I walk to the bus stop with growing anxiety. Why doesn't Azra respond to my messages? I have sent her at least eight messages and called her more than ten times. Azra always has her cell phone with her. It's nothing for her to not respond. Something must be going on!
I get on the bus and sit down next to a young girl of about seven. During the ride of exactly 10 minutes, all sorts of thoughts come to mind. Azra has only been in the Netherlands for two months and today she went shopping alone for the first time. What if something happened to her? She doesn't know the country.
When the bus stops at the corner of the street where my house is, I get off and run toward the house. I take out my keys and throw open the front door.
'Happy Birthday Ben!!!'
Startled, I look at my family members standing in the living room, smiling at me. Azra is standing there. She walks up to me smiling.
'Congratulations, honey',she says and presses a kiss to my cheek. I look at her with a smile.
'I was very worried about you when you didn't respond. Was this what you were doing?'
'Sorry, honey. I was indeed working on this. You are working very hard. A surprise for your birthday seemed appropriate.'
'You're an angel, you know that right?'
I put my arms around her waist and pull her to me.
'I love you',she says, laying her forehead against mine. I feel her breath brush along my cheek.
'I love you, too...I never knew that is was so nice to have someone in your life who cares so much.'
She doesn't answer. I feel her pressing her body against mine as if she wants to feel every bit of my skin against hers. Then I remember that the room is full of family.'
'Azra, there are people here.'
Quickly she lets go of me and smiles.
'Come on, honey. We have a lot of fun things to do tonight. With the family there and after without the family.'
I chuckle and look around the room, which looks very ornate. How did she manage all this so quickly? I look at Azra, who is now talking to my mother. Yes, it is very nice to have someone, who cares and understands you. Someone, who waits for you at home every day. For a moment I have to think back to the times when I returned to an empty house every day after work. I did have a casual relationship back then for fun. That was nice. But this? It's not the same. This is better than that. It feels much better.
Thank you for reading.