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Trip
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Mr.X Course
My classes came back, and I was still in the dilemma of going to Senegal. I’m sure Carlos won’t go, but would he let me go alone? The only certainty I have is that if I don’t go, I won’t be able to take charge of my life, and I’ll be unhappy. I need to take a turn, and I’ll do it now.I arrive home after a tiring law class and meet Carlos watching television. I take a deep breath and turn off the television, stopping in front of him who stares at me without understanding.— We need to talk. - I mean, seriously.— All right. - Carlos says, settling on the couch.— I’ll lock up the college, you’ll take a vacation, and we’ll both go to Senegal. - Warning.— What? - asks Carlos, angry. — You’re crazy, Dalia? What are we going to do in Senegal?— Help people, meet new people, disconnect us from our little world. Don’t you realize this is the perfect opportunity for us to do what the doctor says?— I do not remember him saying that we should go to Africa to try a son. - argues Carlos.— He
Mr.X MAMA ÁFRICA
Dakar...Hell... that’s the only word I can think of when I arrive at dawn and feel the 30-degree heat I was doing in that place. In addition to heat, Dakar is very stuffy. To end my vision of hell, the stench that came in my nostrils as soon as I got off the plane, to the point of wrapping my stomach. Look for Leo in the middle of that heap of people, my luck is that there was no redhead at the airport, besides her who waved cheerfully next to Stephen. She laughs as soon as she sees me with my scarf covering my face. I hug my friend and greet Estevão who carries my backpack.— There is a saying here in Africa: Either you love, or Hate, the Mother Earth. - says Leonor to see my face in shock.Parking is even worse. I couldn’t find myself in that place. I walk beside Léa admiring the people and their dialects, some men beckon to me, leaving me confused.— Do not face them. Especially men, they can interpret that you are a... person who provides worldly services. - explains Leo.— Whore
Mr.X Paths
Ten days later...What would be seven days, ended up being ten days incommunicado amid those abandoned children, counting only the little we had to offer. In the middle of that expedition I ended up joining more with the other people of that organization and already at the end of the trip to Guinea, we formed a family of multiple nationalities , but with the same goal: to help others. — Dalia, we are going to Mali to help more children, if you want to go with us. – says Richard, the English doctor responsible for that action. He finishes storing his portable kit and faces me. —What do you think?—That’s fine with me. You will, Leo? - I ask my friend.—No, we have to go back to Lac Rose, but if you want to go, I’m sure it will be important to you .– says Leo.—Then I’ll go. - I mean, excited.When we returned to Dakar, I only had time to pack another suitcase and sit on the computer to send an email to Carlos:__________________________________________________________________To: Ca
Mr.X Surprise!
After the conversation I had with Carlos, I decided to read my emails that had accumulated in the last 20 days:Mother: Longing for you DATE: 01/02/2011Valeria's sister: How is it? DATE: 20/01/2011Filomena: African Miss DATE:19/01/2011Mr.X: I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!!! DATE: 15/01/2011 Mr.X: Where are you? DATE: 14/01/2011 Mr.X: Reply to this email DATE: 13/01/2011 Mr.X: Why don’t you answer the phone? DATE: 12/01/2011Mr.X: How are you? DATE:11/01/2011My heart wanted to jump out of my mouth when I saw not one, but five emails from Mr.X. Each one more desperate than the other, asking where I was or why I didn’t answer the phone. In one of the last, I asked that at least I reply to your emails. I’m torn between not responding and ignoring you or responding. But I know that at that moment I need someone to talk to and know better than anyone what was going on in my life. So many thi
Mr.X In the flesh and blood.
As soon as I hung up the phone, I called the staff to ask if I could take a friend who was passing through Dakar. They were all happy, since the more people, the better. I turn off the phone and send a message to X:For: Mr.X(+99 99 99 99999-9999)You can stay with us. I’ll pick you up at the airport and from there… Saly!Kisses,Dalia.What is stranger is the fact that during all these years, X has always been a reserved person, and now he wants to stay with my friends, just the first time we were going to be face to face. My phone vibrates and then my heart races: A message of X.Mr.X(+99 99 99 99999-9999)Great. I arrive Saturday in Dakar at 2:00 in the morning.Until then,X.***I spent Friday all anxious without wanting to eat or drink. It seems that I was going to meet the queen of England. Richard, the English doctor, came with me to the airport. My nervousness was so evident that he decided to talk about his life. Of the few parts I was able to pay attention to was that he h
Mr.X From the sky...
I look at X’s face, confused. I don’t understand what he’s doing there, and I made it clear that we had nothing else to talk about. — We are going to visit your friends at Lac Rose.- remember X noticing my confusion with his presence there. — Forgot that we had agreed?— I did not forget. Only I... - I start to say when I notice that he is still very serious.—I wait for you downstairs. - interrupts X moving away.I close the door and lean against it. Honestly, after all that was said, I could never imagine that he would remember and keep the commitment. I take a quick shower, while I try to keep as much control as possible. Ten minutes later we are all going to the village. Richard looks at me from the corner, no doubt he noticed that X and I are distant, but I don’t want to give room for explanations, so I spend most of my time looking at the road landscape.We arrive in the village and are welcomed by Leo, who is very cheerful. She hugs us, smiling.—Welcome. - says Leo to X .— Co
Mr.X ... the harshest reality
I open my eyes… my room is already illuminated with the light that enters through the balcony. I smile and turn towards the side of X. However, all my eyes find is emptiness … and a note with my name on the nightstand.I feel like crying… I stretch to the nightstand and take the note, opening carefully, as if it were a bomb about to explode:“Dalia,I don’t regret anything, and you don’t either. I’ll never forget tonight, but I’ll never talk about her again. You deserve to be happy next to someone less complicated. You need to make a decision, and that does not include me...However, I ask you to give your marriage one more chance. Believe me, you might be surprised.With affection,Mr. X.”I squeeze the note on my chest and close my eyes, letting the tears fall. Deep down, I knew it would happen. X gave me what he had to give me: Just a memory of the best night I had in my life.I want to accept… I want to understand… I promised that I would accept that it was just that… but I can
Mr.X Malaria
About a week later…— Look at that beautiful fish! - says Carlos, smiling at me as he tries to hold his fish. Which makes me laugh until my belly hurts.Carlos is already a week with me in Africa and these have been the best days of my life, really my husband is showing that he is changed and that he can spend a week without thinking about work and dedicated to me. He visited Lac Rose and saw the work I was doing and was filled with pride.We stayed a few days there, we rode on camels, we met some other villages and then Estevão recommended, since my husband likes to fish, we went to the other village and rented a boat. And here we are in the middle of the lake on a beautiful sunny day fishing. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, my mind boils, X still arises in my thoughts… I’m still afraid that this change of Carlos is only fleeting and that… after all, nothing helped me to have come to Africa, it was just another wasted time.— A franc for his thoughts. – says Carlos, putting the fish
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