The Silver Cloud, Warnemunde, Scandinavia, Russia.

One lunchtime I was seated next to a couple,mid 90's,as I learnt later.He was unsmiling,morose,grumpy,hawkish face with a hawkish nose.She was tiny,friendly,lived in face, once very beautiful,kind eyes,ready smile.He hobbled away on a stick with a passing shot-don't be long. She didn't answer, but turned towards me-I have seen you often,always alone.I know you are alone because you want to be,not because you have to be,would you mind if I talk to you...No,not at all,I would like that very much...Why are you alone, what happened? her kind eyes quizzically taking the measure of mine...I am a widow...I thought so, no man in his right mind would want to divorce you, unless of course, you were unhappy in a marriage.How long?...Five and a half years...Too long to be alone.Have you not found any-one you could love again?...I don't know,I have been asked out many times but I always have million excuses why to say no and never a good reason to say yes...You are a lovely person...I smiled feeling quite embarrassed...You don't think so,but you are.Even my husband said you are lovely and have lovely feet and he never says that about any-one.When you smile your face lights up and your eyes smile,you have Spanish eyes,are you Spanish?No,you look  French with a bit of Italian in your background,she continued without respite wanting to say so much and having so very little time.It is terrible to be alone when you are old,don't close your heart, let someone in...I think I want too much.I want everything or nothing.There cannot be greater loneliness than that in an empty marriage... She stared at me, her eyes swelling up with tears...You are very wise, Are you a writer?... No...You should write,you are very interesting,and a nice, warm person.She put her tiny hand on mine.I love talking to you.I have to go up now,he gets cross when I leave him alone for too long...She looked at me with her pale blue sad eyes.I have been mostly unhappy in my marriage,I knew within a year I made a terrible mistake but then the first child came and I was hoping things would change, they never did.Many times I thought I would leave but with no education and a little prospect of a good job,how would I support us?I have no say in anything.I have to go where he wants to go... She got up,we embraced,her slight body trembling. I watched her go,leaning on the walking stick... In my cabin I cried and cried. We all have a cross to bear.