Two crossing paths

part 7: families

The morning air was filled with excitement for these two souls, as they prepared for the day before Eid, a day of fasting to cleanse the sins of the past year. Adam was eager to see Ann committed to her acts of worship, even though she was usually full of life and fun. When she mentioned, unprompted, that she was fasting, a wave of pride and relief washed over him. It was a sign that her religious foundation was strong and dependable. He was glad to know she valued her relationship with God.

This feeling of reassurance reminded him of the first time they spoke on the phone. He had been worried that she might be overly influenced by her foreign background, perhaps only comfortable speaking in English or with a foreign accent. But to his surprise, she spoke as naturally as if she had lived in Egypt all her life.

Adam couldn't quite understand why all of this comforted him so deeply. His mind and heart were at odds. He could hear the passion in Ann's voice, and he knew she felt something for him. He couldn't deny that his feelings for her went beyond friendship, but he wasn't ready to admit it, not without carefully thinking it through.

As they talked, as they often did for hours on end, their conversation drifted towards the unspoken feelings between them, touched on in the most indirect way possible.

"I just wanted to tell you how happy I am to know you," Ann began, her voice filled with warmth. "You're the best friend I've ever had."

Adam felt a twinge of concern, fearing she was steering the conversation into the safe harbor of friendship, which he didn't believe could hold the depth of what they shared. "Um, oh Anne, I'm speechless hearing those beautiful words from you. I think... we're more than friends, though."

Ann's heart skipped a beat, excitement bubbling up within her. "Really? What could be more than friendship?"

Adam responded thoughtfully, his voice calm. "Well, I'm not exactly sure, but with everything that's happened and the connection we have... I think we might be soulmates."

Ann's cheeks flushed, a rosy hue like a freshly picked strawberry. "Oh, Adam, you know, I've been thinking the same thing. I think we are soulmates. You're the best soulmate ever."

That night, they slept comfortably in their beds, a comfort they had longed for amid all the struggles, instability, and moments when everything seemed to go wrong. After fighting off sleep for hours, they finally surrendered, knowing they were each other's last thought of the day.

The next day was Eid-a day of joy, happiness, and togetherness for Muslim families. Anne was headed to her grandmother's, and so was Adam, though to his own. They lived in a small town, barely a kilometer in length, surrounded by lush greenery. It was more like a village, but it had schools, restaurants, a train station, and a city center. You could walk through it all in just 15 minutes.

Adam carefully prepared his favorite formal outfit: a white shirt with the top button casually unfastened, navy blue trousers reminiscent of a suit, and his polished brown shoes. He headed downstairs and took the distinctive red bus to the larger train station. The station had captivated him since childhood, with its tower clock that he once mistook for Big Ben in London.

After buying his ticket, Adam sat down to wait for the train, his mind drifting. He had always been a fan of trains-perhaps because he feared the dangers of cars and buses, or because he got dizzy and uncomfortable from their constant motion. Or maybe it was the way a train allowed him to stretch out, relax, and watch the world go by. As the train sped through the greenest fields of the Governorate, Adam's thoughts turned to Anne. How was she? Was she having fun with her family? What did they eat for lunch? Was her family like his, radiating that warm, peaceful aura that made you feel at home, far from any toxic energy?