URBAN FANTASY

Asha Is Sid’s Friend

Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela — Chapter 14

Cafe con leche — Photo by on

Our lunch arrived. With a bocadillo, a glorified Spanish sandwich, on my plate with some fries, and a cup of café con leche, I felt like I was in heaven. It wasn’t too hot out, if that was ever possible in my mind, and it was sunny. What more could a man ask for but to share this with someone else?

That thought brought a small cloud over my mood — ‘with someone’ — I didn’t have someone to share this with anymore. Sensing my quick change of mood, Sid asked me how my meditation by the river had gone. I was jolted out of my inner mood with a start. How did Sid know I had meditated beside the river?

“Ah, my friend,” soothed Sid as he noted the look of surprise on my face. “Asha had told me earlier she saw you meditating by the river.”

“She saw me?”

“Yes, she said you were meditating half-naked, and so she finally got to know why the others call you the half-naked pilgrim.”

Turning a deep shade of pink, I mumbled, “Uh, yeah, I was meditating back there. I didn’t think anyone would see me there, hidden from the road and nearby buildings.”

“Oh,” remarked Asha, now speaking for herself. “I am sure I was the only one who saw you. And I…