Naples, The Short Way — Fitted Tee

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On the map, the distance looks encouraging. In Naples, standing at the Pedamentina steps, you discover that the map has presented its evidence from a very comfortable angle. Your friend had said it was the short way. They did not say anything false. They simply allowed the word short to do a great deal of work without asking which direction it meant.

You begin with a cheerful conversation and gradually become more interested in the spaces between sentences. There is plenty to look at, so pausing remains a respectable activity. Your friend pauses too. Neither of you calls it a rest, which is generous, considering that you have both stopped moving and are enjoying the fact enormously. You take a picture of the view and then another one, in case the first did not sufficiently express how much you wanted to stand still.

The best part arrives when you stop pretending you need a reason. You are away together. The afternoon belongs to you, the route has steps, and nobody is grading your progress. When you finally move on, you let your friend keep the map. It is useful to have someone responsible for the flat version of events while you attend to the rest.