Camille looked up at me over her tea, the steam rising above the mock cardboard cup and smiled softly… the smile that tells me to stop thinking immediately about whatever it was that i was thinking about, and focus on her

I knew that look all too well, i got it every once in awhile.. though not so much anymore..

i glanced around at the courtyard… an english afternoon gave mid-spring a balance… warmth in the sun.. cool in the shade. clouds rushing, clearing, rushing again…somehow i felt that way too.

“Drink… drink..” Camille insisted

And i put my coffee towards my lips and drank a sip..bitterness, then sweet of sugar.

Two trees were directly behind our small table at the edge of the perfect square courtyard. both were equal somehow in height.. that could not be natural i thought. a wall surrounded the courtyard that pulsed softly flickering murals, which rotated, swiped, and changed all together in slow random patterns. sometimes the wall became translucent, revealing the bustling London street outside, other times it became reflective

though on my third cup of coffee after a long flight i was relaxed..

i smelled fried food… somewhere, fish or something battered… and curry and was hungry. Camille knew it

“Youre hungry, we should go.” She said…

“Mmmm not just yet…” i stretched my legs underneath the small, round, french style cafe table and touched the toe of my shoe to Camille’s. she wryly smiled.

Camille glanced above her, small rain drops beginning to peck upon her forehead.
“Shit” she whispered, pressed her palm against her forehead slowly, to dry off

A translucent sheet extended a quick canopy over the courtyard, hardly making a sound

I looked up, the rain was more aggressive…. with spells of calm

I laughed, and touched Camille’s forehead, following up what she had missed…she didnt care
“Great, now we have to walk in this. Isnt that a song…”
Camille stirred her tea…thinking of going home…

The sky purpled and darkened progressively in late afternoon, Camille and I chatted over a meal, about everything and nothing… lights emerged and the atmosphere was sporadically lit by lightening, occasionally reminded by thunder… nature wanted in..

“Give me a moment, then we’ll run okay?” Camille said, arising and leaving the courtyard, her mobile in hand to tend to a matter

I propped my face in my hand, elbow resting against the small cafe table and glanced about the now empty area, other patrons having since moved on about their day… when the motion murals allowed me, i saw umbrellaed passersby on the street making their way to Hyde Park… some folks wearing blue scarves with “The Bridge” inscribed…..

“why did i ever, ever leave this?”

a quick flash and suddenly the power in the area was interrupted, then lost completely… the canopy sheet above me disappeared, rain pounding the exposed courtyard

Nicolau, i knew his shadow immediately….
emerged from an opposite entrance and stood for a moment, assessing the area like a lurking escaped animal. I slowly stood up from my table but remained close, perhaps my chair could be a weapon…i remembered the long, long ago feeling of being out-gunned…
fear was my friend

Rain continued to drum the confront cadence
Nicolau walked slowly towards me, arriving to my table…
delivered a very mechanical glare directly into my eyes as if deeply scanning my soul….perhaps a mission of sub-missions.. systematically, reached in his jacket chest pocket, simultaneously I reached behind me for a firm grasp on my chair..
i had given up carrying a weapon many, many years ago, along with my association to Nico and his businesses…
this bird was not cold

Nico held out a small, crumpled and taped together piece of paper that, was at some point long ago, indented into four parts… and placed it gently on the cafe table. the rain slowly washing away its contents.

“You’re no good to turn to, now everything’s changed”
he said, paused…
“You were right”

Nicolau turned around…and walked away