Wisp kept a little distance between us while I watched Ivan read in between bouts of pushing his hair back from his forehead. It was hard to leave him. The first time I’d had no choice but this time I had the choice and I was having plenty of trouble with it. Finally Wisp came up next to me.
‘Did you love him?’
‘I think so. I never got to find out for sure.’
‘You got regrets?’
‘Just one. Just him. Anyway, that’s enough of that. We need to get you a history.’
Wisp and I moved back to the main street and started swooping down on the most popular spots in the area — the beer gardens. Despite the fact that it was winter the day was warmer than average and the people had responded by heading to the local watering holes. We swept low over a large green-area, striped on both sides with picnic tables and benches. Silver circles showed the patio heaters.
‘People can’t see us, can they?’ I asked Wisp. We were getting close to people and although I didn’t think anyone had seen me yet, that didn’t mean that they couldn’t.
‘I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone’s seen me.’
‘Okay. We should probably be careful, though.’
‘Yeah.’ Wisp replied, distracted. I could see why — there were people everywhere. That probably meant it was a Friday afternoon and a rare opportunity to get out in the elements before winter set in properly. Don’t get me wrong — it’s not like we got snow or anything. But you do get acclimatised to your place so we got cold in weather that would make a Norwegian go swimming.
I told Wisp I would be back in a few minutes. I knew I shouldn’t — it had been hard enough the first time. When I got to the side street which housed the library I looked further up towards the train lines. I could just see Ivan in his blue jacket and jeans heading towards the car park. He checked the street before crossing the carpark entrance, watery sun refracting yellow-blue off his skin and hair. I burned while he walked in the Junelight.
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