The River Speaks

Chapter Thirty Five: Hotel Lobby

Chapter Thirty Five: Hotel Lobby

After walking on the right side for what felt like eternity, decided to google how long the canal is.

Two miles.

Which means I'm walking four miles.

My phone vibrates and I look down at it.

April: you know its december 23rd right? Have you found him yet?

Me: no

April: where have you looked

Me: Boston, Philadelphia, Amsterdam. I'm in Venice, Italy.

April: you left the USA?!?!?!

Me: I really need to talk to him april

April: okay I hope you find him. Mama wants to know if you're coming back with Aiden for the holiday? If you find him by the holiday. And if you don't but find him before New Years if you're coming back then

Me: idk I'll talk to Aiden when I find him

April: okay good luck lmk ily

Me: I love you too

I reach the end of the canal and cross the bridge to the other side.

Where will I go after Venice? I don't know where to look next.

Maybe I'll check Paris since it's closer, and if he's not there, I'll go to Australia.

I'm worried with how much money I'm spending. What if I get to Australia and he's not there? What if I get to Australia and realize I can't afford to get home?

And when I get home, what then? Guaranteed I lost my job.

Panicked, I check my bank. I'm already in my savings and I've spent over a thousand dollars just getting around.

The further down the canal I get, the more everything hurts.

It's freezing outside. I haven't eaten. I haven't slept. I'm dragging a dirty suitcase with me everywhere.

I probably look homeless.

And I'm alone.

If there was just some way to contact Aiden...

I sit down on a bench, shaking my head.

I can't think straight. I can't get on another plane yet. I need to go to bed.

I shut my eyes momentarily and think about getting to be in a warm hotel with a bed and a shower and food.

I nod to myself.

Tonight I'll stay in hotel. Tomorrow I'll fly to Paris.

I force myself to my feet and look for the nearest hotel.

*****

I type furiously on my phone trying to get google translate to tell the man at the hotel desk that I need a room.

He's just staring at me and there's a long line and people are whispering in Italian and I feel like they're not exactly saying nice things, so I shake my head and step out of the line.

I can't sleep on the street. It's too cold.

Overwhelmed and frustrated, I sink down onto the ground against the wall, burying my head in my hands.

What the hell are you doing, Lily? You have the entire fucking world to search. That's a lot of work. He could be on a plane back to Boston by now.