, if she is trying to find some common points between my situation and hers, she is wrong. I left for good. So did her husband.

As for her aunt, I shrugged in reply. I didn’t speak Greek what did she expect?

"How about a walk?" I turned to the lady who asked. One of Cecilia's cousins, one of the girls in college.

"Yes that would be great" and gave my best shot at a smile, which to normal people might seem like I am struggling with constipation.

We were walking in the streets of Oia, with the white and blue windmills the commercials are always so enthusiastic about, and still it had no effect on me. The rational part of me started regretting the decisions I made. Leaving work, leaving Zen, what was I thinking? While I was wondering how and why, spacing out- doing that a lot lately- the yelling and name calling were not even heeded, and suddenly I was monumentally knocked over by a moron on a Vespa.

"KALON YOU IDIOT!" was what I heard Cecilia say while I was on the ground with this supposed Kalon and his Vespa on top of me. I think I broke my leg. I think.

"Seriously Cecilia, your friend here was elsewhere, I was yelling and yelling and she did not listen, how is it my fault?"

 

Kalon: origin: Greek

             Meaning: beauty that is more than skin                      deep.

This guy was a jerk. Yet dammit looked great being one. The only time I was ever physically attracted to someone was Zen. And I didn’t even act upon it, he led I followed.

This guy was something else. The kind that is always and I mean always up to no good. Avoided those a lot in my life. Yet here is an example, a testament, that they are unavoidable. The kind that allowed me to forget about my possibly broken leg. He rose up and pulled his stupid Vespa from on top of me. His raged expressions softened when he looked down at me.

"I am so sorry Cecilia's friend, here let me help you."

"Still a swine I see" Cecilia muttered

"Oh hush Cecilia, beautiful ladies with fiery eyes have always been my weakness." As he was addressing Cecilia and helping me up-supposedly- this intense pain sparked throughout my whole leg and crumbled me to the ground. 

"Jillian!" Cecilia came to my aid.

"What did you say your name was?" I asked with clenched teeth.

 "Kalon and you are Jillian" he answered with such cheerfulness, meh.

"So Kalon, stay away from me you idiot! You broke my leg you stupid irresponsible Greek, I came here to find peace, and here I am with a broken leg! Great just great! Thank you I just needed a cast to be a cherry on top of my recent emotional crisis!"

He laughed. That smug son of a bitch laughed.

"Your fiery eyes sparkle when you are angry. So beautiful."

"Seriously!? Man you are a piece of work! Break a girl's leg then present her with the cheesiest pick up line ever!"

"Oh well, it has done me good so far" and he winked. The nerve of this man!

"Cecilia I need this checked out, do you know a doctor or a hospital or clinic nearby?"

"My father has a clinic, I guess he could put a cast on that" interjected Kalon.

"I don’t have much faith in anything you say, is his father any good?" I asked Cecilia, she nodded.

"Fine take us to your father's clinic." I said with conviction trusting Cecilia's judgment.

A cast in Santorini never a good idea.