UNENDING

33- Andalucía & Ávila

-AL-QASIM-

Watching Asiya attempt the flamenco was nothing short of mesmerizing. She was completely out of her element, her movements far from the graceful sway of the dancers who had invited her to join. Yet, there was something about the way she laughed, her feet fumbling awkwardly as she tried to mimic their steps, that made her absolutely irresistible. The women dancing in the street had pulled her over, urging her to try, and to my surprise, she'd actually agreed. I stood back, watching as she moved, her cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and excitement. She was no dancer, that was for sure, but she looked adorable, her smile wide and uninhibited.

When she finally broke away, she ran back to me, giggling like a child who'd just gotten away with something mischievous. "Did you have fun?" I asked, grinning at her as I took her hand.

She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with joy. "That was so much harder than it looks!" she exclaimed, still slightly out of breath. "But yes, it was fun. I can't believe I actually did that!"

"I can't believe it either," I teased, squeezing her hand gently. "But you were great. I've never seen you so carefree."

She blushed at the compliment, looking down at her feet as we continued to walk. We strolled through the streets of Andalucía, the sun setting slowly and casting a warm golden glow over everything. As we walked, we stumbled upon an ice cream shop, and I couldn't resist treating her to a few scoops. She chose a mix of flavors—hazelnut, pistachio, and something citrusy that I couldn't quite place. The moment she had the cup in her hand, she was completely absorbed, savoring each bite with a look of pure contentment.

I couldn't take my eyes off her. Watching her enjoy something as simple as ice cream made my chest tighten in a way that was becoming all too familiar. It was in these quiet moments, when she was just being herself, that I found myself questioning things I never had before. Her joy was contagious, and I found myself smiling, not because of anything I'd done, but simply because she was happy.

"Look!" she suddenly exclaimed, pulling me out of my thoughts. She pointed to a street vendor selling small trinkets, her excitement palpable. "Let's go see!"

We wandered over to the vendor, who had an array of colorful items laid out on a small table. Asiya picked up a vibrant red hand fan, its intricate design catching the light as she held it up to inspect it. "This is beautiful," she murmured, almost to herself.

Without a second thought, I bought it for her. I'd made it a habit to get her something from every place we visited, a small token to remind her of our trips. She smiled as I handed it to her, a look of genuine appreciation in her eyes. "Thank you," she said softly, her fingers tracing the fan's delicate patterns.

"Anything for you," I replied, meaning it more than she probably realized.

We continued our walk, eventually making our way to Casa de Pilatos in Seville, where I'd arranged a private tour. The house was breathtaking, its vibrant colors and intricate architecture seeming to lift Asiya's spirits even higher. She gushed over every detail, her excitement spilling over as she imagined what it would have been like to live there back in the 1500s.

As I listened to her, an idea struck me. "How about I build you a place like this when we get back?" I asked, the words slipping out before I had fully processed them.

She turned to me, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You don't have to do that, Al-Qasim."

"Why not?" I shrugged, smiling at her reaction. "I have the money and the resources to make it happen. It could be just for you, solely in your name—something you can put your energy into."