Maree’s Journal
Day 1
Ambra walked with me
from her apartment on Via Famagosta to the Ottaaviano Metro Station.
I only had my travel bag to carry as all my work gear had been picked
up on Monday and would, I was assured, be waiting for me when I
arrived.
We were both a
little worse for wear having stayed up late drinking, playing music
and remembering. We were both getting too old for this but our shared
history demanded a ritual departure. So this morning, rather
than washing down vitamins with water Ambra opened another bottle of
Prosecco to help us swallow paracetamol tablets. Your hangover will
remain long after you’ve flown away she laughed.
So there we were,
two middle aged woman, laughing and giggling at 10.30am as we made
our way down Via Barletta to the station. We stopped at the top of
the stairs. As agreed this was where we were to part, a public
farewell. A hard embrace then taking turns kissing each other on the
check, still giggling. “It’s been such fun” I said by way of a
final departure, “I must come to Rome more often”.
Ambra gave me one
last kiss on the left check, “Sorelle!” she whispered and walked
away and I made an emotional entrance to the Rome underground.
Fortunately this was
one of the few occasions that the train was not crowded and I was
able to find a seat and take a few deep breaths. I always felt I was
travelling through history on the Rome underground, outside the
carriage there was the darkness of the tunnel then the fragments of a
history we pretended to understand.
For the last time
this visit I waited for the sudden burst of light as the train
emerged from the tunnel to cross the Tiber. My head, as always
snapping backwards and forwards to look up and down the river.
**
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