The Kiss~

When Tall, Fair, Handsome and I said goodnight, he gave me a delicate kiss on the cheek.  The kiss was sweet, not brotherly, but not like before.  His eyes pooled with tears and he quickly turned away from me and walked back to his hotel room.  Perplexed, my eyes followed him until he was out of my line of vision. Not quite the ending I anticipated after spending a lovely day with him.  What could I have said that upset him?  Having a fast-forward flashback of our entire day, I couldn’t come up with an answer, but looked forward to seeing him the next day to apologize. For what I didn’t know…I just knew that I had to do something.

Although we had planned to have breakfast and go to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello the next morning, a message from TFH confirmed the opposite.   I’m not up to going to the museum.  Let’s have dinner at the hotel. Eight o’clock?

Well, that sure turned my smile upside down.  I hate hearing bad news before bedtime and tossed and turned all night long wondering what happened.  He was becoming a man of mystery… again. 

I woke early which was uncharacteristic of me, but knowing it was my last day in Firenze, I wanted to make the most of it.  I may not wear white sneakers and sweat pants when I travel, but the true give-away of being a world-class tourist is having technology wrapped around your neck. So, armed with a camera and camcorder, I skipped breakfast and went directly to the Bargello. Although I was weighted down and felt like the Hunchback of Notre-Dame, I was determined to get in my share of photos to take home and savor.

The Palazzo del Bargello is a massive structure that has the appearance of a fortified fortress including cannons.  The courtyard is like an outdoor art museum with marble statues and walls covered with coats of arms in the loggia.

Inside the Museo Nazionale are Renaissance sculptures and other masterpieces.  Treasures I want to capture on film. When I travel, I always have a sense of urgency to record everything that touches my heart.  Who knows when I’ll return?  So, the need to fulfill my senses is great…and I get trigger happy.  The only good thing about being alone is that I’m not driving a companion insane as I stop and shoot, point and ooh and aah…Uh-oh! I missed that  and run back to snap some more.  Even the most patient of patient…let’s say Mother Teresa would probably give me a smack in the head and tell me to get on with it. 

True I can see all of these wonderful masterpieces in an art history book…but, I’m here.  And I’m determined.  And I’m a tourist for heaven’s sake!  That’s what I do sans ugly shoes and baggy pants.

When I returned from my outing, there was a package waiting for me.  I must admit, I'm a girl who loves surprises…especially presents.  I read the enclosed note:

 The time we have spent together is something I will always treasure.  My feelings for you frighten me and made me realize that I’m not ready to begin a relationship until I have closure from my loss.  Please forgive me if I mislead you.  My feelings for you are genuine, but I’m not ready to give my heart to you completely. I need to be alone to sort out my emotions. It’s been a roller coaster ride since I arrived in Italy…Who knew I would meet someone like you?

I found the brooch you admired a few days ago when we were shopping.  I hope you will remember me fondly when you wear it. When I’m ready to begin the next chapter in my life, will you still be available?  I know I can’t ask you to wait, but I can only hope.

I opened the box and found a lovely present.

Tall, Fair and Handsome came into my life serendipitously and just like his gift, he played a short, but sweet, cameo role in mine.