Julia thought she was prepared for whatever Joe had to say, but the ensuing tale made her knuckles turn white. His tales of abject depression, drinking to oblivion, and perilous life on the streets was not easy listening and she began to take on a look of pity as she watched Joe talk. He eventually finished his tale, vaguely describing how he had a near death experience and had decided to change his way of life once more. He then went on to explain the issues behind his father’s death and his impetus for change. “Honestly, I have many reasons to live now, the main one being resolving this mystery of my father’s death. Even if he did die as described, at least I can put it to rest you know and move on. Maybe it might even give my mum a reaction, who knows?” He held that hope deep in his heart, that his mum would eventually recover her faculties, he just had to find the trigger for doing so.
“Joe…” she started “you should have told me, I would have helped, you could have stayed with me. I was helping wasn’t I?”
“It wasn’t about you Julia, I just gave up, you know. I needed to do things my way, even if they were super self-destructive”. Julia nodded but didn’t look convinced.
“Anyway, how’s your work going, I imagine you have your masters by now? Are you still working on your doctorate?” Julia took a breath, wiping at her eyes with her little finger.
“Mhmm, you’ll be calling me doctor Salaya soon.” Joe raised his eyebrows in mock disapproval. “Only two years to go actually, I went with physical chemistry, like you may have guessed.”
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The two began to discuss Julia’s choice of doctorate and what she had worked on so far at Tizers. Joe could feel the gap between his knowledge and Julia’s, knowing he had been thoroughly left behind. Still he didn’t feel upset, knowing that if he wanted, he could quite likely resume his degree at Oxford now his brain was working once again.
The evening soon crept up on them, so they decided to go to an Italian that overlooked the river, where boats usually were punted or rowed, giving water borne tours of the city. Julia, underlit by the candles at their table, looked hauntingly beautiful and Joe felt his heart swell. It was all too easy to fall in love with this woman, all over again. He ignored his blooming heart and tried to keep the conversation light. By 10 o’clock they were the only one’s in the restaurant, their conversation as unending as the bottles of wine that accompanied them. They noticed the server’s impatience and called for the bill. Julia looked regretful that their time had ended, and Joe had to admit he felt the same. Was this how their life would have been like if life hadn’t got in the way? Joe felt a twang of anger as he remembered Bob and Julia that night many years ago. ‘I wish I could forget’ he thought, savouring the scent of Julia as she walked in front of him. Then he thought of his time being homeless, he thought of his near death in the hole beneath London and he felt his anger dissipate as dew evaporates in the warmth of the day.
He put his hand around Julia’s waist as they walked side by side towards the west gate of Canterbury. Julia stiffened and then slowly relaxed as she watched Joe’s profile. The cobbles of the streets glistened from a recent rain, reflecting the lights of the shops and restaurants. The moon emerged from behind a cloud, accompanying the stars as a silent audience to the scenes of humanity below them. Joe led Julia back to his hotel, both oblivious to the spying stars and moon.