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I wasn’t sure what this meant for my future, but that day taught me a valuable lesson: when someone you trust lets you down, the hurt runs even deeper and sometimes, it was easier to keep people at a distance to avoid allowing them to cause you pain.
Chapter 15: Sasha
Present Day
The sun painted the Barcelona skyline with warm hues as the plane I’d boarded a few hours earlier descended into El-Prat airport.
The previous night had been emotionally charged, leading to Ethan’s earlier-than-planned return to the States after our conversation.
Ethan had respected my decision to avoid a post-Ireland fling, but a lingering sadness still clouded my emotions realizing I wouldn’t be seeing him again. Unwilling to confront the complexities tied to the charming American, I worked to suppress those feelings as I said goodbye to Ella, Ryan and Niall, continuing my adventure.
Spain had held a coveted spot on my travel bucket list for years. Barcelona, with its enchanting stone streets and bustling alleyways, pulsed with life during the day and transformed into a vibrant spectacle come nightfall.
Despite getting my shattered phone repaired in London, a realization struck me upon landing in Barcelona—I hadn’t done my homework.
Uber faced regulatory challenges here which meant navigating the streets via taxi or foot were my only options.
After stepping off the plane, I decided to go for a stroll, soaking in the sights. It was a gorgeous 68-degree day in early April, and the city was buzzing with life. Since it was the start of tourist season, the crowds were still small, mostly locals enjoying the beautiful weather and preparing for peak season.
During the flight, I read about the neighborhood festivals called festes majors that happen throughout the year. Each district takes its turn to put on a festival, with dancing, street bands and delicious food. It’s a local celebration of community that’s said to be a ‘must’ experience for visitors.
While most of these festivals happen in the warm summer months, one district was kicking off their festa major this week to welcome spring and downtown was where I wanted to be.
I walked the short 5-mile-walk to my hostel where I’d be staying for the night. Checking in, I was greeted by a beautiful woman with big brown eyes named Gloria.
“Bienvenido! (Welcome) Checking in?” she asked.
I smiled. “Yes.”
She led me around the small space, showing me where I’d be sleeping and staying for the foreseeable future.
“In the evening, one of our local cooks sets up shop down here to make paella. It’s a favorite of the hostellers, so I’d encourage you to check it out.” I nodded, my stomach growling, thinking about the delicious food and exciting sights that awaited me.
Deciding to start my day in the city, I immersed myself in sightseeing various historical monuments, eating from street vendors, and ending up at one of Barcelona’s beautiful beaches.
I’d been meaning to catch up on my reading and had just the book in mind.
Opening my reading app, I navigated to my library to retrieve the romance novel I’d saved on the flight. It was a tale of love and heartbreak by author Sofia Jade.
As I immersed myself in the captivating love story, my thoughts involuntarily wandered to Ethan. By the time I reached page 15, the words blurred as drowsiness enveloped me, eventually leading me into a peaceful siesta on the beautiful shore.
Suddenly, I awoke to a gentle tap on my shoulder. Jumping up to my elbows, I yelped.
“Shit!” I said, my phone flopping across my chest and now on the ground, covered in sand. Confused, I stumbled reaching for my sunglasses that landed on the other side of me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you!” The intruder spoke, and I blinked hard to clear the sleep from my eyes.
Kneeling in front of me was a small, blonde girl who looked to be in her early 20s. She donned a striped thong bikini, and big round black sunglasses were perched on the top of her head. She wore a worried expression on her face as she helped me find my cell phone in the sand.
“I recognized you from the hostel this morning. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” She spoke again. “There’s a man over there.” She jutted her chin out. “He’s been staring at you. I tried to catch his eye to get him to look away when I saw you were asleep, but he kept looking. I planned on waiting to see if you woke up, but I’m headed back to shower before dinner, so I figured I’d wake you first to be sure you’re safe. He’s giving major creep vibes,” she said.
“Thank you,” I said, now sitting up fully and pulling my shirt back over my top. “I didn’t mean to doze off.”
“Jet lag?” she asked.
“Just landed from London this morning.”
She smiled. “I’m Isla. You’re American?” she asked.
