Page 50 of Sun, Sea and Spotted Squid

The place was deserted when he got there. The remnants of a wild night were everywhere. Everywhere stank of stale alcohol and Astrid’s cigarettes. The only memory of the people he had shared eight weeks of his life with.

When he got to the top floor, he had to check Wolfgang’s room. Hoping against hope that he’d had a change of heart and would be waiting for him. When he pushed the door open, everything lay desolate. Not a trace left.

Sam staggered into his own room and slid down the wall to the floor. His vow to control the tears finally failed and his body wracked with sobs. How many more tears would be cry for this man?

“Are you going to laze around in here for another day?”

Sam dragged the duvet over his head to try and block out his mother’s voice. He hoped she might give up if he didn’t respond.

He should’ve known better. Light streamed into the room when she hauled the duvet off him. “Hey!” he cried, grabbing it back. “Good job I wasn’t naked.”

Ignoring him, she opened the curtains. The light making him wince. When he opened his eyes, she was staring down at him with a scowl that could curdle milk. His mother had never been one for wallowing in life’s hiccups.

“You look awful,” she declared.

“Thank you.”

Her face softened as she sat on the bed. “Come on, love. I know it hurts, but I’m worried about you.” She wiped away thesolitary tear that ran down his cheek with the ever-present tissue from up her sleeve.

“Why didn’t he even talk to me? Was it too much to expect a goodbye?”

They’d had this conversation on numerous occasions. Patiently, she took hold of his hand. “Some people don’t talk. He must have known he can’t give you what you deserve. We can’t blame him. Not really. I believe he loved you. That’s something isn’t it?”

She had a point. They’d had a connection with a strength Sam had never experienced before.

“I guess.”

“You need to let it go now. It’s been a week. I want you on the road to recovery.”

Sam had fantasised about all sorts of things. That Wolfie would call him, text him or even show up at the door. Proclaiming his undying love and how life without Sam would be impossible. Yet, deep down Sam knew that kind of thing didn’t happen in the real world.

“I’ll try,” he said, trying to sound cheerful.

“That’s the spirit,” she replied, patting his hand. “Tell you what we’ll do. I’ll make you your favourite for lunch. Scrambled eggs, bacon and toast. Only if you promise me something.”

His mother should have worked for the United Nations. Her negotiation skills were second to none and they worked. A glimmer of hope began to shine from deep inside him.

“Name it.”

“You get on that internet and find yourself another job. God help me, I’ll miss you but you need to give yourself a chance. You’ve done well this summer, so make it work for you. Don’t let a man ruin your future. Believe me, they’re not worth it.”

So with the smell of bacon sizzling away in the air fryer, Sam slumped down at the dining table and surfed through some of the websites Ruben had recommended.

“Anything taking your fancy?” his mum shouted through.

“I’ve only just started,” he replied. “You have less patience than me.”

Once he threw himself into it, he was like a man on a mission. The days flew by. He spent the mornings emailing his CV out and the afternoons catching up with friends. Once he even went to the bingo with his mother.

Another week had passed and he realised Wolfie took up far less space in his mind. Of course he still thought about him. He found that distance made it easier.

Finally, he got a reply offering him an interview. There was a squid project in South Africa that was extremely interested in his experience.

Thanks to the power of Zoom and Ruben’s reference, he must’ve impressed them, as an offer came through two days later. The leader of this project, Matome Nkosi, had worked with Ruben a few years previously. Matome had spoken to Ruben, which had clinched it.

Sam’s friends were furious that he was going even farther away and couldn’t understand that he craved the excitement he’d experienced arriving in Valencia.

This time he wouldn’t go anywhere near a man. He would do exactly what is mother had said and make this work for him.