LOVE IMPALED

NEW YORS, US, AUGUST 2016 (2)

"Hey Danny!"

"Hi Anna, how did you know it was me? Yeah, well, no need to answer that. What are you doing?"

"Watching TV."

"You mean, yelling at it or just watching?"

"Danny, I'm fine. I am, seriously."

"No hard feelings about it? No 'I told you so'?"

"None whatsoever. Although I am tempted to call him, right now, and say that I would have fared a lot better. I mean, in the final minute? C'moooooooon, that's not supposed to happen at the Olympics, you're not 16 anymore, drawing for the finals in some US county."

"You're harsh, I thought they did quite well. As a matter of fact, they were ahead almost all the time."

"Yes, but it's the end that matters, isn't it?"

"You're right about that. OK, glad to hear you're good. What else is new?"

"Nothing, just getting by. How about you?"

"Actually, I'm having a few days off, I'm at the seaside. I'm enjoying myself quite a lot, it's beautiful here. Good weather, good food, good looking girls," said Danny, with a slight sexist tone in his voice. "No waves, dammit. Did you know that the Black Sea is actually the only sea in the world without tide?"

"Danny, what are you talking about?"

"Surfing, what else? You can't surf here, there's no waves."

"Wait, aren't you supposed to be land-based? I remember you said that in an e-mail or something."

"Yes, I am. But you didn't pay attention, I already told you I'm having a few days off."

"Oh, sorry, I might have missed that part."

"It's ok," said Danny. 

"So, how are you doing? I asked, in teasing voice. "I mean, tall, handsome, muscular white American guy, what's not to like?"

Laughter at the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, you had me there. They're all over me, you know. So, I need a bodyguard. Care to come over?"

Finally, he came clean. My bigger friend, always protective, always looking out for me, couldn't fake it any longer with small talk. I smiled a little, as I knew the question had to come, the only aspect of interest being his timing. Actually, I thought his skills improved a bit, he lasted almost ten minutes on the phone before being caught red handed.

"Danny, I said I was okay, I meant it."

"Hey, I believe you. And I know you're thinking I'm brothering you right now, but I'm sooo not," said Danny, laughing. "I just happen to think that a change of climate will do you good. Not to mention that you'll have me around you..."

"A horror, ops, sorry, honor I wanted to say," I replied with a smirk, "that I haven't had for quite some time."

"Exactly! Just about what I was to say," he said playing along.

I decided to go with it, just for the fun.

"K, where exactly did you say you were soldiering?"

"Seaside. I'm actually with my feet in the water, next to a beach bar."

"No, where in the whole world, cause I don't remember right now."

"Vama Veche, Romania."

Romania again. There was something about that country this night, kept appearing at all times. First, the victory over my team – yeah, right, my team! - then the thought about granny, now Danny, not to mention my earlier insane thoughts. On top of it all, Danny pushed the right button at the precise moment, just as he always did.

"You know, you could come over and spar with the local team, in revenge. Everybody here's screaming and drinking on account of these girls, it's a matter of national pride. Come and get'em, you show them who's the best!"

You tell me, I said to myself. It would have been a matter of pride for me as well, if I had been part of the Rio team. Of course, with the minor amendment of winning a medal, but at the moment this aspect seemed unimportant.

"Didn't you always say that you wanted to visit Romania? Cause of your granny?"

"Yes, I did, but this just doesn't feel like the proper time".

"There's never going to be a proper time for that, you'll always find one reason or another to delay that trip."

I could sense the truth in his voice now. Although he was joking and trying to cheer me up, he tried to turn the conversation to logical arguments, ever the way to convince me of doing anything. And as a matter of fact, I did want to go to Romania, quite for a long time. But naaah, at this moment, I just didn't feel like it.

"What do you say?" asked Danny again.

"No. I can't go to Romania right now."

"Why not?"

I stumbled in my thoughts, trying to answer him. He was right again, there was no reason, other than that I hadn't given too much thought on this, not to go. In truth, such a trip could prove the medicine I needed. There were months since that conversation with the coach, months during which I practically did nothing.

"Uhmmm, I don't ..."

"See," replied Danny triumphantly on the phone, "you have no reason not to do it. Come on, it will be fun."

"Danny, it will take two full days just to get over there. And I'm gonna be a total pain in the ass."

"Course you'll be, that's your true nature, but I can take it, remember?"

A small breath and then he came back, with a jolt of joy in his voice:

"Hey, you're considering it! Come on Anna, that's my girl, this is more like you. I'll get you a beer," said Danny in conclusive voice, as if this was the supreme argument to talk me into his plan.

Suddenly, I made the decision.

"K, I'm coming."

A loud yell echoed across the room, making me laugh in loud voice. Danny was yelling his lungs out in the phone, laughing and talking at the same time, making such a noise that I actually felt the need of covering the speaker.

"I got it, I got it," I said on the phone. "Calm down now, will ya?"

"I'm happy, that's all," came his answer. "So, there's no turning back now, right? You gave me your word you were coming."

"I am. Now let me be."

"Promise?"

"I promise, you bullhead!"

After a few other words, we said good bye to each other and the silence crept again in the room. I didn't even realize how much time I was on the phone with him, because now Romania was actually the new Olympics champion. The Romanian girls defeated China, favorite number 1 to winning the tile. This was incredible! Viewing this on the screen only strengthened my resolution of leaving for that country. It was about the time I did this.

"I'll come there and spank your asses," I said in soft voice. "I will. Even if no one will ever know about it, I promise I'll beat each and every one of you."

The dreams of vengeance carried me away softly, with silk dark wings. The voices of the sports commentators on the TV faded into nothingness, the sleep gaining on me smoothly filtering the sounds. Falling asleep, I kept thinking that tomorrow was going to be a busy day.