Only one word describes the hours that follow my encounter with Laura: torture. I glance out the windshield of my car, and all I see is me on the day of our wedding, dressed in a beige suit and a red tie, holding her letter in my trembling hand. It’s as if my mind is stuck within that moment in time; that point when my world was turned upside down. And, much to my frustration, none of the scenery that had stunned me earlier appeals to me anymore. They seem too small to overshadow the memory of Laura’s betrayal. Worse than that, she had the nerve to tell me she still loves me. Unbelievable… How can you claim to love someone and treat him in the worst possible way? How can you humiliate him to pretty much everyone he knows? These two questions will continue to bother me, even after I’ve found my significant other. I have to talk to Laura again to get answers, and this is way more than I can handle.

Still, the worst part of this unfortunate meeting isn’t the memories that plague me. I’m sure I will find a distraction, sooner or later. Besides, that’s what a vacation is all about: getting away from it all. Michael and Dean can see right through me. A single glance is all it will take for them to understand that something went wrong on my little excursion. I can picture the whole conversation. They will both freak out, and start remembering that fateful day. Dean will lecture me again about “why a guy shouldn’t date rich chicks,” It’s one of his favorite topics, if not his most favorite. He believes that the richer someone is, the less chances she or he has of finding happiness. Regardless of my opinion on the matter, the effect it will have on both of my friends will be catastrophic. We’ll end up staying in and reminiscing about the past. I can’t do that to them. Therefore, I prefer to text Michael, saying that I’ve found good company, and that I’ll be back by tomorrow morning.

Daylight is already fading away when I drive into the city of Heraklion. I drive past the main port and reach a smaller harbor. The image that enters my view splashes a warm sensation onto my face. Dozens of small, fishing boats are adjacent to one another, gently rocking in the calm water. The Venetian Castle on the massive breakwater catches my eye. Most of the people I see stroll away from the shore and toward that historical monument. I park my car at the side of the road, believing that I have found the distraction I need so much.

I let out a long, deep sigh as the call of a seagull fills my ears. I stride into the breakwater, wondering for the millionth time why Laura had gotten cold feet. For the first few weeks after the fiasco, I believed it was completely my fault. “Maybe I didn’t convince her about my feelings for her,” was one of the statements I repeated the most to Michael and Dean. “Maybe she believes I’m too laid back to start a family,” was another thing I used to tell them. Still, after recovering from such a shock, I realized that taking the blame for what she had done was nonsensical. Laura had all the proof of love she needed. The sapphire wedding ring I had given her screamed “I love you,” Furthermore, I’m not the first laid back guy ever to get married, and I definitely wouldn’t be the last.

I seat myself on a bench, gazing down at the reflection of the harbor lights on the water. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my thighs. Cheerful people are walking by, but I don’t have the heart even to glance at them.

“Excuse me?” A female voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up and to the left, only to see a slender brunette standing beside a curvy blonde, with a cell phone in her grasp. “Can you please take our picture?”

“Yeah, sure,” I nod, arising to my 6’2” stature. Taking the phone in my hand, I press my eye to the lens. The two friends are all smiles, with their arms around each other’s waists. The flash illuminates the night as I press the button. Without uttering a single word, I hand over the device back to its owner.

“Thank you,” she chirps, flashing me a bright-eyed look. I dismiss them with a nod, and return to the bench. I’m not interested in socializing with them or anyone else for that matter. I just want to be alone with my thoughts. I ease my back against the wall, my gaze returning to the brilliant harbor lights. At that moment, I catch something else, out of the corner of my eye: Two, long legs in a denim miniskirt on my right.

“My friend and I have made a bet,” she informs me. “I think you look so sad because of a woman. She thinks you lost a loved one recently. Which one is it?”

“You and your friend should mind your own business,” I mutter, unwilling to play her game. “Please, leave me alone.”

“Sorry, I can’t do that,” she says, her voice lowering to a much softer tone. “We’ve been watching for ten, maybe fifteen minutes. You’re distracted. I can tell by the look in your eyes. And, uh…” she pauses. “You proved it by taking our picture. We could have taken a selfie.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I agree, pressing my lips together. “Will you go away if I answer your question?”

“Cross my heart,” she replies, making the ritual gesture.

“It’s a woman,” I state, putting some force in my voice, “a nasty, cold-hearted woman.”

“Thank you,” she gives a nod of appreciation. “Look, I know this is a bad time. But, I’ll be here tomorrow night if you want to talk about it. Same time, okay?”

“Alright,” I say, my own voice but a whisper.

Sure, and I’m the pope.

I do mean to scoff at her. We don’t even know each other’s names, and she has just offered to hear me out. What kind of person does that? Still, I do no such thing. I choose to let her and her friend walk away. I’m in no mood for an argument, let alone one that seems pointless. I have nothing against that girl. She’s not the one to blame for my poor psychological condition. I can’t blame anyone else for Laura’s act of betrayal.