Sphinx & Pyramids of Love

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Amira and Ezri’s relationship began in the middle of one of Cairo’s famous summer thunderstorms. They had both taken shelter in the same arched doorway to avoid the torrential rain. As they stared at each other through their rain soaked hair, they knew that they were destined to meet, if not for this storm then another. They smiled shyly at each other and exchanged pleasantries. The conversation flowed easily and they felt a connection that neither had ever experienced before.

It was only as the storm passed that they realized how tired and hungry they were. Ezri had just finished her doctorate at Cairo University; she was on her way to her favorite falafel stand when the lightning struck and drenched her in seconds. Amira had been shopping for spices for dinner with her mother. Their very different backgrounds kept them from ending up at the same place at the same time, but somehow, some way, their paths crossed that afternoon in June.

Their first date was uneventful, just a walk through a local neighborhood park followed by ice cream cones. The second date was no better; after dinner and dancing, they found themselves back at the home of Ezri’s aunt and uncle, who had made it clear that they did not approve of their niece being seen with Amira again so soon. The third date was more like a disaster than anything else; in a moment of passion, Amira shoved Ezri against a wall and kissed her hard on the lips, but she quickly realized what she was doing and pulled away abruptly. Ezri looked confused and hurt, but before Amira could explain herself or apologize for crossing such an intense boundary too early in their relationship, Ezri disappeared into her bedroom and refused to speak to her for weeks afterward.

During that time, Amira thought about what she had done all day long and every night before falling asleep. She wondered if she should just give up on this relationship already. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be with someone who clearly didn’t want to be with her anymore. She started seeing other people while Ezri was avoiding her calls – men mostly, but also women – as much as possible in order to forget about how miserable she felt without the beautiful young woman who had stolen her heart so quickly. But no matter how many times she tried to erase Ezri from her thoughts or pretend that their brief encounter hadn't meant anything more than friendship, she always ended up coming back to the realization that there was no one else quite like Ezri in all of Cairo or any other place on Earth for that matter. She couldn't shake off these feelings of desire no matter how hard she tried; she felt drawn to Ezri like a moth is drawn to light during its final moments of life.

It was a difficult time filled with confusion and longing for both Amira and Ezri. Eventually, Amira found herself standing outside Ezri's bedroom door, thinking about everything that had happened between them and wishing she could apologize for her actions. For hours, she stood there, sorrow etched on her face, and finally, the bedroom door opened to reveal a sleepy-looking Ezri wearing nothing but a t-shirt. What she meant to say was, "I didn't think you'd ever show up", but as they cautiously started talking, it became clear that maybe this wasn't entirely true.

Through honest dialogue, they began to rebuild their relationship. Time passed, and their bond strengthened. As they spent more time together, inevitably people would ask questions: how long they had been together, whether they considered getting married, and other probing inquiries into their private lives. Despite the social stigma surrounding their love, they remained strong in their commitment to one another, knowing what needed to be said even when they didn't speak it out loud.

Regardless of the judgments and opinions surrounding them, they continued their journey hand in hand, loving each other and embracing their unique connection. Two women falling in love may have seemed impossible to some, but to Amira and Ezri, it was simply a beautiful truth that transcended any societal barriers imposed upon them.

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