Mike was waiting for her at the apartment they shared, his face a mix of relief and reproach. You’re finally back, he said, not even bothering to ask how her trip had gone. Guilt pierced her as she thought of Abbas’s attentiveness, so different from Mike’s cold indifference.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Emily tried to lose herself in her daily routine, her work as a graphic designer, meeting up with friends, but everything seemed dull compared to the excitement of the desert adventures. Every night, as she closed her eyes, her mind wandered back to the golden streets of Dubai, to Abbas’s warm smile and to the overwhelming sense of endless possibilities she had felt there.
The phone calls from Sarah became her lifeline, a fragile thread connecting her to that dream world. Her cousin, now pregnant and glowing with happiness, would share stories of her new life, of her husband’s kindness, and the warmth of his family, and, always, in a seemingly casual aside, Sarah would mention Abbas. He asks about you, you know, she’d say, her voice playful and conspiratorial.
He says he’s never met anyone like you. Each time Sarah mentioned Abbas, Emily’s heart raced, but guilt gnawed at her. How could she be thinking of another man when Mike, despite his flaws, had been her companion for so long? Doubts crept in during the quietest moments, while cooking dinner, during work meetings, and in the long, restless nights.
Mike, oblivious to the storm raging inside Emily, remained distant, sometimes even dismissive. His comments about her lavish trip to Dubai were laced with resentment, as though he resented that she had experienced something beyond his control. Seems like your Arab princess fantasy is over, he spat one evening after she suggested they try a new restaurant.
It was during one of those tense nights that Sarah called with news. She was pregnant. Her voice brimmed with joy, and for a moment Emily allowed herself to feel the happiness of her cousin’s good fortune.
But then Sarah dropped the real bombshell, the one Emily wasn’t prepared for. I want you to be here for the baby, Sarah said, her voice full of excitement, but with an undercurrent of something Emily couldn’t quite place. The invitation hung in the air, both a promise and a threat.
Emily knew that accepting it would mean facing her feelings for Abbas head on. The joy in Sarah’s voice was contagious, and for a brief moment Emily allowed herself to share in her cousin’s happiness. But then Sarah dropped the bombshell, her words leaving little room for protest.
It’s important to me that you’re here, she said. The invitation hung in the air, feeling both like a promise and a warning. Emily knew that accepting meant more than just attending, it meant confronting feelings she had tried to bury, seeing Abbas again, and testing the fragile stability she had managed to maintain with Mike.
That night, as Mike snored softly beside her, Emily slipped out of bed and stepped onto the apartment balcony. The city sprawled before her, a sea of blinking lights that somehow seemed dimmer than the memories of those starry desert nights. She closed her eyes and for a moment she could almost feel the warm breeze of the Persian Gulf against her skin, smell the spices and incense, and hear the melodic laughter of Abbas.
The decision formed in her mind before she could fully comprehend it. She would go to Dubai. Emily told herself it was for something else, for someone else, but deep down she knew the truth.
The preparations for the trip were a whirlwind of excitement and anxiety. When she told Mike about her plans, his reaction was as indifferent as ever. Off with the Arabs again, he grumbled, never lifting his eyes from his phone.
Just don’t get too used to that life of luxury. Emily packed her suitcase with trembling hands, each piece of clothing a decision laden with meaning. What should she wear when she sees Abbas? Was it wrong to even think about it? She felt more like a teenager preparing for her first date than a grown woman in a steady relationship.
The night before her departure Emily lay awake, her mind a chaotic storm of conflicting thoughts. On one hand, there was the safety of her life with Mike, a relationship that, while imperfect, was familiar and predictable. On the other hand, there was the promise of something new, something exciting, and potentially transformative with Abbas.
As the dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and gold, Emily made up her mind. This trip would be a test, an opportunity to understand what she truly wanted in life. She would allow herself to feel, to experience, without the weight of guilt or restraint.
And, by the time she returned to America, she would make a definitive decision about her future. With that resolution, Emily closed her suitcase and prepared for the journey that would change her life forever. The taxi that would take her to the airport waited below, and, with each step, she took toward it.
She felt herself moving further away from her old life and closer to an uncertain yet thrilling future. The plane touched down in Dubai amid a sandstorm, as if the desert itself wanted to veil her arrival. Through the fogged-up windows the city emerged like a golden mirage, its skyscrapers standing defiantly against the elements.
Emily’s heart pounded in time with the sand whipping against the plane, a turbulent prelude to whatever lay ahead. Sarah was waiting for her at the airport, belly noticeably rounder now, her face glowing with happiness and excitement. The cousins embraced for what felt like an eternity, as if they were trying to make up for all the time they had been apart…
