Semua Bab No Return: Bab 41 - Bab 50

“You’ve been humming that song for days,” said Guillermo. “Want me to play some Pink Floyd?” Yeah, she’d been humming Wish You Were Here for three days already. It’d also been three days since her mood had finally improved, and she’d focused on helping her little sister get ready to leave. A couple of days later, she sat her little brother down to talk. She told him that if he wasn’t capable of keeping basic manners, she wouldn’t either and she would pretend he didn’t exist. After a whole week of ice treatment, forced to cook his own meals, do his own laundry, and being completely ignored, the boy gave up and agreed to restore diplomatic relations. Silvia cooked his favorite meal, did all his laundry and spent a couple of hours gaming with him. Truce was signed. Mika’s farewell party worked out just perfect, and Silvia hugged her little sister goodbye on a windy November morning, making the girl promise she would stay in touch often, not only if she

Silvia had actually thought about a song for such a strange year before Jim came up with the task, because it was something she used to do every December, just for fun. But Jim’s pick shook everything up. Little Wing wasn’t just any song. And even though she’d tried to look confident and sure in front of her friends, she still didn’t know what to make of it. Yeah, it was the perfect picture of them in many ways, but it was the last song he should’ve sent her. Because it was true, both of them had been there for each other, and the song might also refer to that funny evening at the inn, drinking, singing, dancing. But no matter how many references and interpretations she might possibly find, Little Wing was a love song. Hendrix wasn’t singing about a friend but about someone he loved, be it his acid dealer, his favorite guitar or a woman. And a straight man dedicating such a song to a straight woman wasn’t talking about friendship but about love.

On the last days of March, Jim’s tweet made Silvia’s knees buckle. “U ready Latin America?” Her hand was shaking as she opened his DM. “Got the breaking news? C u soon! :D” She dropped the tablet and smoked until her head felt a little clearer. Okay, Mexico was Latin America and Jim had a thing for grandstanding, so this might be nothing to have a heart attack over. Just in case, she followed the link on Jim’s tweet to the band’s official website, where she found the confirmed dates of this unexpected fifth leg of their world tour. Her lips trembled as her eyes moved down the list of countries. Mexico, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Peru, Brazil—Oh God! Argentina. Two concerts in Buenos Aires, at the GEBA stadium, the weekend before Revolution Day on May 25. And considering the national holiday was a Monday that year, those concerts could very well turn into three if the first two sold out. Her heart was hamme

It took Silvia four days to realize what Jim’s call had been really about. And the son of a bitch had hit his mark alright, for a change. He’d made her talk about things she loved, and let the conversation turn into an easy small talk, resourcing to every joke and tease they’d ever shared. Until she’d let go of her absolute terror to being face to face with him again. And now she wasn’t afraid anymore. She was anxious, and her guts twitched as days pushed her closer to May, but the fear was gone. Both of them had made a deal with the devil, opening their phones to have the option of texting and making video calls online in case they needed, but the Hey, Jay! remained the virtual place to share their stuff. Being on tour, Jim returned to his habit of posting mostly pictures of the places he was visiting. And the titles soon looked like a countdown of sorts. Mexico was Still Cold, Puerto Rico was Warm, Colombia was Warmer

Against all odds, obstacles grew fewer and easier on the way up the fancy building downtown, as Silvia and Claudia reached more important desks. However, first they had to actually reach them. The front desk of Vector Productions was like a machine-gun nest from World War II, disguised as a nice counter with an even nicer girl in a pretty uniform suit. True to her training, she first tried to send Silvia away, telling her she should call or email the person she wanted to see. Then she turned to take about a dozen calls. When Silvia was able to make her understand that first step had already been taken by No Return’s road manager, and she’d been directed to come get the passes in person, the girl was as kind as to make a call, and then another, and then another. Silvia and Claudia waited by the desk, mustering all their patience while the girl asked and held on the line and spoke in whispers. “Why don’t you text Jim?” Claudia said. Silvia shook her hea