Only you, just you

Just one look

 
  When I bare my soul to you, know that what lies within is the expanse of  a galaxy.
Far more precious than any star you could ever wish to hold.   Words by Jen

Rey was relieved that she wasn't hauled off to jail for assault and battery of airline worker.
Her thoughts swirled and pinged around in her mind. She knew where he was going, so she did what any level headed, sensible, mature adult would do...... she bought two tickets to Venice ,Italy !

  She quickly called Poppy to tell her to pack her bags but it wasn't easy to convince her . Poppy tried to talk some sense into Rey but she would not be denied.

    " It's Labor Day weekend, I don't have any classes till Tuesday.... No.... It's not a coincidence. If I don't go I'll regret it for the rest of my life! Always asking myself 'what if'. And what about him? He's been looking for me all his life too. Shouldn't I go to him so he has a chance for happiness?"

" I think your crazy Rey, you can't possibly find him in a country that large."
Poppy knew from previous times that once Rey had convinced herself that what she was doing was right, there was no talking her out of it.
"But if you've already bought the tickets..... I'm coming with you." Poppy said, relinquishing her hold on the situation.
Rey's heart nearly burst from overwhelming excitement.

"Thank you Poppy! Okay, My passport is in the top drawer of my dresser , pack anything non wrinkly , my sandals, and don't forget my hairdryer and face cream."
   Rey glanced at  a large screen with the local time and tried not to let panic set in . "Poppy , hurry,  the plane leaves in a hour and a half!"

Rey paced back and forth in agitated impatience. What was taking her sister in law so long? She couldn't miss this flight. Her whole future depended on her getting to Venice.

Then she saw her with her other friend Michelle trotting behind her. They were pushing and shoving people out of the way as they ran.
Michelle was a good and loyal friend and was carrying Rey's bags like a faithful servant.

"Geez, I wish I was coming with you. Damn , I wish I had a passport!" Michelle grumbled.

Rey squealed as she hugged them both, then quickly turned and ran to the gate. She could hear Poppy muttering to herself,
" I can't believe we're doing this. I can't believe we are doing this.This is crazy."

  A flight attendant that saw Rey's wedding dress  exclaimed in a teasing tone, "Are you going or coming from the wedding?"
She laughed and blushed a pretty shade of pink. Poppy could only grimace at the comment.
    
   Rey almost had Poppy convinced that their little jaunt across the 'Pond' was reasonable and made perfect sense.
Poppy was failing miserably as the voice of reason. " Need I remind you that your wedding is in ten days."

Rey smiled back at her. "What if Duke and I aren't really meant to be together. It might be a mistake."

Michelle , who was tagging along for as long as she could spoke up in Rey's defense. " yeah Poppy, remember the Ouiji board and the fortune teller."

Poppy rolled her eyes at the ludicrous comment as if that made Rey's fantasies credible .

" How are we supposed to find him anyway?" She sighed in defeat.

Rey cheerfully answered, " Venice is a small city , so I called every hotel there and asked if a Poe Dameron was staying there. He's at the Hotel Delvecio."

The two girls made it to the flight with just minutes to spare. Michelle waved a farewell and called 'good luck', as they disappeared into the gangway.

Rey settled herself in her seat after removing the wedding dress in the small lavatory and changing into comfortable clothing.

She closed her eyes and dreamt of the miraculous way she would encounter Poe.

She would be helped out of a gondola by a large and strong hand. The sun would momentarily blind her to the face that belonged to that welcoming hand.
Then she'd blink, her vision would clear and she'd see his face. She would look up into deep soulful eyes . Eyes that she'd gladly drown in. He would see her and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was meant for him. The searching and waiting was over.
They had found each other at last.
They would instantly fall passionately in love and spend the rest of their lives together.

The flight was long and tedious for Rey. If she could get out of the plane and push it to make it go faster , she would have.
She was desperate to get to Italy and to him.
She was too keyed up to eat the in flight meal when it was offered, so Poppy ate it for her. She fretted that Poe would not recognize her when he saw her. That something would prevent her from reaching him.

Could the city go under water before she got there? Would he be with another woman? Would he recognize her?
But then she'd remember that he was her true soulmate and of course he'd see her for who she was. His missing other half.

They finally arrived at the Venice Marco Polo airport.

Walking out of the airport and into the Venetian air was deliciously warm and humid, but the stench of diesel fuel from the many water transports caused Rey's stomach to clench and feel nauseous.
She hadn't eaten for twenty four hours except the bag of peanuts the stewardess offered her at the beginning of the flight, but her spirits lifted when she saw that they were really and truly there.

In Venice!

There were water taxis lined up in a row where passengers could be conveyed to their hotels. A man in a hotel uniform called out their hotel and Rey and Poppy hoped on board.

Poppy hadn't gotten her land legs yet and turned a lovely shade of green when she saw the rocking boats.

Rey marveled at her surroundings. The tall ancient building raised up on each side of the small boat.
When Rey was in college, she took a class on classic Italian literature and the country in general. She still remembered the more interesting parts.

      The city was founded in  the year 425 by the Veneti who had been expelled by the Ostrogoths and the Lombards.
The area was just a marshland at the mouth of the River Po when the people fled their homes for protection from the barbarian conquerors, who would not cross the water.
  More people escaped to this area until they realized  there was need of a new city.

    The architecture was what Rey loved the most.  It was easy for her to imagine how long these structures had withstood the test of time.
She knew that the oldest building was built in the thirteenth century.  The beautiful Gothic and Byzantine architecture  made her practically swoon.
Then she felt momentarily saddened that this amazing city was slowly but surely sinking  back into the lagoon.
She cheered herself up when she thought that any time now she would be seeing it with her one true love.