The soft and languid sounds of gentle Latin rhythms drifted like a warm breeze from the hotel terrace to my place of solitude on the beach, temporarily anaesthetizing my brain from the all-pervading pain, the sense of hurt and betrayal that had sent me scurrying to this bolt-hole, this escape from reality to which I"d retreated.
The sand was white, warm, and soft beneath me. I stared out at what could only be described as the perfect sunset, as that great orange orb seemed to sink before my eyes into the far Pacific horizon. I suppose I could have been forgiven for experiencing a moment"s fleeting calm in my heart, the sights and sounds that surrounded me a temporary panacea for the broken heart I was nursing so carefully.
Despite it being almost six months since Petra had left me, runni
