Page 50 of Eternally London

The water in the shower is lukewarm at best. I release a sigh.

I just want a hot shower.

I can’t complain, I suppose. The water does its job, washing the nightmare off my body and carrying it down the drain.

I put on the outfit I washed in the sink yesterday. My white T-shirt can no longer be categorized as white. Maybe tan? Orangey yellow? Regardless of the color, it will be the first thing to be dropped in the trash when I get home. A white garment is no match for the dust that is always in the air here. My constant sweat and sunscreen residue haven’t done it any favors either.

I pull my hair in a ponytail, swipe some sunscreen on my face, grab my small bag, and head downstairs. I find Oliver sitting at a table, concentrating on his phone.

We said our good-byes to Abdu yesterday. He’s already off on another job.

“Feeling better?” Oliver asks.

“Much.”

The waiter comes by, and I opt for just a coffee.

“Not even going to venture out of your comfort zone for your last meal?” He chuckles. “Sticking to the protein bar?”

Truth is, I’m still so shaken from my dream that I don’t feel like eating much of anything. “I can’t risk the explosive diarrhea on the plane,” I answer instead.

My response gets a vibrant laugh from Oliver, which was my intention. I’m going to miss him. He’s become a wonderful friend.

“A princess till the end.” He grins.

“Did you have any doubt?”

Oliver finishes eating his breakfast of rice, beans, and nyama choma, which is grilled meat. We grab a taxi to the airport.

“So, are you glad to be going home?” I ask him.

“Sure. I’ll only be home for a bit to see my mum, and then I’ll be back at it.”

“Where are you going to next?”

“I don’t know. But something will come about. It always does.” He shrugs. “How about you? What are your plans after this?”

“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. “I can’t wait to see Loïc, but other than that, I haven’t a clue. What am I supposed to do after this? What job could possibly be as meaningful as this one?”

“Ah, there are stories everywhere, love. You don’t have to travel around the world to find a tale that needs to be told.”

“Is that why you stay so close to home?” I chuckle.

“You know I travel for the women,” he says, his expression cocky. “A bit of a letdown this time around if I’m being honest.”

I let out a laugh. “You’re a jerk.”

“Yep. This was a good trip. I’ll miss ya.”

“Me, too. I friend requested you. Make sure to accept me next time you’re on.” I think back to our conversation over dinner last night where he told me that he was over social media, and I made him promise to get back on it, so we could keep up with each other.

“Yep,” he says.

“I’m serious.”

“Oh, I know.”

We arrive at the airport, and the second the taxi pulls away, my hands start to tremble. I say my good-byes to Oliver before he heads off to check in with a different airline. I pull in calming breaths as I head toward the ticket counter.

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