A Thousand Boy Kisses

Rune

Oslo

Norway

A day later I was back in Oslo, separated from Poppy by an ocean.

She and I talked every day for two months. I tried to be happy that we at least had that. But as every day ended without her by my side, the anger inside me built. My hatred for my pappa increased, until it broke something inside, and all I could feel was emptiness. I resisted making friends at school, I resisted doing anything that would make this place my home again.

My home was back in Georgia.

With Poppy.

Poppy didn’t say anything about my change in mood, if she’d even noticed. I hoped I’d hid it well. I didn’t want her worrying over me.

Then one day, Poppy didn’t return my calls, emails or texts.

Or the next day, or the next.

She dropped out of my life.

Poppy simply vanished. No word, no trace.

She left school. She left town.

Her family all upped and left without notice.

For two years she left me completely alone on the other side of the Atlantic, wondering where she was. Wondering what had happened. Wondering if I’d done something wrong. Making me think that maybe I’d pushed her too far the night before I left.

It was the second moment that defined my life.

A life without Poppy.

No infinity.

No forever always.

Just … nothing.