Extraordinary, Mundane Things That Tug at Your Heart

Thursday prompt

A few nights ago, I was standing on the 26th of July bridge staring out at the Nile. I watched the felucca boats trail up & down with excitable guests.

I saw bats fluttering, Pied Kingfishers chasing each other, and Black Kite birds dancing in the sky above.

But I wasn't alone.

As I gazed out at the River Nile, I stood beside a man who said to me, “I think I’m falling in love with you.” His words echoed the language of my heart, for they spoke the same ones.

When we met, the first words out of my mouth were, I’m not looking for a boyfriend, and I don’t want marriage or children.

The next words out of his mouth were, I don’t want to marry or have children.

Perfect! I thought to myself.

Maybe he will be a good friend. I couldn't have imagined what the next few weeks had in store for us.

We began by hunting downtown Cairo for sheets and pillows for my new flat. Mundane activities at best. But we had so much fun!

He joked that people must think we are engaged or married in the housewares section of the store.

Yes, It's definitely a “couple” scenario.

The following day, I had to find a hotel nearby, because my flat situation didn't work out. I felt rough around the edges because I sank my money into a place I couldn't stay.

7,000 miles away from home, I was feeling decidedly alone, trying to make a new life.

He offered to help with another seemingly boring task, despite the scorching noon-day Cairo heat.

I was grateful for assistance because downtown Cairo is an absolute jungle and crazy to navigate.

We searched for hours until I found a place I felt good about. Up until then, he made phone calls to friends and different hotels on my behalf.

My Arabic isn't as good as it used to be, and I was stressed to the max.

The genuine kindness of this man wasn't lost on me.

I didn't know what to make of it. He respected my boundaries, and I felt comfortable. He seemed selfless, I thought to myself.

Is he for real?

The next day brought much-needed rest & relaxation. I recalibrated and prepared to search for a new place to live.

I needed water, food, toiletries, and more basic items. My new friend was happy to help, and by now, my feelings began to intensify.

After a few days crossing dangerous streets arm & arm, that small act came to symbolize more.

It was an electric moment each time I held close to his shoulder as we dashed through the maze of traffic.

We both felt it.

Organically, he showed up day after day to accompany me on broker appointments to look at flats.

We shared lunch at the end of each day, and we scheduled more appointments at night.

Fast-forward almost 2 weeks later, and we found ourselves on the bridge overlooking the Nile. I don't know how long we stood on the bridge, but it felt like another dimension.

The night wind whipped around us as birds & bats swooped near the water and back up into the inky sky.

Arm in arm, we let our eyes take in the view as the colorful lights shimmered and bounced off the Nile.

Mesmerized, we remained there for I don't know how long. But we didn't want it to end.

He turned to me with a surprised expression on his face and said the words.

I think I’m falling in love with you.

I replied.

I think I’m falling in love with you too.

Up until then, we spent our days on nothing more than mundane tasks.

In between outings, we find ourselves singing silly love songs. It feels like a veiled, safe way to express the intensity of our emotions using the words from the songs.

We laugh as we sing to each other,

You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you, you’d be like heaven to touch, I want to hold so much, at long last love has arrived, I thank God I’m alive, you're just too good to be true, I can't take my eyes off of you, I love you, baby, and if it's quite alright, I need you, baby, to warm these lonely nights; I need you, baby, trust in me when I say, I love you, baby.

I don't know if the night air sweeping over the Nile was somehow sweeter that night or if the starlight shone brighter just for us.

I do know that night was a portal, and we walked through it together. We didn't speak many words because we hardly needed any.

We marveled at nature and the cityscape around us, making a magical elixir.

It was practical, day-to-day, mundane activities that brought us extraordinary joy.

The rest of our story lies nestled in the future.

Until then, every small task we perform together takes on more joy and meaning than we ever could have dreamed.

My wish for you is that you allow the ordinary to inspire the extraordinary if you are lucky enough to spend it with someone who lights a fire inside your chest.