GOODBYE TO ALL THAT
A very short story about Alys.
The doorbell rang. A flicker of joy leaped in me, only to die as quickly at the sound of a key. He never had a key.
"Alys! Alys!"
"Out here Daddy, on the balcony."
I had splashed my face well with cold water when I had eventually stopped crying and the light was fading so perhaps he wouldn't notice my swollen puffy eyes.
"Bring a glass with you, if you want a drink."
"what are you doing out here?" he asked.
"Enjoying the evening."
He picked up the jug of bombeirinho to pour out a glass.
"Mother of God, Alys, why are you drinking this rot gut?"
"I like it."
He sat beside me.
"I was in town so I thought I'd see what time you wanted to be picked up for the airport tomorrow. 10.30 a.m. be ok for you?"
"Fine." My tone was listless and we said nothing for a while.
"Why have you been crying?"he asked gently.
"I haven't been crying." I lied. "It's hay-fever."
We both knew I had never suffered from hay-fever in my life.
We sat with our drinks while the sky deepened from mauve to black.
"Is it that man?"
"What man?"
He paused.
"The one who was in your bed when we were here the other week."
He waited but I made no reply.
"My darling, you are a grown woman and may lead your life as you see fit, but two weeks wasn't really long enough to know someone before you go to bed with him."
God! If you only knew, Daddy!
"I have known him more than two years." I muttered.
"Do I know him?"
I didn't answer.
Slowly he asked, "Is he married?"
Again I didn't answer.
"Alright, Alys," he said heavily, raising his hands. " If you don't know want to talk about it…. I would just like to punch the daylights out of him. To toss you aside..."
I smiled a little wry smile.
"I think you would come off worse, Daddy."
I sighed.
"No, he is not married, and he didn't toss me aside. It was me, not him. My decision not his."
"Will you see him again?"
"I doubt it. Maybe... not for a very long time."
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