At the airport, we took a taxi to our hotel. The weather was hot and damp. It was around noon. We decided to have a look at the sea and ended up on a small beach, where a taxi took us. Not exactly what we expected. We went back to the hotel, by bus and taxi. I felt clumsy with the language. Nobody seemed to speak English. In front of the hotel, she felt sick and fainted. I was just in time to prevent her falling on the street. The staff in the hotel asked whether they should call a doctor. No, I said, no problem, we are just married and my wife is pregnant. I was worried.
She wanted to sleep a little and I went out with my son. I took the guide with me. We had a sandwich and I tried to figure out what to do. I decided that we should go to a little island nearby. The next day we took a boat. On the boat we quarrelled about whether the hotel should have airconditioning. I hated the noise. "We have to get used to the climate", I said. "Without airconditioning, I'll die", she said. At the island we took two rooms in a simple hotel, with airconditioning. After taking a little rest, we went to the beach. She walked around and talked with the guys renting equipment, scooters and watersport gear. She was restless. At the end of the afternoon, she decided to go waterskiing. We went in the boat and after trying a few times, she skied along the harbor. I also tried to ski. I got up alright, but could not hold for more than a hunderd meters. Returning to the beach, I noticed that I had lost the sunglasses she borrowed me. I went back to look for them. She was angry, but said: "They were very expensive, but these things can happen."
She started critizing me. "You don't give me any challenge", she said. "The challenge I'm offering you is to travel and visit the ruins with me", I answered.
On our way back to the hotel, she discovered that she was loosing water from between her legs. It seemed to be plain seawater, but nevertheless she was worried. I tried to calm her, but I was a little worried too. She suggested to call her gynacologist in Paris the next day. I consented, although I knew the gynacologist would just say "calm down, take it easy, give yourself a rest".
Since my son was still sleeping, we went into the town. She got excited about all the shops. I dragged along. She went into a jewelry shop and bought herself a necklace, proud at making a good bargain. "Isn't it nice?", she asked me. "Yes, it is beautiful", I shrugged. "They have the most wonderful silver her, and very cheap", she said. I kept silent. I am not here for the silver, I thought. We went to eat a pizza. "You're not much fun", she said. "I hate places like this", I said. I was worried.
The next day we went out for a snorkeling trip. We had to wait a long time before we finally got going. In the boat there was another couple, Spanish, just married. The attractions -- tropical fish, a tame shark, a meal -- were rather shallow. A complete rip-off. Nevertheless, we stayed friendly, and I gave the boatsmen a tip. Coming ashore, she saw a jewelry shop she wanted to visit. "I am going to the hotel", my son said. He was tired. I went with her to the shop and we looked at diamonds and other kinds of stones. All very expensive. "Look at the bracelets", she said. "Yes, they look nice", I said. She tried a few on. I was getting bored and annoyed. Is she going to buy something again, I thought. Suddenly she said: "Why don't you wait outside, and ... eh give me my creditcard." I went out, furious, and saw my son waiting. He had not been able to find the hotel. I gave him directions and went back inside. She was still busy. "Go to the hotel", she said. I did, but went back immediately. I found her in one of the streets, heated. "I couldn't find the hotel", she said. "Where were you?" Back in the hotel, we quarrelled. I went out. But since it started raining, I went back. Then she got dressed and went out. After an hour she came back. "I have been crying in the streets", she said. "And I called a friend, we must talk." "Calm down", I said. "This is not such a big thing, we are both exhausted." "No", she said. "What is happening is a real psychodrama." Something was wrong. "I am worried about the baby, I can't stand the heat, and you don't give me any strength", she said. "I am worried for you, and worried about the trip", I said. Then she told me she had been thinking about her ex-lover these last days and felt very distant from me. Afterwards she confessed that it had been her ex-lover that she called that day. It was only our second day on vacation. I was worried.
The next day, we went to see an archeological site. It was a long trip by private car. She was complaining about the heat. On the way back, she told me that this could not go on. She wanted to go back. To Paris. To her doctors, to take care of the baby, and to speak to friends. "Oh no", I said. "Don't, let's try and find a solution here."
The following days, we did all the usual things. We went to the beach, ate in restaurants. We talked and talked. But nothing seemed to help. She kept on critizing me, that I had no humor and that I was a sad person. We could only speak with eachother in English. It was difficult. Finally, I decided to help with arranging a flight to Amsterdam for her. The seventh day, I took her to the airport. On the boat to the mainland I cried in her arms and apologized for my behavior. At the airport, I was in doubt whether I shouldn't have gone with her. I probably should have done so. Before leaving, I asked her to be strong. "Don't take any premature decisions", I said her. "We will work things out, when I get back." I told her that this was a normal thing in a relation and that we must take it as an opportunity to get to know eachother better. She seemed to be happy to leave. I was worried.
(C) Æliens 2005
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