30 days and still alive!!!

When I arrived at The Modern Pantry this morning, Jeff welcomed me with his daily smile and said: “You did well yesterday. At the end of the shift I was angry, but not at you. You did very well.” These words were a balm to my fragile heart...

At 21.15 at Embankment Station, I had an appointment with Rob – remember, the Londoner who abruptly met me in Covent Garden Market? Let’s put it like this: Gabi, stop trying to be opened to everyone you meet in London. There are some people that we can’t gather with, even though they are very nice.

We walked to the south side of the Tamise and had a wine glass of Chardonnay, chatting about journalism, cultures and London. After a few minutes, I was thinking of a lie to escape this annoying guy. Rob was speaking nervously, employing words and expressions I could not understand, continuously flattering me.

Hopefully, a drunken-story-teller old man stopped at us a couple of minutes, allowing me a rest from this exhausting chat.

Story 1: A car was found in the Tamise with its trunk filled with money.

Story 2: He lost a jackets with his name written inside in a city. Four years later, he was in another city and found this same jacket.

Story 3: He went to a casino with one Pound and got out of it with 4 thousand Pounds!

The story-teller was gone and I was about to say I had to meet Monica somewhere but Rob said:

-          I need to freshen-up.

-          Freshen-up...? You mean... Bathroom?

As soon as he went, my brain yelled: “ESCAPE NOW!”

I started walking with hesitation, wondering for this poor guy when he would come back and find himself alone with the Tamise, but then I obeyed my thought and my legs took me faster and faster to the bridge. I crossed the river, running, feeling liberated and marvelled by the blue lights of the London eye, the boats and The City of London. I ran in the underground station, my heart beating of excitement, and I jumped in the first train. Safe.

Then I texted the poor Rob, not feeling so guilty: “I ran away I am sorry don’t call me”

I met Simone who had just finished work in South Kensington and we came back home together.