With Love, Greece.

Chapter 2

After brushing off my strange, yet warming encounter with Maria, I decided it was time to explore, with one destination in mind. I walk down the cobbled path, boutiques, pharmacies, salons, tavernas lining each side. Beautiful purple flowered vines overhead. I changed into my white summer dress, flowy with thin straps along with my white sandals, which have probably seen better days. I make the most of wearing my favourite colour whenever I can. I love it.

Now it's nearly midday, the temperature is warming up compared to what it was when I arrived this morning.

I come to a clearing at the bottom of the pathway, opening up between two tavernas slash bars. The port is straight in front, I say port, it's really just a long, cobbled walkway leading into the sea, allowing the ferry to pull in and let people off. The port to the left of me is mostly lined with yachts and more restaurants and bars, the same as on my right.

I step forward, turning to my right I eye the reason I chose this place. The church is set on a small hill, a circle area of land sitting above the ocean in the corner of the town. The tavernas line along as well, following the corner round and down before stopping at the hill.

Skiathos Town, my heaven.

In my mind, I was doing what I did best, making a mental checklist. This one was of things I loved; the reasons in which I decided I loved this place.

The sky: crisp and blue.

The sea: so clear I can see the fish.

The smells: salty sea and the smell of the tavernas cooking up a storm.

The views: No, the view. That view. The church.

Stood proud, centre of attention in the corner.

I left my mental list for a moment to focus my mind into imagining, envisioning the wedding, married right at dusk where the sun is setting behind and the twinkle of thousands of fairy lights can light the sky.

Think Mamma Mia, think Sophie's wedding, but not the hill. Nor the donkey. Poor donkey. I really should donate to the donkey charity of Greece. Is that a thing? That's something I should definitely look into later. Perhaps while I'm watching Mamma Mia and not thinking about my new housemate scurrying around somewhere. Yes, good plan, great plan. Now where was I... "LOOK OUT!"

My head snapped to the side where I saw what seemed to be a slow-motion chain of events occurring around me, and then to me. Firstly, there was a motorcycle, or moped, or whatever small, probably illegal and definitely not road worth, fail it's MOT type two-wheel vehicle coming speeding round the corner with bundles of fruit and veg corded down on the back.

Secondly, and probably a very important piece of information my brain struggled to process, was the fact this vehicle was coming for me, straight for me. Or, it was. And then? Then there was some shouting, some movement at my side and then a thick, strong, yes definitely strong, hand clasped around my upper arm.

Then, (because this is happening in slow motion and my brain can apparently pick apart each aspect perfectly well, yet too slowly for me to actually act upon it) I was moving, or falling. I closed my eyes and braced myself for pain, some kind of pain, from either the ground or the moped, or something. But nothing. Nothing but a big, hard, warm, object engulfing me.

When the last three seconds of my life had finally finished playing back to me, I focused on my surroundings before I finally opened my eyes again.

The change in smell was most prominent, still salty, but something else. A hit of masculine. Strong, but not overpowering. A bit like the warmth that surrounded me, not the warmth from the sun on my skin, this I felt deep in me. Like someone was warming me up from the inside out. It was how I felt when someone was hugging me, but that wouldn't be happening now, right?