The Cliffs of Étretat

Chapter 11

My parents hugged me tightly when they picked me up from the airport. It was nice to arrive home. Everything felt like it had stayed the same a little like time had stopped.

I enjoyed the days very much, it was great to see all family members again. I had brought presents from New York for my my little cousins and their happy faces were too adorable. I often wondered what Sarah was doing right now. Was she with her family?

She had barley posted on social media in the last weeks and I felt like I was back in the time when she was my unrealistic celebrity crush. When I was hoping to see just a snipped of her life. I decided to spend as little time thinking about her as possible and spend time with my family instead.

We had friends visiting The evening before Christmas. They had known me since childhood. I blushed when my father told them what a talented artist I was. I don't like to be the center of attention but the appreciation made me happy I was glas that my family didn't judge me for my chosen career path

Towards evening I withdrew from the small round. I needed a little time for myself. My cheeks were a little red from the wine and I closed my eyes for a moment and enjoyed the feeling of being home. Flashbacks of Sarah in the museum came in my head, things she had said, her hand on my cheek and her breath on my skin. I wish she was here. I suddenly felt so empty.

I looked for my cell phone that had been turned off for today and found it in the drawer and pulled the small folded piece of paper out of my phone case. Concentrated I typed in her name and phone number and checked each number again.

I couldn't see her profile picture, of course she didn't even have my number. What should i write? Finally, I decided on a simple:

I wish you a merry Christmas!
x Emilia

I wanted to delete the X again, it had felt right at the moment but now it felt too intimate and I regretted it but I had already sent it.

For a few Minutes I was staring at the screen but nothing happened. I sighed and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I came back ... nothing.

No need to drive yourself crazy, I thought. You can't expect her to read it that fast. Maybe she's busy with something more important. I finally fell asleep.

It was my first thought when I woke up. The bright screen of my phone nearly blinded me.

A message! I opened it, it was from a friend. I groaned and threw the phone on the armchair. This nerve-racking waiting was too much.

I could smell fresh coffee and the smell of breakfast and followed it into the kitchen where my parents were almost done with breakfast.

"Sorry, we didn't want to wake you up," said my father with his reading glasses on his nose.

"It's all right" I smiled and sat down.

After breakfast we went for a walk in the snow it was good to get some exercise. I had to keep the winter landscape in mind so I could paint it when I got back to New York.

"So you've already made friends in New York." Asked my father.

"A few." That was only half a lie, most of my "new friends" were work colleagues and we rarely did anything outside of work.

My mother cleared her throat and said, "We're a little worried."

"Why?"

"That you are too much alone there"

"I'm fine, I -" I almost said I met someone, but I wanted to keep Sarah to myself.

"I enjoy being alone too. Besides, there are so many people in New York, you never really feel alone. I tried to smile at my stupid argument.