D and his family were going on holiday in Germany and I was going to meet them there and stay in their rented house with them. At some point I began to realize that that was probably not a good idea, but I had no way to reach him--I didn't have my laptop with me, and even if I had, he wouldn't have one with him, either. If I had realized this earlier, I would have emailed and said, "BTW, I've decided not to come to Germany."

As it was, I had to go. I got to the house first, and had three friends with me. I saw D drive up and hurriedly asked my friends to leave--they went out the side door while the others came in through the front.

As they walked in, I said jokingly, "In the best tradition of houseguests everywhere, I have taken advantage of your hospitality and had a party while you weren't here."

I get only a tight smile from his wife, and she moves with the child into the laundry room, where they stand and talk quietly.

I stand on my toes and give D a peck on the cheek and say, "Hello, sweetie." I notice a glint in his left ear and look--he has a new earring, a diamond stud. I take his hand and say, "I can't stay," and I leave.

I start walking, and realize that not only do I not have any idea of where to go, I don't even speak the language. I wish I had some way of letting him know where I am so he can get in touch with me later, but I know I can't phone. I think that if I just keep walking, I'll pass somewhere--a cafe or store--that will tell me that this is the place, that I will just know--a place that if he walked by it later, he would know that this was where I would be.