We were walking along Cuchilleros when, suddenly, you stopped in front of Botín. You put
that chastened expression of an explorer without a compass to which I've become accustomed
and fixed your gaze on the door.
-Are you hungry? - I asked.
You entered without answering. I followed you. The aroma that greeted us, a soft veil of wines and meats, transported me immediately to a time
of wines and meats, transported me immediately to a time without stains on the skin or hints of farewell
skin and no hint of farewell in every gesture in which the future did not concern us.
we did not worry about the future. For years we were regular customers of that restaurant and I tried to recall, with no luck, our last
to remember, with no luck, our last meal.
We were seated by a window. I wanted to order something easy to chew, but you refused.
you refused.
-A little dinner for two," you said.
While we waited, we kept silence. This silence of thorns that enveloped us
that has enveloped us since your diagnosis, and that was only broken by the clinking of the plates and glasses that filled our table.
and the glasses that filled our table. We began to eat and immediately your
your face relaxed. You smiled and I knew you had returned for a few minutes to this part of existence.
this part of existence.
-You wore a white dress the first time we came here. I was so
I was so nervous that I stained it with my drink. That day I was thinking of asking you to marry me, but I didn't dare.
to marry me, but I didn't dare.
You caressed my hand with your confession, and I had to bite my cheeks to keep from crying.
not to cry.
As soon as we hit the street your bubble caught up with you again. Since then,
whenever I feel the threat of oblivion, we return to our Booty table,
ask for anything and you instantly reclaim for both of us parts of our marriage that we thought were lost.
marriage that we thought were lost. I don't know how long this gastronomic prodigy will last.
gastronomic prodigy that awakens you, nor what will be your final loss, but I know that as long as we keep our teeth we will have in the
as long as we keep our teeth, we will have an ally in the oldest restaurant in the world.
an ally in the oldest restaurant in the world.
