Colombian paradise.
After three weeks our time in Ecuador had come to an end, and we were back in Santa Marta. My best friend’s guy had waited for us at the airport and fixed a taxi to drive us to Palomino. They dropped me off at the hostel, and they went to the nearest town where my best friend would stay with him and his family. This time around we got the real local experience. I had booked an apartment on AirBnb and could move there a couple days later.
The way back to Palomino I was nervous about seeing my boyfriend again. I arrived at the hostel, I got ready, and made my way to the hostel where my boyfriend works. When I arrived, I couldn’t see him, his friends greeted me, and when I asked about him they said he was in Santa Marta. I wasn’t sure if they were joking or not, but I could feel slight panic coming on. I was about to walk away before my boyfriend picked me up and hugged me laughing. I could tell he was happy that I was back, and I was relieved that it was a joke. After everything that happened while I was in Ecuador, I wouldn’t have put it past him, not being there. But he was, and although still mad, I was happy to see him again. After work, we went back to the room and talked. I told him about putting Pixel to sleep the next morning, and he was there for me that day.
I stayed in Palomino for two months. It was amazing, for a while. At first, I could enjoy the beach during the day, hangout with my bestfriend and her guy, spend nights with my boyfriend and on his day off we would go to Santa Marta and really enjoy spending time together.
After a couple weeks, I started doing less again. When I wasn’t with my bestfriend, I would sit at home just watching videos, or sleep. My days felt long, my boyfriend often worked until 12 AM, and often hangout with his friends after or go out. I wanted to sleep, but I also wanted to be awake when he got home. That was the only time we got together, nights and mornings. So I stayed up waiting, just like in Rome. I would get annoyed when he chose to spend more time with his friends than me, friends he worked with all day already. He would say he needed time and space, but how much more time could I give him? I was stuck between: ‘Coming back was my choice, and I told him he had no obligation to spend time with me.’ and ‘Why isn’t he excited and happy that I came back? I am here for him.’
It was also when I arrived back, that one of his friends wasn’t happy about it. She would say rude things about me, and my best friend. When I waited for someone to help me at the bar, she would ignore me, even when she was the only one working. Sometime near the beginning, my boyfriend said to me laughing ‘She doesn’t like you, hahah.’ I obviously already knew, but I asked him why. He said that she’s probably just scared that he won’t be able to spend time with her anymore. Aka, she’s jealous. Eventually, when they would go out, he wouldn’t invite me anymore because of her. And although I often said no to going out, being asked was still nice.
My best friend left after a month, it only got worse then, I didn’t have anyone there to spend time with and I had gotten back to staying home, not socializing, waiting for him to come home. He would stay out late more often, and I would get emotional. I only had two weeks left and I wanted more and more time togethr, because I was leaving soon. He kept saying we still had two weeks, as if it was a long time.
One day, we decided to talk about things. He finished work at 10 PM that day and we would talk about some disagreements. That talk was important to me, I hadn’t seen him in three days. I knew his work got busy sometimes, and it was a friday night. So, when it turned 11 I thought, ‘Okay maybe he had to stay at work until now’. Then it was 12, I told myself ‘Maybe it’s really busy, you know hospitality.’ By that time, the power in town had shut off, that meant no electricity, no light and no internet. I kept texting him anyway, asking where he was, hoping they would somehow deliver anyway. It was 1 AM, and I started pacing again, panicking, crying and hyperventitating. I had put my shorts on and taken them off three times, thinking I’ll just go there to see. But it was pitchblack outside, and the last time I showed up to his work upset things didn’t go well. So, I waited. I tried to sleep, but couldn’t stay still. I kept thinking, and crying, getting up and sitting down again.
He came home at 2 AM, I was angry, I slammed the door and somehow he seemed surprised. I got mad, I had been waiting for four hours. He told me the old manager and friend came by, and they went for drinks as a team. I could understand that, but he couldv’e told me. By then there was still internet. He only tried calling me once at 12, didn’t think to just come home at that point. I was so angry.
The rest of my time here I was feeling homesick. We had resolved that night, and wanted to make the most of the time we had left together. He still had to work, but came home after. The last days, we spent together in Santa Marta, and had a very emotional but beautiful goodbye.
Colombia wasn’t all bad, I had amazing times with my best friend and boyfriend. I will forever treasure the beautiful memories I made here. Unfortunately, the bad memories also stay with me. The feelings I got that night, again after Rome, always find their way back. Colombia and Ecuador made me look inward, made me want to change. I never want to waste my days again, especially not in such a beautiful country.
