NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 12

All the last week before the holidays, Anna hated herself and was amazed at the same time. Inside her fought both the common sense, literally screaming that to fly to another country for two weeks to a guy she never saw was not right and dangerous; and the conscience, adding on top that it was also somehow impudent and dishonorable.

Another two fought with them—the adventurism, considering that the idea was just excellent and would bring many new experiences; and blind love, which had little in common with anything sensible. But the latter was the real argument, which was the reason for the trip.

Anna felt a strange feeling of infatuation. It had little logic. She never met Randall in real life. She saw him in video chats, knew his manner of speaking, his tastes, and habits. In a short time of cyber-dating, they talked over absolutely everything.

Every morning she woke up from a short text message, "Good morning, beauty," and finished the day with "Goodnight, Anna, waiting for tomorrow's communication." She devoted all her free time to Randall, and it felt like she had known him for many years.

Doubts and fears changed her mind about the upcoming trip several times a day, but still, every time she saw a message from Randall, she succumbed to the temptation to get to know him in real life, and her decision again became in favor of the trip.

Whatever it was, there came a day when it was necessary to hesitate to fly or not fly for the last time. Already with tickets bought and dozens of happy messages from Randall on her phone, Anna decided. She gathered her luggage and looked around the apartment again. Then she grabbed the documents from the table, hurried down to where the taxi was already expecting.

The flight was pleasant, but the subsequent events made Anna regret that she had arrived at all.