Maia's (Mis)adventures

I’m confused as to why my alarm is ringing in my ear, only a few short hours after I lay down, the decisions of the previous night - shots and dancing and lack of sleep - hanging around me in a fog. I shut the alarm off, somewhat annoyed it was set in the first place and roll over. Wait, shit! My bus! I jump out of bed at the unpleasant realization that I do, in fact, have somewhere to be. And soon. Sampson and Ian are in the living room, sitting quietly on their phones. “Oh my god,” I groan/laugh as I stumble past them into the bathroom to hastily brush my teeth. “The hangover is good, huh?” Ian responds.  With quick thanks and hugs and goodbyes, I’m off to the bus station. Lagos bound. The four hour journey is a strange one. I try desperately to sleep, curled in my seat, while the group of 10 partiers in the back of the bus with me surround my seat, give toasts, and take shots above me. After what feels like days, the ride ends. I find a cafe near the bus station, send my locatio...

Despite all the changes spinning rapidly around me in my life in the US, or perhaps because of, I have decided to, as a good friend recently put it, “disappear to Narnia” once more. It’s been four years since I was in Europe last, my 2020 plans foiled for obvious reasons, and it’s finally time to return. Portugal, here I come! Plaza in Lisbon I lie in bed, listening to Ixchel spout off all her big ideas for me and my time abroad. Ways to make money, ways to stay overseas longer.  “You know, it’s kind of sounding like you don’t want me to come back from Europe.” “No, of course I d- well… No, I guess I don’t. I love you, and I’ll miss you, but this place is toxic for you. You were so much happier traveling. You were working on your book and working on yourself and sending me cute postcards. Don’t forget the postcards, that’s a big part of it.” And simple as that, I’m reminded the difference between selfish love and selfless love.  She loves me.  And she wants me gone. ...