I turn on my heels when I spot a man walking my way. He looks as though he is about to walk straight through me.
‘Ahoj,’ says the man looking directly at me and nodding his fine specimen of a head. My heart does a flutter. I never expected to find such a hunk lurking around the stairs of an old building.
‘Oh. I’m sorry, I don’t speak Czech. Only English.’ I try to move past him, but we have one of those awkward moments where we both move simultaneously in the same direction. I shuffle to the left, then he does. Then I move to the right, and so does he. Finally, we move in opposite directions. Just as I walk away, he turns back and smiles.
‘This might seem strange, but do I know you?’
‘No, I don’t think so.’
‘Oh, then you remind me of someone,’ says the man.
‘Oh, do I? Well, it can’t be who you think. I’m Welsh, so you wouldn’t know me…’
The man excitedly interrupts me. ‘You even sound exactly like her. I studied in Cardiff. Maybe you’re related.’
‘Ha. Not all Welsh people are related. Besides, I don’t think I’ve ever had family go to uni, but it’s a small world.’
‘It is indeed. Do you live here in Prague now?’
‘Oh, gosh, no. I’m just looking for someone who lives here.’
‘Who were you looking for? I know almost everyone in this block.’
‘It’s a long story. I was looking for someone who I thought lived over there.’ I point to the door of number twenty-five.
‘My uncle’s place?’
I get a sudden tingle down the back of my neck. ‘Your uncle lives there?’
‘Yeah.’
Do I tell him why I am here or walk away before I say the wrong thing? What if Marek doesn’t want to be found? What if this man doesn’t know about Aunt Grace, and I make it awkward for everyone? Marek could have had an affair with Aunt Grace in the Nineties and never told her he was married. Stranger things have happened in life.
Oh, I wish Dewi was here now. He would know what I should do next.
‘So, you were looking for my uncle?’
‘No, not really. Well, I don’t think he’s the person I’m looking for. Ooh, I don’t know.’
‘Forgive me, but who exactly is it you’re looking for?’
I bite at the edge of my nail nervously. I wish he would stop asking me questions.
‘Do they live in the building? Perhaps I can help you find them?’
‘I honestly don’t know.’
‘Okay. Why don’t you try me?’ He looks at me with his hazel eyes, and that is when I notice the resemblance to the man who opened the door. So, I blurt it out.
‘I was looking for a man named Marek.’
Suddenly the man gives me an almost identical expression to the one his uncle gave me a few minutes ago. Then he shakes his head in exactly the same way.
‘Marek?’ he repeats.
‘Yes, Marek.’
‘Okay.’
