Damien Haas Imagines

Rome (part 2)

Twenty years later. I'm walking the streets of Rome, again. I'm happily working as a lecturer. It's been twenty years yet I can't forget Rome. Every year I go back to the same spot, him and I made out. Hoping that when I when I go there, he's standing there, waiting for me.

It was mid at night. I'm walking the dark alleyway. Nothing changed, not even a bit. The crappy old light is still there. There, I saw a man standing. He didn't even changed a bit besides the few grey hairs and sunspots on his hand.

"Is it really you?" I tried not to show a bit of enthusiasm in my voice.

I'm hoping that his answer is he remembers, everything.

"Just walking the streets of Rome." he answered, not batting an eye, like his usual habit when we were co-workers.

"It's been years. How are you?" Twenty years to be exact, I never count, I always remember it.

"Good. I have a wife and a son. You?"

I gave him a sly smile. I wasn't even invited to his wedding, he never treated me as a friend.

"When did you get married?"
"After you left."
"And I'm not invited. Was I a bad friend?"
"You know why."

Was I gonna ask if I know why.

"Then why are you here?"
"I live here."
"I also live here."

Our memories live there.

"I want you to meet my family ."
"You know I can't."
"Why?"
"You know why."

He didn't stop, he took my hand like the old times except we're not singing this time.

I didn't expect to meet his family this day. Am I supposed to shake his wife's hand with my hand that I used to held his waist? What am I supposed to say to his son? Oh your dad and I made out on streets of Rome. Except I didn't do any of that. I had a nice dinner with them. They are all glorious, he's lucky to have a family of his own. I said goodbye to them.

"Good thing you have someone to take care of you." I was jealous, I want someone to be with me forever too.

I lit a cigarette. And offered him some which he declined.

"What happens at Rome stays at Rome." I said

I looked at him, I want him to kiss me like the old times but it's wrong, so wrong.

"Why her?" I asked, it's not a rude question, I just wanted to know why her.
"You left, remember?"
"You didn't look."
"I wasn't up for the challenge."
"You just didn't love me enough" I finally said. It's true though, he didn't love me enough.

"Have we wasted twenty years of our life?" He asked.
"Not really. You have a beautiful family. I'm doing what I want in life." Taking the last puff of cigarette.

"Why?" He sat on the stairs of the hotel.
"What why?"
"It could have been us." He said, now he's the one who's feeling the regret.

"You love her?" I asked
"Of course."
"I'm just a nightmare you can't forget."
"A beautiful nightmare."
"So this our goodbye."
"I guess."
"Later" I shook his hand one last time, I don't want to let go. I want to hold it for forever but holding on can do so much damage.

---
Part 3?