“I still feel ashamed about not believing you.” Sabina sighed. “And I understand now what you must have been going through. They made me sign the Official Secrets Act. I'm not allowed to tell anyone about you.” A pause. “I'll never forget you,” she said.
“I'll miss you, Sabina.”
“But we'll see each other again. You can come to California. And I'll let you know if I'm ever in London…”
“That's good.”
She was lying. Somehow Alex knew that this was more than goodbye, that the two of them would never see each other again. There was no reason for it. That was just the way it was going to be.
She put her arms around him and kissed him.
“Goodbye, Alex,” she said.
He watched her walk out of his life. Then he turned and followed the river, past the swans and off into the countryside. He didn't stop. Nor did he look back.
