The Non-Shriveling Rose

Scattered Chapters - Chapter 1 (Reunion)

(Edited, Second Edit)

We have decided that we aren't right for each other. Our calls and text messages indicated it was over again. We were just testing the waters of a possible reunion after a breakup that lasted more than 3 years. 

"Alright, I get it, it is over, but we can't just do it like that!" I said, indicating that for the sake of our families, we shouldn't look like unstable teenagers having an on and off relationship.

"Okay, lets fake our date tomorrow, then we will say we couldn't connect," She replied.

I had only 10 days leave from the Ruwais Refinery Expansion (RRE) project. A project I was working on in United Arab Emirates (UAE). I had to set things clear during this short visit to Egypt. I had seen her only for few minutes when I visited her parents' home, and now we are already having our new typical fight.

I was sitting with my old friend on a coffee shop, but my soul was far away, thinking how she will break my heart again on the next day. Crushed I mean, you can't break what is already broken; you can just smash it harder.

My friend left, then I had the longest night of my life. "Should I give her the gift I brought her? I have to appear strong. Don't look so helpless. Oh god I really love her I can't go through this" repeating these thoughts, talking to myself and brainstorming possibilities. Without any sense of time, with only the feelings of anxiety and despair a night have passed, and new dawn arose!

"I want to see her, even if it is for the last time." My body shivered with that thought, my sense of time resurfaced. The time which while ago flied, became a dying sloth with no intentions to move. Time became an instant enemy, ready to put a good fight just to prevent me from seeing her beautiful face. I was ready to fight back because I missed her so much. I missed her to the point that my eyes would see a blurry life, just to focus on seeing her.

I kept staring at the clock like I'm having supernatural powers that I can push time forward. I wanted the minutes to move like seconds, but I felt like everything went microscopic, where the clock's pendulums have to move a distance equivalent to the length of all Africa for just one second to pass.

While counting the seconds, I realized that I haven't decided what should I wear for this occasion? Maybe a black tuxedo with black tie, like I'm attending my own funeral. Or something so casual that shows I don't care anymore. It was irrelevant at this point what should I wear, so I decided to go with my normal style of clothing, Blue jeans and any half sleeve t-shirt covered by my favorite red jacket. 

I packed the gift, and it was all set for the longest trip of my life - and it is not just a metaphor for my fight against time - but only people who lived in Egypt will understand a Metro trip from Al Marj to Al Maadi. It is almost 16 stops of hell, where the goal - I think - is to fill every cabin with as much people as possible so they can choke to death and reduce the population.

After a battle of punches, kicks and disturbing hot weather, I finally arrived to Al Maadi station. where I have to start the quest of finding a taxi that will accept taking me to her home. Yes, you have to request the taxi driver to take you where you want to go, and if he likes the place you are going, you can start the negotiation phase, when only very good negotiators make a reasonable deal, while others get their money ripped off.

Through learning and practice, I managed to get there, when I called her to ask her if she is ready, "yes I'm ready," she answered.

I waited at her door, then she came out to show me heaven on earth; there she was an angel which can simplify the word "perfection". I don't seem to have the right words to describe her, but my heart literally skipped a beat when I saw her.

We both acted enthusiastic towards our date, just so her mother and sister won't notice the big fight that we had the night earlier. Yet I wasn't sure if we were faking it or it was true smiles painted on our faces. "Where should we go?" I asked, highlighting that I'm not familiar with the good restaurants in the neighborhood. "I'm not sure, but there is a good restaurant called Spectra, anyway it is up to you," she replied acting like this whole act is useless.

We agreed on going to Spectra, hence another quest has started to find a new taxi to take us there. I tried to show her some of my skills to influence her to change her mind; first with my negotiation skills when I convinced the taxi to take us there, my eloquence when I opened the door for her, and my generosity when I tipped the taxi driver extra.

My efforts seemed of no interest to her when she pointed "The restaurant is over there," then we started walking towards it. I thought to myself "Oh god, is it this restaurant? I'm not sure I have enough money to afford lunch for two in my wallet, what should I do? I will order a small plate for me and say I'm on diet. Oh no, she will notice and think I'm cheap. Come on focus, don't panic act normal,"

The restaurant looked so fancy, it was perfect for a first date occasion, only if it was a real date, not the fake one that we are acting to have.

There is an alley which guides you to the door, where it is all green on both sides. there was a door with an electronic display showing numbers, the number increased by two once we passed through it; it was counting the visitors per day, and we were visitors number 104 & 105. The main wooden door was decorated in classic fashion and the inside view as well, it was both classy and simple at the same time.  

There were pictures of branches from all over the world posted on the walls, and for a second I felt, what if we don't break up, what if we get married and celebrate each anniversary in one of these branches?

 "What would you like to eat?" she asked waking me up from my dreaming fantasy. "I don't know, ladies first! What would you like to eat?" I replied. Then she started ordering appetizers then the main course highlighting how good their sizzling dishes are. And all I was thinking about "please don't order the desserts from here, let's see 50+50 = 100!" calculating the cost of this meal, hoping the money I have is enough.

Then I saw her sparkling eyes, when I felt the whole world just froze, nothing to worry about, there was only peace and nothing else. I felt like my ears were no longer able to hear a voice, my eyes were able to read her lips, every word she spoke, or she didn't I was able to understand.

And there it started the most interesting conversation I had in my entire life; we shared thoughts, memories, laughs and delicious food. I never thought I would like anyone ever to put their fork in my food, but with her I felt like my food is getting tastier every time she shares with me.

There was a sparkle of love hidden inside her deep eyes that I felt was ready to ignite, she doesn't hate me, she is just worried, any girl in her age will be frightened of such commitment, I understood that, but only in this moment when I was able to read the beauty in her eyes.

We were happy together, I knew from this moment on that no fight between us can rip the love from our hearts, it will always be there, just beneath the dust of our daily stress and confusion. We don't have to dig deep to find it, we only have to smile or look each other in the eyes to have this dust wiped off. To feel love again.