The tide was low that evening, the waves rolling in with a slow rhythm that almost matched my heartbeat. Nungwi was alive music spilling from beachside bars, couples walking barefoot on the sand, children chasing each other with glowing lanterns. I stood slightly away from the noise, leaning against a wooden post, my hands buried in my pockets.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluDvFSjjW3
I wasn’t there for the festival. I had come to Zanzibar for a short escape from Dar es Salaam, a break from boardrooms, deals, and the endless phone calls that made my life feel more mechanical than human. My assistant had practically forced me to take the trip.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cOrn0rW7B
Then I saw her.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4zOiKuDJk
She was near the water, shoes in her hand, the hem of her midnight-blue dress brushing against the waves. Her hair swayed in the ocean breeze, catching the golden light from the festival behind her. I couldn’t hear her voice, but I could feel her presence.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ791iohXjsS
My instinct told me to walk away. My feet didn’t agree.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsmUMg8WxK
I started toward her, the sand crunching softly under my shoes. She turned her head slightly, and our eyes met warm brown against my deep black. She didn’t smile. She didn’t frown either. She just… looked.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfdYkSpxQ8
Leo: Beautiful night, isn’t it?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvfobLAUkE
Her gaze shifted to the ocean for a second before coming back to me.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFv090wxrv
Ariana: It is. I didn’t think Zanzibar would be this… magical.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqdZyGVM3L
Leo: First time here?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0DI68Iy8N
Ariana: Yes. I came for the music festival. You?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchWOA79MJS
Leo: Business trip that somehow turned into… this.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrJsceas8W
She laughed quietly, looking down at her feet as the waves licked her toes.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrP64SBH7A
Ariana: You don’t look like someone who dances at festivals.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu8T8B70Gt
Leo: And what do I look like?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavNtCK2eNm
Ariana: Someone who works too much. Someone who needs to remember how to breathe.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhSsqFnPep
Her words caught me off guard. She didn’t know me, yet she had just summarized my life in one sentence.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwUnYsehSp
Leo: Maybe you’re right.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wo5FTaHKx
A moment of silence settled between us. I could hear the festival music behind us growing softer as we stood closer to the water. The breeze carried the scent of salt and grilled seafood from the stalls.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqyCvrPL38
Ariana: Do you believe in soulmates?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7svWhj036
Her question was so sudden it felt almost dangerous.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHK3vb6O9g
Leo: I used to. Then I grew up.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGZK5UHyTd
She tilted her head slightly, studying me like she was trying to read what wasn’t on my face.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ4qd8EY7e
Ariana: That’s sad.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBuptPbzPe
Leo: Or realistic.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKpZptEutE
She smiled faintly, but it was the kind of smile that hides more than it shows. I wanted to ask her why she was really here, but something in me told me not to push.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uvF0jkVb3
Instead, we just stood there, listening to the waves. It felt strangely natural, as if we had known each other long before this night.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxqRWr5wUd
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOpU2NJPfO
The festival fireworks began, painting the sky in bursts of gold and crimson. I watched her face glow under the colors, her eyes reflecting the light like tiny oceans.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5deqlrDXl
Leo: You should make a wish.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA4w0FfdLz
Ariana: Why?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNkuvInQlo
Leo: Tradition. First night in Zanzibar, first fireworks you see—you make a wish.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWanJXoVBCX
Ariana: And if it comes true?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdc4kYNo8J
Leo: Then you’re meant to be here.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9rcoO4Pw1
She closed her eyes briefly, as if sealing a secret with the night.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16SYqffjeT
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE4ocDqgSZ
By the time we walked back toward the festival, the music was louder, people dancing barefoot in the sand. A band was playing a slow saxophone tune. I could tell she wanted to stay, so I asked.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNl9aotfhO
Leo: Would you like to dance?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxf6ZQ8uIp
Ariana: I don’t dance with strangers.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXFTWqP77G
Leo: Then maybe I should change that.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl38rK2uz2
I extended my hand, and after a small hesitation, she took it. Her hand was warm, her grip firm but gentle. As we moved slowly to the music, the world around us seemed to fade.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpx5W9Fvk9
Somewhere in that moment, I realized something I didn’t want to admit.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNklcyocXw
She felt… familiar.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuemFUs1sOd
When the night ended, we stood at the edge of the festival lights.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNPwo4yO98
Ariana: I should go.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCqEu5O0i3
Leo: Will I see you again?
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFNkceiX0q
She looked at me for a long moment before answering.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUJDs6eE50
Ariana: Zanzibar is small. Maybe.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6iYCGLvby
She walked away, disappearing into the crowd, leaving me with the sound of the waves, the echo of her voice, and a strange weight in my chest.
327Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo8uYsp4mo
I didn’t know then that this was just the first chapter of something that would change everything.
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.