Chapter 1
Nico
Sandcastles. Hundreds of them, dotted across the surface of the soft sandy beach that lay at the foot of the bar. In the hazy morning sun only the crumbling remnants were left. Once perfectly formed, like my life, the unpredictable Grecian sea slowly ebbed away at each one, until all that was left was a pile of sand, or in my case a pile of shit.
Sweat beaded on my brow as I set up the sunbeds and parasols in wait for the customers that were sure to come to Aphrodite’s beach once the hour was more reasonable. It was only five a.m, too early for the tourists to stir, so the calm and quiet was a nice respite. Soon hundreds would flock through the door, demanding delicious food and ice cold drinks, handmade ice creams and fanciful cocktails.
I started setting up earlier than the other bars along the beachfront, after my father’s death, I had no choice. Aphrodite’s beach bar was too big for one person to set up on their own, but with the cost of living ever increasing it was not financially feasible to recruit any more servers than those we already had.
I didn’t mind the early mornings. I rarely slept anyway. Images of the incident crept from just tormenting my waking moments, into haunting the scarce few hours of sleep I did manage to get. They were always the same. No matter how many times they flooded my mind, I had never become desensitized to the emotions they stirred up within me.
Walls of fire. Scorching and unrelenting. Screams of terror. Their fear was palpable from the barricade I was forced to stay behind. Plumes of smoke hiding the full extent of Hephaetus’ wrath. Lara and Eve.
I shook my head, the vision slowly drifted to the back of my mind. I don’t have time for this, I have shit to do. It took a further hour to line the sunbeds under the straw parasols and a further two to prepare the tables for the breakfast rush. “kaliméra aderfé” Andreas greeted. “Good morning, brother” he reached out to shake my hand.
A seasoned veteran of Greek tourism, Andreas has worked in Aphrodite’s for as long as I could remember. As a boy he taught me how to serve the perfect pint and how to carry multiple plates on my arms without dropping a single one. His wise words of wisdom had helped me through some of the darkest days, but even in all of his seventy-five years he had never experienced the horrors of my past.
I smiled at him, noticing his tanned complexion grew more wrinkled with each day that passed, he had been handsome once, but these days he looked too old and tired to still work these long sixteen to eighteen hour days. “Morning brother, Andreas,” I greeted, taking his proffered hand. His grip was vice-like as he held it for longer than normal.
“You look tired, Nico.” His statement was solemn, his watery blue eyes pierced into mine. “You must rest, truly rest, once the season is over.”
I nodded, refusing to get caught up in the same argument as I always did. I had time to rest once I was dead. Until then I had to support Mama, and keep the family business afloat. “Agori mou, my boy, you need a distraction.”
I rolled my eyes, not this again. “Andreas, I have no time for distractions. I have a bar to keep profitable.” For a few moments he studied me, his eyes pitied me. I hated that look. “Besides, you keep me plenty distracted with your shenanigans.” I added, my attempt to make light of the situation fell flat. With a graceful nod he left for the kitchen, he was still the head chef even though we hired a new one at the start of the season, Andreas was not ready to relinquish his domain.
Only once the sunbeds were in place and the tables set, did I allow myself a quick nicotine hit. I inhaled deeply, the hot air mixed with smoke filled my lungs until they burned at maximum capacity. There was nothing I liked more than a cigarette of satisfaction, after sex included.
As I exhaled, my shoulders relaxed and relief washed over me, now I am ready for them. The first few servers arrived marking that crowds of tourists would soon follow.
Aphrodite’s was not only one of the biggest, but one of the longest standing bars along the stretch. My father opened it in his early twenties, starting the trend of all the other bars on the beachfront that followed in the years after. Its reputation preceded my father’s reign, it was now left solely to me to uphold the legend of Aphrodite’s.
Ironic considering there is no love in my life. Yet, year upon year couples would choose this place for proposals of their undying love or to revel in the honeymoon period. The first few years were difficult; seeing all the happy, infatuated couples with their extravagant public displays of affection. It hurt not going home to see their eager faces, to kiss Lara and hug my daughter Eve in my greeting after a long day’s work. All that awaited me now was a dark, empty flat. A void in my heart as well as my flat that could never be filled.
A shiver ran long my spine, whoever said time was a healer had never experienced true heartbreak. No amount of time could ever heal my heart, all time had done was solidify my heart into stone. Consumed more and more as each day passes with regret and self-loathing. Add a hint of bitterness with a dash of helplessness and the perfect cocktail of unavailability is served.
This lifestyle suited me. I had plenty of time to grow accustomed to living this unexpected bachelor life in my late thirties. What I had told Andreas was the truth, mostly. It wasn’t just the time I lacked for any romantic distractions, I held no interest for anything or anyone. No matter how hard they tried.
