Have you been here before? Ida asked Gabriel after they have settled down on a table. They had a nice view of the sea.
Not here but nearby – in Roses, the next beach. We spent one summer there as family. The only summer not spent in Pyrenees. It ended up to be the last one.
Oh. How come?
Dad wasn’t happy to be dragged there and Mom, she just wanted something different. It was a very obvious case of irreconcilable difference. He laughed but Ida can hear a hint of sadness in his voice.
Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to bring that memory up.
No, it’s OK. It’s all in the past now. He looked up at her and their eyes met. Right now, it just feels nice being here. With you.
Yes it’s really nice. She looked at him. I love it here. It’s the closest thing to the feeling of Philippine beaches I’ve found in Europe. It’s so commercial everywhere else. But here it feels raw.
Yeah, I remember Roses was very touristy, I think if we would have went here with my Dad, he might have liked it actually.
There’s a lot of nature around here. I haven’t really had a chance to really explore it but I’m excited to come back to take photos here. A personal residency.
It does seem a special place. I can you see why you love it. He said, leaning back on his seat. The waiter came at this point and took their orders.
Tell me how you got into photography, I’m curious. I fail to make the connection of your last job in finance, was it?
Oh yeah, I forgot we haven’t seen each other for so long. She said. So about 5 years ago, I came back to Spain to study photography.
What made you think of that?
It’s a long story… she answered. You mentioned that you have a train to catch or something?
Ah yeah the overnight train to Paris, I still have..looking at his watch, about an hour. It leaves at 9;20. I can make it comfortably if I leave at 7pm. Don’t worry about it. He said. So tell me the long story.
Um, yeah, I was working for a startup , I still am actually am, but I’ll tell you that bit later. So that job involved taking a lot of photos of people and their environment and I wanted to gain more skills. I shared that to my dad and he told me he took some photos himself when he was younger. That’s when he suggested I study photography in Barcelona.
That’s very sweet of him. He said. It sounds like , you and him got closer through the years.
Just the last 5 years. When I came here the summer of 2019, he finally joined me for the Camino and we’ve had a breakthrough. All that time to talk.
He wanted you to be near him.
Maybe, and I did too. It was the perfect timing actually. Before COVID.
Gabriel laughed. You know what’s funny? I was home for 1 year during COVID. I was forced to take a break, the night sky and did much needed renovations. He explained. I can’t believe you were just on the other side of the Pyrenees.
Me too. I tried actually to pass by the Night Sky… but I couldn’t find it. I was with my dad and he’s good at this stuff but we just got lost. It seems you didn’t want to be found…she said.
About that… I don’t know how to start. First an apology is in order.
It’s OK…I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason. She said.
Ah actually it’s the opposite. The most stupid reason. Basically we lost access to the email of my dad. An turned off and logged out of everything, she thought I knew the passwords. She did not know I have the memory of a chipmunk. So we couldn’t re-login, couldn’t renew the website, we didn’t even know it was expiring. He explained, feeling relieved to finally explain what happened. I hope you didn’t take it personally.
No, no. It’s just nice to know why finally.
That’s good, I really wanted to retrieve the passwords and call up the website but I had to focus on work. And when I finally had time, it was too late. I really wanted to contact you. Hope you were not waiting for so long and make you think all sorts of things
I just emailed you once after my first email. I figure it was something like that. She said, waving her hand. It won’t make so much a difference now. She quickly changed the topic. So how are you, tell me.
Not much has changed. Still working with the same organization, just on different missions.
Where are you headed, this time?
To Ukraine.
Again? I remember last time, you were also going there. I’m following the news, things are looking bleak out there.
Yeah, we’re helping but if the war doesn’t stop, it’s just going to be a cycle of destruction and rebuilding. It doesn’t end. I don’t want to talk about it right now if you don’t mind. I have full 6 months of that ahead of me. He said.
Sure, of course.
Their food arrived and they ate a bit in silence.
So how’s your family? Ida asked.
They’re doing good. My mom still travels and An she’s married now with a 3 year old kid. His name is Liam.
How wonderful? So you’re an uncle now…
Yeah and I enjoy it. The whole family stayed there at the Night Sky. Even my mom. That’s why I decided to take a longer pause during COVID. It was a rare time to just be with family.
I imagine that you had to choose between a mission and the chance to be with them. And I think you chose well. Ida said. I’m happy for you that you always have this place that pulls you back together….
Sadly not for long, we’re selling it.
Oh, why? Ida asked with concern in her voice.
An is moving to Sweden, her husband is Swedish and she got a very nice job offer, basically her dream job. She needed her part of the inheritance. They’re planning to buy a house there.
I’m sorry. She simply said. Are you OK?
Yes…I’ve decided that it’s the best course of action. Gabriel said. Trying not to think beyond that.
Ida didn’t push the topic. They looked out into the horizon in silence. They can’t see the sun set but the sky changed colors.
I really like how blue skies transition to black and then we see the stars. Ida said. It’s really like the sea, it’s light blue then when you go deeper it gets darker then it’s completely black. She says. Its like going into one’s deepest self.
Always deeply contemplative. Now that I think of it , I can see why you became an artist. You see like an artist.
Thanks. I’m still quite uncomfortable being called that. I feel it’s just a way for me to express myself.
Isn’t how that artist are? He asked rhetorically. I like the theme of your exhibit : Dark Sky, Deep Sea. Tell me more about it.
How about you tell me how you feel about it? Ida said with a twinkle in her eye.
Well, I think you are escaping to worlds outside of you but what you actually want to go is deep inside you. You’re looking for answers outside but it’s actually maybe inside you…
Whoaw a psychoanalyst art critic! She clapped and laughed.
Gabriel immediately realized something. Ah…he laughed, shaking his head. Still after 10 years.
They continued their talk as the day become night.