If I look at her across the estuary of life and the gulf of war, if I try and remember how she felt, what she wore and how she spoke, it will be through my older lenses. I will project on her my broader experience, and my jadedness.
Can I resurrect her?
Can she help me carry my heavy present, and live through whatever sort of future is left for me?
Clara Cumberhart, where are you?
Where are we?
You, so candid, playful, fragile and yet empowered by a Love not of this world.
Through this porthole, will you let me see your face again, the lovely face that was mine before my soul withered?
But listen!
Oh no! I thought those were bombs again.
Why set off fireworks now?
I look at them through my window.
Yes, of course, victory.
Victory...
I hope it will end soon, because I want to sleep, and tomorrow will be another busy day.
PART ONE
Chapter 1
Out of Africa, and stranded in Europe!
I arrived safely from Cairo, only to find my connecting flight to Houston cancelled. So, here I am, trapped in glittering Paris-Orly Airport (like in the treasure cave of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves), awaiting information which, we are told, will be displayed within two hours.
Why did I stupidly dump my fashion magazines in the recycling bin when walking out of the plane!
Only two hours...
It doesn’t leave me enough time to venture downtown to the Champs-Elysées – and make Kitty and Raúl very jealous with an Eiffel Tower selfie (they deserve to be teased for letting me down)!
Like they say in the film: “We’ll always have Paris.” As Kitty’s Maid of Honour, I should have suggested they came here on honeymoon. But it’s a long way from Texas (and she couldn’t fly, in her condition).
Thankfully, the wonderful Egyptian temples in Medinet Habu and Karnak are still vivid in my memory. And to be honest, not only the monuments, but also some of the inhabitants.
One inhabitant in particular?
Okay, I admit that I can’t stop thinking of Azim.
REGINA | 71