Free The Eternal Intern (Contemporary Romantic Comedy) by Roman Koidl Page A

out of balance. I started to think that maybe she would have never called me if nothing had happened. That made me sad.
    The next day I wasn’t myself. I made stupid mistakes. I played the wrong reports at the wrong time. Confused the music titles. Mistakes I normally wouldn’t make. As Uncle Kracker’s “Follow Me” was playing I stared at the microphone in front of me. That is where I realized that I still felt more for Loretta than I wished I did. I still loved her. And it would not go away that fast.
    The days went by and I called her again to see how she was doing. She talked to her brother and they went together to the police. They weren’t able to find any drug traces in her blood because too much time had lapsed since the incident.
     
    M y time in Africa was coming to an end and I was hoping to get an offer to stay. They never made me one. But I tasted blood and I liked the flavour. Christmas was approaching and I was looking forward to coming back home. But I was anxious about my next step in my career. Should I study or try to land a real job?
    Shortly before I left South Africa I had a little going away party at the station. It made me feel sad. I really found a second home here. A lot of people say that about Africa and now I understood why..
    As I got to the plane heading back home my thoughts were again with Loretta. It has been now one month since she called me that night. Besides the conversation we had the following day we haven’t talked since.
    During the flight I was looking down on the clouds being haunted by her face.
    As I landed I called my father to pick me up. He refuses to pay for parking. He rather waits at home until the plane has landed. Then he gets into the car and drives the thirty minute route to the airport believing that I will still be claiming my luggage in the meantime. How often did I wait for ever until he eventually arrived. I got my mobile out of my pocket and hit the recent call button. Loretta’s number appeared at the top. If she knew that I was  back? I tried to erase the thought and scrolled down to my parent’s number.
    “Patrick, I’ll come and pick you up ,” my father answered the phone.
    Why waste time and say hello .
    “OK, I’ll wait outside ,” I replied and hung up.
    I went out to the pickup zone. The cold breeze was cutting through my tanned face. Now I knew why I went to Africa in the first place. I am made for the sun, not for the cold weather.
    People were loading their trunks with cases and bags. Hugging each other and showing their happiness that their friend, lover, parent, or child is back with them. Especially now a few days short of Christmas everybody was very affectionate. Suddenly a silver Mercedes stopped in front of me pulling me back to reality.
    “Hello! ,” my father smiled at me through the open passenger window.
    “How was your flight? ,” he asked as he opened the trunk for me.
    “Good ,” I replied lifting my bag into the back of the car.
    On our way home we didn’t talk much. It was always hard to talk to him. It’s not that there isn’t much to say but I never used to talk to him much anyways. I guess it became a habit and now it feels weird to break it. As we arrived home and I entered the door my mother showed me the exact opposite. She came charging at me hugging and kissing me like I just returned from war. Ben, our springer spaniel, was jumping up and down my leg. I wasn’t sure who was happier to see me, my mother or the dog. Well, my mother wasn’t drooling all over me. So, I guess Ben was happier to see me.
    “You look fabulous,” my mother said holding my face with her hands.
    “Thanks, but I’m a bit tired ,” I replied pushing my bag to the side.
    “Sure, go up and rest and I’ll prepare you a nice meal ,” she said rushing into the kitchen.
    As I climbed the stairs to my bedroom I had the urge to call Loretta. I wanted to know how she was. This girl truly tormented
    me. But it was my own fault. She