Two crossing paths

part 10: a trip to the edge of Africa

A beautiful dream enveloped him: a tranquil beach, seagulls soaring above, smooth sand beneath his feet, and a stunning woman in a classic dress sitting on the shore, bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun. But all of it suddenly faded as a piercing buzzing sound shattered the serenity, vibrating against the doctor’s skull. He had set the alarm to vibrate near him, as he was always more sensitive to motion than sound. Struggling to open his weary eyes, he realized he had barely slept more than three hours. No wonder he felt swollen, aching, and groggy—this was the time he usually let Ann sleep, not when he woke up.

To adjust his body clock, he had even taken two allergy tablets to help him fall asleep. Fighting off the laziness, he swung his legs off the bed, standing and walking straight to the bathroom. The sudden change in position nearly caused him to black out, but he muttered to himself, "No time for dizziness—let's go."

He grabbed a black T-shirt, beige pants, an undershirt, a brush, underwear, and his watch before heading to the bathroom. He double-checked that the heater was on, despite it being summer, because, like Ann, he was sensitive to cold temperatures. Rushing into the warm, running water, he felt the heat soothe his sore muscles from all the training that week. The increased blood flow to his back and shoulders turned his skin red, washing away the aches, fatigue, and swelling. He finished quickly, smelling fresh from the new shower gel his mother had bought him.

For a moment, he admired his body in the mirror, as any guy would, then swiftly dressed for the trip in under two minutes. After making wudu, he put on some perfume and prayed, asking God for a safe and enjoyable journey and guidance with his situation with Ann. He made a quick cup of coffee, slipped on his socks and shoes, and hoisted his heavy, packed backpack. Before leaving, he sent Ann a message: *“I’m out now.”* He knew she wouldn’t see it immediately, but it reassured him to let her know.

Zagazig—or just “Zag” as he called it—was stunning that morning as he walked its empty streets. The trees lining the villas were full of birds, chirping as if to greet him. He walked at a faster pace than usual, carefully calculating each step and timing. He had 30 minutes to grab breakfast and meet his friends. After calling his friend a couple of times and finding out they were, as usual, late for silly reasons, he decided to skip breakfast and head straight to the station to get the tickets.

Finally, they all gathered, their usual humor filling the air. They quickly made their way to the platform, waiting for the air-conditioned train. When it arrived, the chest-shaking sound of its combustion engine reverberated through them. Settling into their seats, they felt the comfort of the cool air and the calm, isolated cabin. As the train moved, Adam lost himself in the beauty of the view. It was fascinating how Egypt's governorates had no physical borders, yet you could tell when you left one by the changing scenery—shifting from green wheat fields to orange groves, then to desert and army camps as they reached Ismailia. Passing alongside the Suez Canal, they saw ships from various countries, each bearing a flag that Adam tried to identify. When seagulls began flying over the train and the canal, he knew they had reached Port Said—the city between Africa and Asia.

After a long three hours, they finally arrived and quickly left the station, heading towards the sea to explore the city. As they were walking, an old lady stopped Adam. “Excuse me, my boy, can you please withdraw some money for me from my card? I don’t know how,” she asked. Dr. Adam didn’t hesitate, helping her withdraw the money, though he felt guilty as she left, wishing he had taught her how to do it herself to avoid future scams.

Finally, they reached the long beach, the waves crashing and the strong wind blowing. They took off their shoes, savoring the feeling of the water as they walked toward their hostel. As Adam enjoyed the moment, his phone buzzed. He eagerly checked, knowing it was Ann.