Solitudine

As I sat on the beach, the only thing I could think of was what my parents were doing at that exact moment. Being five thousand miles from home left me wondering that a lot. Would my father be in the living room, sipping a beer while watching a show? Would my mother be making a puzzle in the kitchen? I am five thousand miles away and in a different time zone. Italy is nine hours ahead of my parents back in America. I could always pick up the phone and call them, but I could only call past four pm my time. Practically a whole day has passed for me, while their day has just begun.

            Normally I am not in Italy, but this was a quick pit stop after my recent excursion to Moldova over spring break. I had a fifteen-hour layover in Fiumicino, Italy, and decided not to sleep on the airport floor. I booked a cute little bed and breakfast to stay in while I waited, except there was one problem, I don’t have my phone charger. This is not a life-threatening situation, but my plane ticket was on my phone, so I need to keep it alive for five am tomorrow morning.

            I stood up from the old sailing boat left on the beach and started walking towards town. In the distance, I can see a family playing football. They are too far away to make out any features, but I can tell they are rich by the beach house they are gathered in front of. That was all this beach was, a line of beach houses and one little beach restaurant that only serves club members. I walked back through the fence entrance and onto the street. There must be a store close. I was hoping I could find one that had a phone charger, but this town seemed abandoned. All the shops had large gates in front of it closing it off and no cars were visible going up or down any of the roads.

I made my way back to the street where my bed and breakfast stood but hooked a right going the other way. I wasn’t worried about getting lost. From the paper map I had in my hands, the town looked small. Only four streets across and three wide. I folded my map and set off down the street. The beach town was peaceful with flowers glowing through the cracks in the sidewalk and the orange sun beaming down just enough heat to make the walk enjoyable. Coming up on my left was a burger place that seemed open. My Italian is rusty, but maybe someone could point me in the right direction. I walked up to the open door and saw two men inside. Being a female alone in a foreign country always left me feeling on edge around men. I stayed on the outside of the restaurant and in my best Italian I asked where I could find a store.

            “Ciao, sai dov’è un negozio?” Both men looked up at me and laughed. I was taken aback. I didn’t think my Italian was that bad. One of the men took a couple of steps forward “Closed, Easter Signora.” I took out my phone and looked at the date, it was Easter. Of course, everything was closed. I laughed to myself and said “Grazie” and turned away from the door. How could I not remember that it was Easter? It was the reason I was off university in the first place. I looked around and realized that this place wasn’t abandoned, everyone was just at home with their families and in the same breath, I longed for mine.

            I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time, it was 7:02 pm. My phone’s battery said 32%. I decided then that I could afford one phone call. I unlocked my phone and went into WhatsApp, an app I had so I could talk to my family while being international. I dialed my father’s phone number and held it up to my ear. The familiar specialized ring from WhatsApp rang through my ears as I made my way back to the place I had just come from. My father always answers the phone, no matter what. After four rings, I heard his husky voice answer from the other side of the world.

            “Hey Rina, how are you? What time is it there?” I had told him how I was nine hours ahead instead of eight since I was in Italy, but he still never took the time to do the quick calculation.

“It’s around seven pm here Dad.” I sighed, but I was still happy to talk to him.

“Your mom and I are about to leave for church, it’s Easter today, but we miss you. When you get back to Madrid, I want to hear everything about your trip and how the food as in Moldova.”

“You got it, I wanted to hear your voice right now though, I miss you and Mom a lot today.”

“Oh honey, we are always a phone call away, but we are running out the door right now, give me a call later. I love you.”

“I love you too Dad.”

The phone clicked off and I took in reality. I was back on the beach next to the old sailboat I had used as a seat before. Here I was again, alone on the most beautiful beach I have ever been on, looking out at the sea and the sun that painted it with a gorgeous red and pink glow. I sat back down on the sailboat and pulled my jacket around me tighter. At that moment, I wasn’t sad, but I wasn’t happy. I was in solitude and told myself I was lucky to be given the opportunity to be here on this beach, with money in my pocket, and a family I could call home to.