I don't want to be alone

Europe

It's the summer after college and Irene and I are going on the Europe trip we had planned for over a year. The excitement and realization hits me as I finalize the things in my bag and grab my phone to check the flight details one last time. I turn to look at Irene and say "Hey Irene are you finished packing?". She replies,  "yeah just about". 

Once we arrive at the airport we check in and decide to browse around the little shops and stop for Starbucks. Once our flight takes off Irene dozes off to sleep right away since she made the mistake of drinking coffee at 1am while last minute packing.  I got the window seat so I stared out as the world below me began to become blurry and for a second I felt like I was on top of the world. Halfway through the flight Irene and I get bored so we bring out her deck of cards and play many rounds of speed which end up in me winning most of them. Excitedly Irene shouts "OH MY GOD we're here I'm so excited Esther" while jumping up and down 

We both whisper screamed about how excited we were and crammed our way through the crowd to get our bags. Our trip begins in Rome since I really wanted to see the colosseum. We weren't rich so we could only afford  to stay in small hotels where the view is decent but the noise of the busy street. After leaving the airport we hail a taxi to take us to our hotel. Irene and I stare in awe at all of the beautiful stores and pretty buildings. 

It's 8am and Irene and I are headed to our first destination, shopping and hopefully taking pretty pictures by the river. But before that we head downstairs to look for food. Irene points to a cafe she saw on her phone that sold the best pastries so we looked around for directions. The cafe was so small but had an adorable view next to a floral shop selling various bouquets holding roses, tulips, carnations, and peonies. The bright colors added a super beautiful backdrop to my breakfast picture as I took a bite of my cheese danish acting candid. Irene laughed at me and said "your hand looks funny here let me retake it for you". After breakfast we take a taxi to one of the malls we spotted on the way to our hotel in the taxi. I accidentally run into someone without looking and we both look at each other in shock "oh my god I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there' I say sheepishly. the stranger looks at me and smiles 'it's okay you didn't hurt me that much" he giggled while moving aside for people to pass. "are you two new here?" he asks pointing at Irene. "yes we are". He offers to show us around. "my name is Francisco by the way I didn't catch yours?" he looks at me with the most beautiful deep blue eyes I've ever seen. " uh my name is Esther and this is my best friend Irene". She smiles and waves. "it's nice to meet you Esther and Irene". The way he said my name just rolled off his tongue and it almost made me fall in love with my own name. "I have to go ladies but if you ever need anything here's my number" he grabs my phone out of my hand and puts in his number adding the contact name Francisco before handing it back to be barely grazing my fingers. He looks up at me and smiles "I hope we meet again Esther and you too Irene" but he said her name as if to only make her feel included. I watched as he walked away not looking back at me and my heart dropped. who was this man and why was I so pulled towards him? 

A few shopping bags later and sore feet Irene and I head back to the hotel. She immediately passes out on the bed so I lay on mine staring at my phone screen with Francisco's number before I too doze off.