We spoke in the cab all the way back to my hotel, discovering we had similar taste in music: we both liked Led Zeppelin and The Beatles, thought The Rolling Stones were overrated, and wished The Smiths were still together.

“There’s this great planetarium near my dorm that plays laser light shows every Friday with music from different bands, like The Doors, The Beatles, Queen. Stuff like that.”

“That sounds fun. I would like to go there some day. New York sounds like a wonderful place.”

“I wish you could come, too,” I said and wished my voice hadn’t sounded quite so wistful.

When the cab pulled up in front of my hotel, Sebastian helped me out of the car. I waited for him to kiss me on both cheeks, wondering if I had the nerve to do what I wanted to do.

As he leaned forward, I thought to myself, It’s now or never. What are you waiting for?

So I kissed him.

~

“You did what?”

“I kissed him, Mom.”

Silence on the other end. I sighed. “I thought you told me to enjoy myself, start living again.”