something work'. They had an entire ocean between their lives. Oren couldn't ask Kirk to give up his job and join a man he barely knew across the world. And Oren couldn't run a billion-dollar company from seven time zones away.
Kirk broke into his thoughts, his voice quiet and reserved. "I'm glad we made it through everything. But I'm pretty sure my sister will kill me when I get home, so it's all for nothing."
Oren laughed in spite of his sadness. "Mine will smother me with kindness. I can already feel her love choking me as she makes me promise to wear a helmet everywhere I go now, just in case."
They lapsed into silence then, each wrestling with their own feelings about their impending goodbye. Few people roamed the streets this late and night, and the few who did made ample room for the clopping troop of camels.
One of the nomads called to Kirk who nodded in agreement. He then turned to Oren. "It’s just ahead. I’m sure you can’t wait."
Oren said nothing in return.
----
A fter Kirk had placed the call for them to be picked up by helicopter in the morning, the two men walked out of the medical center together. They bid goodbye to their nomadic guides, who refused every manner of repayment Oren suggested. When he tried, at last, to simply stuff money in their bags, the men had laughed and kicked their camels to ride down the street, melting into the darkness. This left Kirk and Oren alone, standing side by side with their arms barely touching.
"Well, you had better get to the hotel," Kirk said at last, keeping his eyes straight ahead, watching the blank space where the caravan had once stood.
"Where are you going to stay?" Oren looked over, studying the handsome man next to him. Kirk's sharp jaw and beautiful cheekbones were illuminated in the light from the medical center, and Oren wished he could run his hand along those lines.
"I have distant family here, on my father's side. I can stay with them."
"You could stay with me?" Oren asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"I don't think that would be wise. I find it best to keep a low profile out here in the fringe towns."
"Well, I'll see you in the morning then, at least. The helicopter arrives at eight, so perhaps we can get some breakfast first?"
Kirk's face remained impassive, and Oren's stomach dropped to the ground. The message was clear - they would not be seeing each other again. There would be no last night together, no breakfast, and certainly no long hugs at the airport.
Is it something I did? Maybe there is something I can say? Oren thought desperately, wanting to cling to the moment just a little while longer.
"I hope this trip has not been too much of a disappointment," Kirk said, breaking their silence. "I'm afraid I have failed you as a pilot. But perhaps not as a...friend."
"Thank you for everything you've done, Kirk. This has been the toughest, most terrible time of my life. But I can't tell you how much I've appreciated having you by my side." Oren stopped, trying to fumble desperately for words. "And I plan to tell your boss that. I don't want anything to happen to you because of this accident. You've been the best...guide...I could have wished for."
"Thank you for that." Kirk reached out and squeezed Oren's arm once before letting his hand fall loosely to his side. "Well, I hope you have a much easier trip home. I must be going."
Kirk turned away, and Oren was sure the sound of his heart breaking could be heard a mile in every direction. Everything in his body rebelled from letting Kirk walk away.
"Wait!" he called, just as Kirk was several paces away.
Kirk turned and looked at him with haunted eyes, and Oren felt like he had been hit in the stomach.
This is all so unfair.
"Goodbye, Khaled. Thank you for everything."
Kirk nodded sadly, and then melted into the shadows of the street, leaving Oren alone in front of the hotel.
Chapter 12
K irk adjusted his tie and squirmed in the stiff-backed office chair. He hated ties
Kirk broke into his thoughts, his voice quiet and reserved. "I'm glad we made it through everything. But I'm pretty sure my sister will kill me when I get home, so it's all for nothing."
Oren laughed in spite of his sadness. "Mine will smother me with kindness. I can already feel her love choking me as she makes me promise to wear a helmet everywhere I go now, just in case."
They lapsed into silence then, each wrestling with their own feelings about their impending goodbye. Few people roamed the streets this late and night, and the few who did made ample room for the clopping troop of camels.
One of the nomads called to Kirk who nodded in agreement. He then turned to Oren. "It’s just ahead. I’m sure you can’t wait."
Oren said nothing in return.
----
A fter Kirk had placed the call for them to be picked up by helicopter in the morning, the two men walked out of the medical center together. They bid goodbye to their nomadic guides, who refused every manner of repayment Oren suggested. When he tried, at last, to simply stuff money in their bags, the men had laughed and kicked their camels to ride down the street, melting into the darkness. This left Kirk and Oren alone, standing side by side with their arms barely touching.
"Well, you had better get to the hotel," Kirk said at last, keeping his eyes straight ahead, watching the blank space where the caravan had once stood.
"Where are you going to stay?" Oren looked over, studying the handsome man next to him. Kirk's sharp jaw and beautiful cheekbones were illuminated in the light from the medical center, and Oren wished he could run his hand along those lines.
"I have distant family here, on my father's side. I can stay with them."
"You could stay with me?" Oren asked, even though he already knew the answer.
"I don't think that would be wise. I find it best to keep a low profile out here in the fringe towns."
"Well, I'll see you in the morning then, at least. The helicopter arrives at eight, so perhaps we can get some breakfast first?"
Kirk's face remained impassive, and Oren's stomach dropped to the ground. The message was clear - they would not be seeing each other again. There would be no last night together, no breakfast, and certainly no long hugs at the airport.
Is it something I did? Maybe there is something I can say? Oren thought desperately, wanting to cling to the moment just a little while longer.
"I hope this trip has not been too much of a disappointment," Kirk said, breaking their silence. "I'm afraid I have failed you as a pilot. But perhaps not as a...friend."
"Thank you for everything you've done, Kirk. This has been the toughest, most terrible time of my life. But I can't tell you how much I've appreciated having you by my side." Oren stopped, trying to fumble desperately for words. "And I plan to tell your boss that. I don't want anything to happen to you because of this accident. You've been the best...guide...I could have wished for."
"Thank you for that." Kirk reached out and squeezed Oren's arm once before letting his hand fall loosely to his side. "Well, I hope you have a much easier trip home. I must be going."
Kirk turned away, and Oren was sure the sound of his heart breaking could be heard a mile in every direction. Everything in his body rebelled from letting Kirk walk away.
"Wait!" he called, just as Kirk was several paces away.
Kirk turned and looked at him with haunted eyes, and Oren felt like he had been hit in the stomach.
This is all so unfair.
"Goodbye, Khaled. Thank you for everything."
Kirk nodded sadly, and then melted into the shadows of the street, leaving Oren alone in front of the hotel.
Chapter 12
K irk adjusted his tie and squirmed in the stiff-backed office chair. He hated ties
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