What If Just...

19 Vivian

Aiden stops the car at the tiny entrance to an alley.

Outwardly, it's no different from the streets we have just passed through.

"Don't be disappointed too soon," the guy says with a mysterious grin.

As soon as we go a little deeper, people flash before our eyes.

"Vivian, I'll have to take your hand, otherwise you'll get lost," Aiden explains in an apologetic tone.

I feel sorry he has to be on guard with me all the time. For him the lack of contact must be as uncomfortable as its presence for me.

Aiden and Grace are very tactile people: they are probably used to show affection for each other in their family.

I extend my hand to the guy with a smile to show friendliness on my part.

No matter what sensations are reflected on me by touching, Aiden doesn't deserve rejection - he spends as much time, money and effort as possible to introduce me to a new world.

The man squeezes my hand tightly in his and I smile at the huge size difference.

"What's wrong?" he asks in surprise, noticing my high spirits.

"You have a giant's hand," I reply, pulling out my palm and forcing him to open his.

"Or you have a dwarf's one," the guy sarcastically remarks, looking at our folded palms.

While I am searching for words to argue, Aiden quickly interlace our hands again and actually pulls me along.

It's unbelievably hard to keep up with him because of the width of his steps.

I am completely out of breath when I decide to tell him anyway.
"Could you walk a little slower, please - I can't keep up with you," I almost beg.

"Yeah, sorry. I've just never had the chance to...," he begins and then breaks off. "We're almost there, stay as close as possible."

After a dozen steps, the alley widens and we get into a real pandemonium.

I voice to Aiden the very first thought occuring to me at this moment.
I have to get close to him and stand on my toes so that he can hear me.

"Do you never wear masks?" I ask loudly.

"We don't need them: there is no epidemic right now. Quite a few years have passed since the last one."

It seems so strange to me.
In my world, too, there are no obvious threats, but everyone nevertheless takes the measures of precaution.

"This world seems to openly despise all the rules," I think to myself.

Colorful facades of cafes and shops look at us from each side.

There are difficult-to-define aromas in the air.

Here colorful flags hang from the top, there - lanterns with symbols.

All people are completely different from each other - an absolute contrast compared to my world: different hairstyles, hair colors, style of clothing.

Right here at almost every entrance or on the counter you can see various animals: from parrots to large fluffy dogs - they are not for sale, they live here and bring soul to a place.

Aiden tries to walk as slowly as possible, although from time to time he has to make me move faster because I stop to look at this or that facade, product or person.

"People and cultures from all over the planet are gathered here," he explains to me. "Tell me when you want to try or buy something."

The truth is I want all at once!
To try, to smell, to touch.