The Beat of Safiri Bay by Emmse Burger

any sounds but there’s nothing. I look over the water and the beauty of the picture in front of me calms my racing thoughts. I am glad that there is no one else on the beach. The sand looks blue from the light of the moon. I see a little green light shining on the sand and walk closer to it. It is a glow worm washed ashore by the tide. I walk back to the dry sand and sit facing the water. The music can be heard from here but only faintly. I sing along softly to the upbeat remix of Brian Adams’ ‘Heaven’. I hear voices at the entrance of the beach. People talking way too loud, obviously affected by their drinks. I look back quickly, maybe it is fat man. But it’s just two people clinging to each other. It sounds like Sarah, it is Sarah, and she is with a boy about her age. They can’t keep their hands off each other and kiss rather loudly. She giggles and he laughs and I feel a bit sick watching all of it. “I think you need to go home.” And I see David take her by the arm and pulling her away from the boy. He swears loudly at David and Sarah protests as well but he doesn’t let go. This must be so embarrassing for him. I stay seated so he wouldn’t know I witnessed it all and the tranquillity of a few moments ago has been replaced by something completely opposite. I stare out over the water again to try and restore the peace. “Mind if I join you?” Alex asks from out of the blue. I jump a little at his voice but try to I hide my surprise, “The beach is free land,” I say rather uninvitingly. I am still not happy with the way he turned his back on me for no reason. If he wants to play games, I am not interested. “If you want I could take you home now, but just because your boyfriend is not here anymore doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy yourself.” So that is it. He thinks Matt and I are together. Even though I told him that Matt was one of the only people I trust completely and I think I even said that he is like a brother to me. “Alex, you have no idea what you are talking about,” I say rather irritated. “I have told you before that Matt is my best friend, I have no idea why you would think differently and as a matter of fact, I do not have to explain anything to you. I thought we could be friends, I even thought that maybe there was a chance for us to...” I realise that I might have said too much and think of a way to back out of it. “What I am trying to say is that you have the wrong idea of me and Matt.” I leave it at that, maybe he didn’t notice the little slip. “Maybe there is a chance for us to what?” he asks softly and I hate my damn fast tongue for speaking my thoughts. “Lane, are you telling me that there is a chance for me and you to be together?” I shake my head at the thought. Yes that is what I was thinking about until a scary man came to disturb the angelic like picture I painted of you. Even if I didn’t meet this man I don’t think it would be possible in anyway. Not with my condition. The man who is still interested in me after I list my problems must be half mad or half deaf. “Alex, I don’t think it would be wise to get your hopes up on that happening anytime soon.”
    “You said that you are not scared of me but you cringe every time I touch you. You jump into my arms at the sight of a spider and then you seem upset by the fact that I said I will take you home, what is going on Lane?” I know the time has come. I cannot keep him waiting any longer. He has too many questions and he won’t stop until I explain myself to him. “Alex, there are things about me that you need to know.” That and the fact that I am now just a little bit scared of you even though my gut tells me I don’t have to be.
    “Well thank goodness; I have been waiting for you to tell me what is going on for almost a week now.”   I sigh and put my face into my hands.
    “Lane, it’s alright, whatever it is you need to tell me, it’s alright,”
    “Crap,” I say, but I