NOT GIVING UP ON FOREVER

Chapter 13

"Come on, phone!" squeaked the girl, accompanied by a bunch of stares. "No communication at this airport! And the battery goes... off! Brilliant!"

Some kind of disaster. It's been three hours since she landed. All possible friends and relatives already met all passengers, taking the same flight with Anna, and here she was, standing at the departure board, trying in vain to find Randall in the crowd.

The despair began to creep on her. What if he wouldn't meet her? What if something terrible happened? Or did he just lie to her and not even considering meeting her at all? What if it was all a game?

Anna shook her head, trying to drive away from the ridiculous guesses, but fatigue, resentment, and panic began to overcome all. What must she do now? Fly back? Stay in a hotel? Some taxi drivers were continually trying to offer their service in Italian, actively gesticulating.

A few times, passersby approached, having seen that she began to cry. They must have asked if she was all right, but Anna could only guess, as she didn't know a single word of Italian.

The airport employee approached her and spoke in English, trying to find out what had happened and if she needed help. Anna's face lightened up, and she was ready to embrace him.

She stammered to explain that she was expecting a friend, but he didn't show up, that her phone was dead, that she did not know what to do and where to go, that she would be glad for any advice.

The young man listened carefully and offered to call her friend using his phone if she remembered the number.

"You're amazing!" Anna cried, wiping her tears. "Yes, I remember the number by heart."

"Dictate it," the guy smiled.

Anna uttered the number rapidly and stiffened, trying to read the emotions on Vizzo's face—so was written on the worker's badge—when he began to call.

After several rings, there was a resounding answer. Anna heard Randall's voice from afar and exhaled. Vizzo spoke loudly and emotionally in Italian, probably explaining the situation, and then just shook his head for some minutes. It was impossible to keep up whether he was nodding it in approval or censure.

When they finished talking, Anna blurted out:

"What did he say??"

The airport worker shook his head again.

"Your friend is late. He will be soon. He will arrive by train. I'll take you to the platform so you don't get lost."

"Late!" Anna didn't know if it was good news or bad. The delay of a few hours did not fit in her head.

He lost his smile and offered dryly:

"Let me take you to the platform where your... friend will find you when he arrives."

He turned ninety degrees and, making an inviting gesture to Anna, went towards the aero express trains. Anna hurried after him. What did Randall tell him?

He showed her where she could sit to see all the trains arriving and wished her all the best. She showered him with thanks, and he left abruptly.

Little did she know that she was to wait for two poignant hours more...