STALKER

Chapter 119 - 6th to 13th February 2024 - Venice

6th

Weirdo and I were buried under the covers. I could feel him pressed against my back for extra warmth. For a full 15 minutes I didn't dare move, it felt too good. Even though Joseph lit a fire for us each evening warming the room before we went to bed, by the morning with only embers remaining the room was cold. I popped my head out from under the blankets and instantly felt the chill against my forehead and nose but I did see something that made me happy. The gap in the curtains showed some orange and blue sky. Hallelujah, the fog had finally dissipated as the weather bureau promised. The last couple of days had felt like we were living in a twilight world, a monochrome world. I was desperately missing the Sun.

The gloom hadn't kept us indoors, it just limited the things we could go and see. So we walked the streets for hours, venturing in and out of shops and cafes, doing a little souvenir shopping, and testing the local food and wine, and more wine. I made up a new rule...there is no such thing as having too much wine when in Italy.

I totally own up to going into every single mask shop we passed to Weirdo's disgust but I made up for that by going into every church and museum he found. It's still early days in our relationship and I'm still learning about the man.  For one thing, I never knew he was a compulsive photographer of everything and I mean everything.  It was a revelation. I don't think we could walk more than a few meters without having to stop for him to take 20 photos of the same thing from different angles. He's really into old interesting doors, windows, and OMG he looooves churches. We saw bits of saints, gross,  encased in gold set into altars, the supposed bones of Saint Donatus and the dragon he killed, sure... pull the other one. Enough gold and gilt to save the world's starving several times over and of course, there was the artwork which even an uncultured heathen like me could appreciate. In the end, I lost track of what we saw and where we saw it.  I was content to trudge after him, following on his heels, as he owwd and ahd at things he found. 

For me, the enjoyment came from watching him get excited over a reeeeally AMAZING DOOR KNOCKER he found down some narrow laneway. A door knocker so exciting he had to take ten photos to make sure he got the perfect shot. Am I being sarky, yes I am but more than anything I wanted him to have fun.  So I kept my mocking to a minimum.  I really must love him because the old me would have walked off and tried to find the nearest pub.

It was my nose starting to freeze over that reminded me I need to get out of bed. Looking at the orange sky turn blue made me want to get out of bed and start planning the day. We could go to Burano or San Michele island,  then end the day with sunset at Saint Mark's Square and finally dinner at Cafe Florian.   I made a point of keeping him away from there so he could see it at its best.  A rush of excitement hit me and I shot out of bed. Well...I almost made it out of bed when the arms that were around my waist pulled me back. Weirdo wasn't ready to lose his human hot water bottle.

"Let go. The fog's finally gone. I want to plan our day." I tried to tug his hands off but he just pulled me under the covers with him and slipped his warm hands under my sweatshirt.

"Come on," I whined. "Let go." Just to be contrary he rolled his leg over me instead and I was trapped.

"It's still early...stay." He snuggled closer, his wandering hands running up and down my chest. I struggled to escape. We were at an en passe. "At least give me a kiss."

"No." More snuggling more struggling. "I have morning breath. I need to brush my teeth first."

"Hypocrite.  You insisted I give you a kiss goodnight last night and we both know where your mouth was for a good part of the evening.  Germs didn't seem to worry you then." Weirdo smirked.  He was right, point taken.  It wasn't my fault he was tasty from one end to the other.