“Janusz?” A cry came from the other side of the street. A girl was standing in the round spot of light streaming down from a streetlamp. “Is that you?”

You released me. “Hania!” Your face lit up.

She crossed the street, and you fell into each other’s arms. I saw her face on your shoulder, smiling for a moment with her eyes closed. My mind reeled. She opened her eyes and looked at me. It was like seeing a ghost—the pale, white skin, the intense, dark eyes. I’d never seen her up close, but I still recognized her. It was the girl I’d seen you with at the camp. She looked very stylish, in a trench coat and cowboy boots. But even more remarkable were her earrings: they were beaded and shone in all colors of the rainbow, like the tail of an exotic bird, and so long they almost touched her shoulders. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“Janusz, I haven’t seen you in ages,” she cried, adjusting her hair, making the earrings move along with her. “Where have you been all these weeks?” Her eyes fell on me. There was a pause in which she and I looked at each other, slightly embarrassed, until you said:

“Here, let me introduce my swimming colleague. Hania, this is Ludwik.”

We shook hands. Hers was soft and white like a dove.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, sounding like she meant it, looking into my eyes for a moment before turning back to you. She put her hand on your arm.

“I’m going to see Rafał now—he lives just around the corner. Do you want to come?”

You glanced from her to me. She was entirely turned to you.

“I would like to, but—”

“You’re busy?” She raised her eyebrows. “C’mon, just for one drink. We’ve been saying how much we’ve missed you.”

I could see your fingers closing tight around the strap of your bag. You wore an expression I found impossible to read.

“I can’t tonight,” you finally said. “I’m sorry. Next time.”

She looked at you for a while, until a smile curled itself around her lips. “Fine. But no excuses for my birthday party. At the end of the month. You’re coming. Yes?”

You nodded. She kissed you goodbye and ran off, her boots beating on the concrete. We stood for a moment without speaking, the air strangely charged. You looked gloomy, worried even.

“Everything OK?” I asked.

You nodded, without looking at me. “All good. Let’s go.”

“Do you think she saw us?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.” Again your face was inscrutable.

We climbed a set of narrow stairs lined by a large stone wall. Behind it lay the nuns’ convent, their cloister with its orchards and grazing cows, and new residential blocks towering just above.