s later, tucked neatly in an

in firm, slanted hand

t, only s

aro. The fes

nature. But she

for the photography - the chance to capture Lumeria's coastal life, the

next morning, and she saw the endless stretch of oce

. It was a pilgrimage toward so

-

nothing l

ng in tune with the waves. The houses were painted in soft pastels, the air heavy with salt and th

ly. The ocean air filled her lungs, cool and alive

ery soul has a place it returns t

this w

eet bare in the sand. He looked more at home here - less architect,

ame,"

etending not to notice the way he

t sure y

her w

between waves, the silence stretchin

head. "Come. The festival starts so

-

o was unlike anything

anced barefoot in the sand, their movements fluid and fierce. The men played wooden flutes a

sks, lanterns made of palm leaves. The scent of gri

ment. She caught children spinning in circles, elders clapping in rhythm, waves c

l she turned, lens lowering. He stood a f

in," he s

Everyone's staring at the s

re seeing them - really seein

d her camera again, focusing on the light glinting of

y. "You're taking

ed, echoing his words f

softened.

r, listening to the storytellers by the fire, watching fishermen haul in their nets a

g the bay. The view stretched endlessly - a horizon

when I need to remem

mber

foundations

ng her hair. "You speak like

are the same. Both are about

nd carried the faint sound of drums from be

settle between them. "Who was N. Mbeki?" she

ed. The questi

e. His tone was quiet, stripped of its

t clenched.

e houses, the horizon. "In building something better for people. T

quiet, contained, but it tr

e was extraordinary

whispered. "An

thinking, she reached out and touched his arm - a small ges

nd, then at her. "Y

- how it convinces you that breathing is betrayal. But you'

e air between them

body softening. He turned to face her fully, his v

e. That's why we look for beauty - to remin

waves. He reached up slowly, brushing a strand of hair from her face

g forgotten ar

The distance bet

ired to break the moment, a shout rose

s expression shuttering instantly

her heart ham

n the path, his shoulders

ce, her emotions a st

- dancers spinning around bonfires, laughter echoing

ace again, greeting people, smiling politely. The vulnerability she'

esthouse is just down that road," he said, pointing t

chest ached. "Thank y

hat didn't reach his ey

s pulled away right when she began to unders

toward the lane, her shadow st

her, wild and beautiful, like

ea and the flames, she realized she was no

d beco

-

t by the window, staring at the dark stretch

but all she could think about was the lo

th, that gentleness buried un

it, part of her wanted to be the

ly in the distance, their rh

whispered his name once

ai

in the dark, an

er the sea, and the first d