BRUNO
We are in my car on our way back to the hotel. It’s a two-hour trip – enough to think about what the fuck I'm going to do with Sarah in this land.
One thing is for sure though. I’m going to fucking kill Carter.
I want to smile, but I can't. The muscles in my face are not responding because of stress levels that are rising through the fucking roof.
God, I can't get out of this perplexed state I'm in.
Wake up, you,idiot!She's looking at you!
Yeah, I can feel her eyes on me, but she's not talking. A slight smile curves her lips, as if my troubled state amuses her. I can’t contemplate her face without feeling ashamed of myself. After all we went through together, I had no better idea than to leave, without saying goodbye face to face. I ran away like a bitch and left questions only I could answer behind.
Her attitude toward me speaks volumes. Not only has she tracked me, but she has also come to Saudi, for fuck’s sake. On the other hand, I have so many questions I want to ask her, but I’m afraid I’ll say something I will regret later. I need to process all of this first.
I step on the gas, speeding as fast as my brain is working right now.
As soon as we hit the road, she speaks calmly.
“I know you’re worried. In fact, you look worried. I assure you I'm not here to be a nuisance, I'm here to help, Bruno. I'm aware of the situation, you don't have to—”
“I'm so sorry, Sarah. I never wanted to leave like that. I didn't want to end things the way they did between us. Please believe me.” I cannot hide my anguish.
She puts her hand on my leg and caresses it slowly, trying to calm me down, but the consequences of her touching my thigh is far more exciting than comforting. I draw a deep breath and fight the urge to pull over and fuck her in the middle of this Saudi highway.
“You don't have to explain anything to me, I understand.”
How can she be so understanding? I don't get why she doesn't hate me. I would.
In fact,Ihate myself.
I grab her hand, holding her tight, and I make a promise to myself. I will never, ever, let her go again. Jesus, she’s here but I still can’t believe it.
“Fuck. I missed you so much.” I won't hide my feelings, not anymore. A day hasn’t passed where I haven’t thought about her, obsessively. The fact she’s actually here, in this hostile godforsaken country, proves that our strange, fucked-up relationship transcends not only international borders but also time and space.
“So did I,” she says with a soft voice and a shy smile.
I focus on the road again, scanning for threats, but everything seems to be peaceful. At least, for now.
“Can I ask you something?” I ask nervously.
“Sure, what’s on your mind?”
“Okay…” I inhale. “The man you were with… Was he someone you… Uhm… a friend? I saw what happened to him.”
She sighs, shaking her head. She’s clearly not ready to talk about him.
“He was a friend who met a sad end. But he knew the risks as I did, and he helped me anyway.” Her eyes seem distant. “I really tried to save him, but that bastard was too damn fast.”
That doesn’t sound like fragile Sarah. That is cold. Now that I think about it, she looks like a stranger to me, not only because her make-up and wig, but her entire demeanor differs from what I can remember. She is no longer surrounded by a wall. Sheisthe wall that protects her from the rest of the world. Something happened when I was away all this time, something that changed her, and I can’t help but wonder what could’ve triggered this change.
Silence tries to take over again, but I won’t let it. “When I heard your voice I thought it was a strange dialect. Then you said something in English, and that made me doubt. I can't believe I didn't recognize your voice straight away.”
“It’s been a while. I must confess I’ve pondered not being able to recognize your voice myself. Besides, I know I look different in these rags.” She points at her clothes.
“Yeah, that costume looks pretty convincing. Top shelf if you ask me.” I quickly inspect her. Her attire is pretty accurate, for a low-class man.
“Thanks. You look pretty different yourself.” She slides her fingers into my hair.
