My difficult friend has gone to Europe for a couple of weeks. We didn’t say goodbye. He is unsentimental that way.

‘See you in three months time, Violet. I’ll miss you.’

‘Call me just once during your trip. Please.’

‘I will,’ he replied. ‘When I get to Italy.’

And he will, I know. He is a man of his word.

Also, very unneedy.

As I pretend to be.

Before he left though I had this weird feeling. I texted him to say ‘eat your vegetables, drink good wine, read great books, don’t have sex with strangers and have lots of fun.’

But I also added – ‘Be Careful.‘

I never say things like that. But I had this premonition.

And it isn’t really a premonition. Stuff has been going down in Europe for a while now. Everything is fragile. Anything could happen.  And it’s unlikely that anything will and I know that, but still.

I feel uneasy.

So I hope he’s reading this.

And if he is – hey, difficult guy.

Make your one phone call tomorrow.

I worry.  A little.