Free The Beat of Safiri Bay by Emmse Burger

You look a bit washed out.” Oh great, he looks hot as hell and apparently I look like yesterdays dishcloth.
    “I’m okay thanks. Just a bit tired.”
    “Yeah, I’m sure you are after last night,” my gut pulls into one tight ball. “Why would you say that?” I am sure Matt won’t spill the beans but I am still curious as to what he knows.
    “Well playing guitar for four hours straight can’t be easy.”
    Off course, he is referring to the music practise of last night. I take a breath again. I trust Matt, he would never hurt me.
    “Yes, it does take a lot of energy,” I say about the guitar and the kissing lesson I had for him.
    “So are you ready for tonight?” he enquires
    “I might need some more sleep, but I’ll take a nap early afternoon.”
     
    We get up then and start walking back towards the beach. I have lost my appetite for running. We walk silently for a few minutes and a beach patrol car comes rushing past us on its way to the hippo. He stops then and I realise we are the entrance to the little fisher’s path. “Like to take a peek?” he asks and I follow him into the thickly overgrown dune forest. “I have something to show you,” he says and I wonder what it is he is up to. “Well now you have my attention,” I say. I have always had mixed emotions about surprises. Most of the time they make me uneasy but sometimes I don’t mind them.
     
    We walk up the dune and discuss the misty view of the main beach this morning. I am so confused when I’m with him. It is so different than with Matt. Alex keeps his distance and never pushes for more whereas Matt just ignores most of my hang-ups and I end up giving in to his no nonsense way. Right now, I know I prefer Alex. He stops on the way up the path and turns to look at me. “It’s in here,” he says and points toward somewhere in the bush. He pushes away the plants and start walking into the forest.  He stops then and looks back at me, “Not coming?” he asks,
    “In a minute I say and swallow down the fear of the many unknown creatures waiting to prey on me.” A mosquito lands on my arm and I smack it. I quickly trace his steps and am grateful that we do not have to walk too far into the bush. He stands still with his back to me. “Alex, I cannot think of one single thing that would make me want to walk into this...” He moves away then and there, in front of my eyes, is a huge nest with the tiniest little birds cuddling together closely. There are three of them, three little pink bodies with huge heads and funny big eyes. “What are they?” I ask and I am sure he hears the amazement in my voice. “They are little owls,” he says and smiles at me. I stare at the little helpless owls and then we hear a “toot” coming from not so far away. We spot one of the adult owls taking on a rather protective stance and we back away from the nest slowly. “It’s a marsh owl,” he whispers. “These little guys hatched last night,”
    “They are perfect,” I whisper back at him and we smile at each other as if we share the biggest secret in the world. We turn then and he leads the way out of the forest onto the little path.
     
    The beach comes into sight and I walk past him to admire the awesome view. I don’t think I will ever get used to this. And at this time of the morning, its beauty is almost unreal. Alex moves to my side and I move up slightly to make enough space for him.
    In a split second I spot it there on the leaves, I give a heart-stopping yell and before I know what I am doing, I jump into Alex’s arms. I cling to the front of his shirt; press my face into it and I feel the tears coming. Alex stands still just holding on to me while I cry uncontrollably. “Lane, what is it?” he asks eventually. He must be so confused. “Spider,” is al I get out. He must have seen it then because he picks me up and carries me down the dune to the beach. He puts me down on my feet gently and I look up at him not letting go of his