Overview

I have never dreamt of a holiday; perhaps because my pockets are already hanging out. All
factors notwithstanding, I’d love to spend it with someone I love, and doing what I love most.

“Babe, do you like this?”
“I like it babe but I love the brown one.”
“I prefer this one because it is cheaper and I really can’t see any difference between these two.”
“Babe… Señor, por favor?”
“Aaaah Señorita”
He said as I grabbed the brown waist band that contrasted so well with my skin color and ran to the
beach pulling him.
“It’s just that I love you small annoying thing.”
“At least you are not single this Valentines, Lawi.”
He just stood there wondering whether to beat my small self or carry me cutely like we see in movies. A
spank was neutral at that point.
Some women were selling sea food by the beach. I guess that was the “mutura” and “pasua” in my
home country. Old habits die hard and I definitely ate them despite the eyes Lawi gave me. I guess he
had chosen his mermaid and it was now time to deal with the devil in her.
The sunset was not as amazing as the one I was used to watching from my bedroom over the Nandi
escarpments back in the Rift Valley but it was sure a different one. I mean there were no waves that
made C shadows over the orange sun. I bent to look at the beautiful star through the wave hoping to
see a rainbow because Mr. Mwangi in 6 th grade said a rainbow is formed when light reflects on water,
but I now understand why I dropped physics in the second year of high school. The breeze was calming.
Burying my feet in the sand was not a childhood taboo anymore but a therapeutic pastime. I lay on
Lawi’s chest thinking of how life is beautiful, and even more that he is in mine. He was so far the best
thing that had ever been mine. Will he be mine tomorrow though? I started tearing up. I was looking for
a distraction when I heard some drum beats from a distance.
“Babe, there!”
A few couples were dancing Rueda de casino. It was babe’s favorite and he did not mind when the old
drummer asked him for money as we joined the circle. He must have given them excess in excitement as
one of the shouted, “ayayaii muchacho!” It had been a while since we danced. We both had tight
schedules at work and dancing salsa on the beach was sure in our bucket list. He said he had missed my
giggles as we danced. It reminded him of the first time we meet on a Rueda circle. He also admitted that
the waist band had magic that made him feel everything he felt the first time we met. It hung loosely on
my belly button just above my loosely tied Shuka that barely covered my bikini (Thanks, I had worked for
that body my whole life). The dance ended before we noticed.

“Bachata!”

I shouted as the circle disintegrated.
“Seguro, Señorita.” This old guy with a protruded belly said as he took the bass guitar.
Bachata has this way of drowning my fears. The music is soothing. The moves are slow enough for
appreciating each word of the song. Lawi knew just how to hold me at such moments; oh, the body rolls
and the 1.. 2.. 3.. tap.. 5.. 6.. 7.. tap.. steps. Prince Royce must have written that song, “Stand by me”
just for us and DJ Tronky gave the song the justice it deserved. But what if Lawi won’t be there
tomorrow? No. I will live this moment. Life is all about choices and I choose happiness. Can’t I now,
make promises because tomorrow is overrated? Not at all. My heart is settled right now and I will be
optimistic until we get to tomorrow. And until we get to tomorrow, we will never really know. But I will
sleep today having prayed to God to grant us another chance to love each other tomorrow. Because I
love you, and your presence in my life makes my saliva juicy. And He answers prayer, right?
“Gracias, Señorita.”
“Happy Valentine’s day, babe.” I said as I kissed the love of my life.

WRITER: Lynne