Hours before.
Dominik sipped from his soda and leaned in to look out the window. In the distance, he could see in all its splendor, the Egyptian Museum of El Cairo. Next to him, Carlos, staring at him in complete silence. They had just landed in a flight coming from Los Angeles, and, although Carlos preferred going to the hotel to drop their bags, shower and rest a little after the long trip, they couldn't because of a delay in their scale in Paris.
In a few hours, the launching party of Samanta's new book would be taking place. Carlos knew because she announced it on Twitter. That was enough reason for Dominik to make the trip without a second thought.
“Can I get you anything else?” A woman approached them. They both declined with their heads.
“We are fine. Thank you” said Carlos.
“Let me know if you need anything” she said and left.
Carlos realized a group of women were staring closely at Dominik.
“Dam, bro! Looking like that, you're a total specimen for the ladies.”
Blond like the sun, with light blue eyes, arms that rubbed the inside of the sleeves of the white shirt he was wearing, muscular thighs that showed through the black slacks he had on and almost 2 meters in height that helped little to none at blending in crowds.
Dom turned around and noticed the women, too.
“Either that, or they recognized me.”
“But, of course. Middle eastern women, Big fans of soccer.”
Dominik sighed slightly and turned back around to look out the window.
»Are you sure about all of this?” He asked, seeing how anxious he was.
“Yes. I am” answered Dom.
“And, after this? What will happen to your family?”
“I don’t know. I have to talk to my wife, ask her to explain why she kept this from me. My son will always be my son, that much is certain.”
“Samanta is…” Carlos hesitated.
“Married?” said Dominik, finishing the sentence. Carlos nodded. “I figured as much. I figured she would be, long ago. After all these years, it was to be expected.”
“She has a family, too and, you should know her husband has been like a real father…”
“Please, Carlos. Stop torturing me. I have enough dealing with the weight of everybody else's mistakes. You know I am another victim of this. I am the father of that young lady. I want to meet her and make it up to them. That is all I ask.”
“Fine. Let me pay and we'll go” Carlos pulled out his wallet.
“No. Leave it. I got this.”
“I insist” Carlos looked around inside his wallet, trying to find his card. But he found something else, instead. Something that had lingered in there and he could not throw away, regretting he did not deliver it. “Dominik.”
“What? You don’t have cash? No problem, I…”
“No. Not that” said Carlos, extending his hand out to his partner, with a paper folded in it.
“What is that?” He asked, looking at the paper.
“Something I was meant to give you when you came to the airport, looking for Samanta.”
Dominik took the paper and opened it. He read it carefully.
Dear Dominik, I'm writing this letter to let you know I love you, I want you to remember that. I am leaving. Not that I want to run away from you, but chasing my dream. A dream I have worked for long before you walked into my life. In the short time we have spent together, you made me feel things I never thought I would feel again, and some others I never imagined I could feel. I want you to know If I never mentioned anything about my “dark” past, it was only because that was all a horrible memory that haunts me to this day. It hurts, but I never meant to lie or hide it from you. I would never dare tricking you. Today, I leave on a broken heart. I had my hopes high up, I was hoping we would work out. Although it was short, it sure was beautiful.
Please don't ever let anyone get in your way. Fight for your dreams as I am fighting for mine. If time goes by and destiny brings us back together, I will be the happiest woman to finally have you with me again.
With all my love,
Samanta.
Tears rolled down from the man's blue eyes. Dominik had to breathe deep to keep those impertinent tears back. He never liked anyone seeing him like that.
“Why?” He asked. “This letter could have avoided all this drama.”
“I'm sorry. I was jealous. I was an idiot, pretending you would be out of Samanta's life for good. But apparently, some bonds are not to be broken neither by time nor by distance.”
“Let's go” Dominik stood up. It was time to fix this mess.
*****
Dominik could not help being in awe from all the amazing things in this place. So much history and so many mysteries, he sometimes stopped looking for Samanta among the crowd and wandered off staring at the beautiful artifacts in the museum.
“So?” Carlos' voice startled him. “Have you seen Sam?”
“Had I seen her, I would not be standing here.”
“Good point” agreed Carlos.
“This place is huge and there is so many people. It would be best if I look upstairs while you search down here” said Dominik.
“Great.”
Dominik headed upstairs and he kept observing everything around him on his way up. He was enchanted by all this beauty. For a moment, he could not resist the temptation to enjoy all the things surrounding him. He was very attracted by a replica of the Sphinx, when suddenly a sweet voice woke him from his admiration.
“Mommy, mommy. Open this for me” that voice made him look. It was weird how she did not speak Arabic, since she was wearing the traditional outfit. The young girl approached a woman wearing also a traditional outfit. There was something about that woman. Dominik felt a chill when he had a good look at the young girl. He could hear the woman speaking Arabic. She opened the bottle for the girl and handed it over. “Thanks mommy” said the girl in perfect English.
The girl turned towards him, without even noticing she almost ran into him. The woman said something he thought was Arabic and he assumed she was apologizing. But she suddenly stopped talking and stood paralyzed in from of him, without uttering a single word.
“Don’t worry. That is how children are, marvelous and unique” said Dominik with a smile. The lady in front of him was petrified. He thought maybe she recognized him—. Are you alright?” Dominik wished he could speak Arabic, but he hardly could manage his own language and English. The woman did not react “Lady! Are you alright?” he insisted.
The lady slowly moved her head, nodding, turning her back to him.
Dominik didn't know who, but his heart was racing.