Chapter 2 - She Looks About University Aged

Xavier placed his camera on the tripod then looked furtively to his left and right.

Tourists still lines the avenue towards the pyramids but the woman he met the day before was nowhere to be found.

He breathed a sigh of relief and muttered towards the still not turned on camera.

“Annoying lady…what does she care what I do?”

A shadow seemed to flash across his face.

“She did look really sad that she lost her son…”

He quickly shook his head side to side, like he was trying to shake himself dry of his thoughts.

“No! I’m doing this for mom! She’s sad all the time already. And if this works…then maybe…”

He glanced towards the camera and noticed the light wasn’t on. He learned forward with a sigh and pressed the button to begin recording.

As he did he heard a sniffle behind him and turned and saw a young woman.

Whoa…she’s really pretty.

Honey-coloured hair framed an almost perfectly symmetrical face and he could see brilliant green eyes, though they had a hint of sadness. She didn’t seem to be moving about like the other tourists along the street, instead staring out into a nearby field. It struck Xavier as odd that she was completely ignoring the pyramids behind them.

Then again, I’m not paying much attention to them either…

He turned back to the still-recording camera.

“Hi…my name is Xavier and I’m standing along the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico.”

The words came with more sureness than the day before, though he paused before continuing.

“I’m hoping this vlog will…help explain things. At least, if my wish doesn’t come true. About…what I’m going to do here soon…”

Fingers gripped the edges of his shirt as his hands balled into fists at his side.

“And what I plan to do…is to give away…my…”

Before he could continue the sound of a sob broke through from just behind. The solitary sob quickly turned into a series of guttural heaving noises, like someone was almost about to throw up from crying too hard. Too suddenly.

He turned around and found the beautiful blond from before hunched over. Her hands were pressed onto a nearby low wall and she seemed to be struggling to breathe.

Before he could say something he watched as a dam burst and her choked whimper burst forth into a long, harrowing cry.

He watched for several excruciatingly long minutes, unsure of what to do. What to say.

Eventually he plucked up the courage to intervene.

“Um…are you ok?…do you need something?”

The young woman’s head flung itself in his direction as she turned, aware of his presence for the first time. Eyes wide at the horror of being watched she desperately tried to push her hair, matted with tears, out of her face. Her sleeve made a mad dash across her features trying to dry her cheeks.

“I’m fine!” She spoke for the first time. Harsh. Clipped.

Then she seemed to think a moment before continuing again, this time more politely.

“Sorry… I can tell you’re just trying to help. It’s just…there’s nothing you can do.”

“That’s a feeling I am way too familiar with…” His words slipped out under his breath but it was clear she heard.

Looking at him quizzically, she continued. “I…I got dumped!” She looked up, trying to keep the pooling tears in her eyes from falling as her hands batted the nearby air to dry them. “And I can’t even be mad about it…”

He could hear the frustration in her words. Sympathize with the frustration of feeling powerless.

“Why?” The simple question seemed to confuse her. “Why can’t you be mad? I feel mad about what I can’t change.”

As the final words came out of his mouth he realized for the first time that he had never expressed that feeling out loud. The rage. The frustration. It ate away at him but he had never been willing to admit its pull on him before. But something about seeing this piteous, yet beautiful, young woman made the words come out.

She noticed the odd look on his face as he digested his own words.

“I can’t get mad at him…because of why he dumped me.”

Xavier cocked his head to the side. “Did you cheat on him or something?”

“NO!” Her word was a slap. “I would NEVER! I’m in LOVE with him!”

He shrank back from her vehemence. Noticing his reaction she tried to calm herself again.

“No.” She repeated. “I didn’t do anything like that.”

“Well then that guy must be guy or something because I can’t imagine someone walking away from a girl as pretty as you.” Again his honest thoughts just fell from his lips.

She smiled for the first time. A crooked and slightly smug expression. “Well aren’t you smooth. If you got lines like that just flowing out at your age you’re going to be dangerous one day kid.”

He blushed and turned his head away. “I’m just…telling the truth.”

She laughed. “Oh, you are adorable.” She wiped her eyes once more, but her expression had clearly perked up. “And that’s just it…he is gay. Probably was the whole time but just never figured it out until I was way, way too deep in love with him.”

Xavier nodded like her explanation finally made sense.

“Did you come here like me to make wish?”

“A wish? They do that here?”

“I think so. I hope so. I thought maybe you came to wish to forget all about him.”

“Forget about him?” She looked appalled at the suggestion. “No way.” She pushed her hair back with one hand as she looked at Xavier. “It…hurts now….” Her voice broke a little. “But I wouldn’t give up my time with him for anything.”

Her response surprised Xavier and it showed on his face.

“I don’t know when it will stop hurting. Maybe never. But it only hurts because I love him. If I could just forget him why would it bother me at all?” She shook her head. “I don’t think I ever want to forget what we had. Even if I’m not the one for him, I still want him to have a good life. And I’m sure he would say the same about me.”

He thought a moment. “Sorry then. I just have never…been with anyone. Something…” his hand went protectively over his chest, “kept getting in the way.”

“Well, I guess we’re quite the pair today kid.” She smiled at him. Red eyes and streaks of tears on her cheeks did nothing to diminish her staggering beauty and her wondered not for the first time if she was a model or actress.

“I’m glad I ran into you. I…feel a little better getting that out. I hope whatever has been getting in your way…uh…gets out of the way soon.”

Pulling herself together she gave him a little wave and began to walk away lost in her own thoughts.

Xavier stood watching her go from some time.

That idea. That something could seem to hurt her so much but that she wouldn’t want to get rid of the pain. It seeped into him leaving him confused.

“I would do anything to make the pain stop.”

“…make her pain stop…”

He checked his watch and realized his family would be looking for him. He reached over and shut off the camera and began to pack.