The three of us at dusk

The three of us on vacation

We are going to  Dublin!

Well I am.

Gorm isn't interested. He says it's selfish and "How could you do this to Louise. To ME!?"

"I think a little break would be nice" I had answered innocently.

I've always wanted to go back to Dublin, ever since my sabbatical when I was 18.

The people, the pub, the coulture. I really felt at home.

"Fine then. LEAVE! Run away from your problems like you always do!" Gorm had shouted in my face.

I couldn't take his scrutiny anymore, so I had left the room to go pack. I'm leaving tomorrow, and I won't be back for 4 glorious days. 4 days of freedom!

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I was up at 5 am, and out of the house by 5:30 am.

I got a taxi, since we only had the one car, and by 7:30 I was on the plane.

***

I'm reading a guide book, when I har a familiar voice.

"Ulla?" he says daringly.

I turn around. I could smell him, but I needed visual proof that he was actually there.

He was. 

"Ian!" I exclaimed.

He was looking at me, pointing to the empty seat next to me, raising an eyebrow, asking to sit.

"Of course" I said, moving the book I had put down there.

"What're you doing here?" I asked.

"Going home for a few days, to feel...right" he answeres.

"I got 3 weeks payed off of work to 'figure things out' as my boss says. But what about you? What brings you to Dublin?" asks Ian.

"A break. I went when I was 18, and going back always felt right." I say.

"Where's Gorm?" he asks.

"Working" I say without hesitationg. I don't want to get into it.

"Shame" Ian says, but he isn't upset.

"We can still have fun though" he says as he is getting up.

 I don't say anything

"Where are you staying?" he asks.

"umm..The crown plaza" I answer questioningly.

"Great! I'l pick you up at eight" he says, and he's gone before I can answer.

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Eight O'Clock has never taken so long to arrive.

Earlier I had walked around, had lunch, seen a few monuments and stuff, but it was hard not to focus on tonight.

I wait in the lobby, and at 7:59, oddly punctual for Ian, a tall man steps in from the rain. He has an umbrella that he is shaking outside, as he steps in backwards through the door, but the immediate attraction I feel towards him let's me know that it's him.

He is turning around.

Even though I've seen his face many times, real and as a fragment of my imagination, I am excited!

Wait! Where is he? He's gone. All I see is....

Oh no!....

GORM!

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