Guido dropped them off at the St. Lucia station just as the train rolled in. Back on the train, Averey thanked Mateo for helping her experience the exotic festivities of Carnevale. Inside the carriage, now alone, she realized that this journey wasn’t so much about her Aunt Sam, but rather a lesson from her. Carnevale opened Averey’s eyes to the experiences of different cultures, their languages, foods, and customs. She had been pulled out of her comfort zone to enjoy an intimate though short-lived experience. She placed the mask back on her face, leaned back on her backpack, and drifted off to sleep remembering Mateo’s words, “Carnevale in Venice makes you feel like you have been suspended in time between the past and the present.” As the train was pulling away from the station, Mateo leaned against her door as if he never wanted to stop protecting her. Only in time would he fully understand how much he cared for her.
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