Behind The Mask

Chapter 16

Michael’s POV

It’s early morning…TOO EARLY morning. I’ve barely managed to close an eyelid. The thought that maybe today my dream comes true…that Anouk will accept me…it just gave me wings and I was hyper all night, pottering about my room, taking about 3 or 4 showers…But now my hair is super clean and I smell nice. So, anyway, she wakes me up by pummeling her tiny fists in my door.

“OK, OK…I’m awake! Damn, even my African ancestors are awake with the noise you’re making.”

I open the door and she’s there…in a simple light cotton shirt, the sleeves rolled back to the elbows and two buttons left undone. It is a mellow khaki color and goes well with her golden hair and the light cargo pants.

“Morning sunshine!” I greet her and she grins in my face.

“Morning, sleepy head! One word of warning, seeing how you love the color red. NEVER wear red in the Veldt. I hope you have other colors, too.”

“Is green alright?”

“Yep. Hurry up, I’m just getting the car ready and I’m leaving in 15 minutes….with or without you.”

“I’ll be ready in 10.”

I sit in the ancient looking Jeep, but I feel confident in Anouk’s driving skills. She navigates out of the hotel enclosure with minimum noise, so that everyone else can continue to sleep. Jeez, it’s not even sunrise yet!

“I packed some snacks, lots of water…We’re gonna be alright for today.”

All I care about is that it’s gonna be just me and her in the middle of the Veldt and she’s not going to run away from me this time. I try to cool down my enthusiasm…damn, why can’t she just tell me now???? OK, OK….don’t act crazy, Michael…don’t act crazy!

We’re driving through open land now. I look around in the faint gray light and I feel at home. Africa is the place that holds my roots. I feel the connection, the magical spark shining in my soul. And Anouk is a part of Africa, too. It is fitting – that I should return to my roots to find my soul mate.

“And we’re going up there on our feet from here” she says suddenly, interrupting my reverie.

“Okay. Let me get that rucksack with the water bottles.”

“I got it.”

“No, Anouk, I got it. Just get used to letting people help you, OK?”

It’s quite a climb. Thankfully I’ve retained my shape from touring and I manage to keep up with her.

“In here” she points to a small cave in the rocks. “Some birds used it for nesting last year but they’ve not returned so far. It’s a bit damp after the rain season..”

She puts some blankets down and we sit side by side. I feel her body warmth close to me.

“We’ll get quite a view of the sunrise from here.”

“When you smile, it’s like a sunrise to me” I say quietly.

She looks away from me, but I can tell that she is smiling.

“I never brought anyone up here…except for Pete. Well, there was no one after Pete, so…”

“No one?”

“No.”

I reach for her hand and hold it in mine. We sit in silence watching the sunrise. It is a beauty beyond words. It is pure magic created by God with all the beautiful colors you can imagine.