But perhaps I feel like that because I know this isn’t really retirement, it’s only a limited leave of absence, once again being threatened by the office. Friday 23 August I wanted to surprise her. I waited for her a block away from the office. At five past seven I saw her approaching. But she was walking with Robledo. I don’t know what Robledo was telling her; but the truth is that she was laughing freely, very amused. Since when is Robledo so amusing? I went into a café, let them pass by and then started to follow them some thirty steps behind. When they reached Andes they said goodbye. Then she turned towards San José. She was going to the apartment, of course. I went into a grimy little café where I was served a cortado in a cup that still had lipstick on it. I didn’t drink it, but I didn’t complain to the waiter either. I was agitated, nervous and uneasy, but, most of all, annoyed with myself. Avellaneda laughing with Robledo. What was wrong with that? Avellaneda in a simple human relationship, not merely professional, with a man other than myself.
