Borgo 1. Home away from home

The doorframe was somehow crooked and the place was small. Mr. Grech sang its praises as he did with the other two properties he had shown her, but Sarah tried to drown his voice and think rationally.

"Do you think they'd budge on the price?"

"Well, we'd need to ask. They only just placed it on the market last week"

"It is some way above my budget"

Sarah knew she did not sound too convincing. She felt him insidiously groping around in her brain - her heart was set on the place. Seduced by the dusty stonewalls and the high ceilings, she knew her heart was naked for all to see.

The walled city was known by two names, one in memory of a glorious victory in a war with the infidels, and the other for the indignity of being the suburb to a greater city. The modest narrow streets of the Collacchio flanked by grand Auberges had been the preserve of Knights and noble men. As Sarah walked down Triq Majjistral she could not help feeling like an invader. Malcolm had assured her he was backing her up on this move but she had spotted the sadness in his eyes at the thought of being away from her for such a long period of time. They could hardly both move to Malta at the same time. He was to go on working in London while she would see to finding a house for them to live in. She relished the idea of some time to herself, not that the relationship was constricting but the cold grey weather of London seemed increasingly stifling after the loss of her job in the film industry.

The main square was flooded with sunlight, the warmth of which filled Sarah with glee. On the one side a tiny cafe with a ludicrous name had chairs and tables outside. She sat at one of the tables and searched in her bag for her sunglasses. Their metal frame felt comfortably cool to the touch. She checked her reflection in the glasses. What she saw made her feel good. It was still April but her face had already acquired a golden colour. It is amazing what the Mediterranean light had bestowed upon her. Her self-perception in old Blighty could just not compare. And then guilt set in as she thought of Malcolm all alone back in their Maida Vale studio.