Druskininkai

In the midst of political turmoil, in his native land, at the border

of Russia and Ukraine, Alex set up a dating profile.

Europe seemed safer. America was his true dream, but too far out of reach. The first girl who’d invite him over would be “the one”.

It didn’t take long for them to get married. Always teased as overweight, Tanya finally could exhale. Alex didn’t seem to mind. She thought it was her writing that stole his heart. Love at first sight, sparks at first words, and so they rushed into a bliss of a dream.

Seven years passed by. They couldn’t have kids. Tanya’s health was of question. Alex learned German, joined Tanya’s travel agency, and would often drive groups to their spa destinations

all over Europe. In Lithuania, after a long night of travel, he decided to stay at one such spa resort for a couple of days. The tourists seemed too eager to get there. Why would he take it for granted again? All-you-can-eat buffet with local delicacies drew him

like a magnet. He noticed a girl, wearing a shirt with “California”

on it. She was dressed comfortably, compared to the Europeans around, who were dressed stylishly. His gaze followed her every step, from yoghurt to berries, from soup to Lithuanian delicious homemade bread. Unlike most of the resort guests’ plates at the buffet, hers seemed bare. A little bit of everything, but enough

not to waste. Her hair was a bit messy. All natural, no attempt to stand out in the crowd.

Alex sat across her. She stared right at him. One of the blueberries fell and rolled right under him. “It happens,” he whispered.

She reacted with a genuine smile. He liked her “California” shirt.

It was his dream of America. His dating profile brought him

to a possibility easier than he thought. He introduced himself

when she went for seconds. So began their two-day adventure, before he departed for the next destination. Walks in the forest,

by the lake, wild apples, not-so-wild fox, lavender fields, a friendly stork – all became an imprint for what seemed like pure love

at first sight.

This was all she was looking for. Now she could exhale. So began endless phone calls, five trips in Europe together. Then a proposal, over a year of immigration paperwork, and finally the fiancé visa

to the United States. All through the process she was with him, always online, always chatting. They were together even through the medical exams, required for the visa. Piles and piles

of paperwork, all of her life in the United States printed out

and scanned, over $10,000 spent between hotels, travel,

and lawyers.

She waited for him at the airport. She’d never looked prettier.

Her man was finally coming home. She pictured them building

a world together. They’d walk her German Shepherd. They’d go

to the ocean and take in all the beautiful California sun. She’d finally landscape the yard. He’d fix things around the house. She won’t sleep alone anymore.

He’d have children. They’d go to the gym together. Alas, he’d reach his America. He’d learn English. He’d drive through the expanse

of the continent. America, once so out of reach, was so easily

his now.

Little did she know that she was betrayed through every notarized page, through all of her bank account statements for the lawyers. All those pictures from France, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Ukraine were so warm, so lovely, but so dishonest. To him.

The castles they had danced in and the nature they had breathed were all a game. Not to her.

She bought a dress from a friend who designed it. She picked up flowers from a neighbor who arranged them. She washed her car. She groomed her dog. Another friend, a photographer, prepared the wedding session. Another friend married them at the court

in Santa Barbara. The dolphins at the shore were playful.

The couple on the pier was beautiful.

No one questioned why they got married the day after he landed

in the States. It usually takes a week just to recover from jetlag.

The visa was for a few months. They could have married any day within. He had a plan. America was it, not her. She had a wish.

Alex was it. And yet…

Los Angeles, its dynamic kaleidoscope of contrasts, fun restaurants, a theatre, they saw a lot. And yet… something was eating him alive. To betray her for the green card, but could he really? She was that innocent smile he noticed once in Lithuania. Comfort was in her soul. She was joyful. She was kind. She was creative. She was spontaneous. She was light like a feather.

He did begin to fix her house. She did begin to landscape.

They shared dinners. He enjoyed the local farmer’s market.

The days ticked on. Nine days in California were sunny. He couldn’t sleep at night. Jetlag was familiar to her. She held him tight, made tea, laughed and told him stories. The root was something else.

The guilt awakened in the depth of night. He couldn’t sleep at all. The shame was eating him alive. All he had to do now was send in the marriage certificate, and the green card was on the horizon. Voila, America was his.

Although, he realized America was hers – honest, pure, kind, comfortable, genuine, filtered, hopeful, real. Was he sure he could betray it? Not so much. Not anymore.

Ten days after he landed, he boarded a plane to go back

to Germany, thus canceling the fiancé visa automatically.

All her friends now questioned his intent. Now all of them felt

it was strange that he wanted to get married right away. 

She was devastated. Months upon months of effort

with immigration, debt, a broken heart, despair. She wasn’t so light anymore. Broken... The consequences were severe. She lost her job after 16 years at a film studio. She almost lost her house. At 40,

she lost a chance at family. She lost hope to dream, all because

a boy once set up a dating profile on the other side of the world.