ShortShorts: Alexandria, Egypt

Ahmed had crossed that great, ugly bridge every day for the last two years to get a minibus to university. He had never thought much of the ritual journey until nine months ago, when he noticed her crossing from the other side. Ahmed’s heart had almost leapt out of his chest and onto the filthy overpass. She was a celestial body in an ugly universe, calm in a sea of maddening pandemonium. Even her hijabs went nicely with her clothes, and were never the nauseating bright oranges, greens or yellows that the other girls wore. From that day on, Ahmed always crossed the bridge at the same time, in order not to miss her. The beautiful girl, who Ahmed fancifully named Leila, was a girl of habit just like him, and usually crossed the bridge at the same time. As they passed each other, he might be too shy to level his gaze at her and would hurriedly look at the floor. Sometimes though, he stared boldly at her. He had met her eye on a few occasions, and to his great delight, saw her cheeks redden every time and a small smile creep onto her face. On those rare days when he did not see Leila, Ahmed was crushed and felt betrayed. He was convinced she was absenting herself simply to hurt him.

One day Leila did not cross the bridge. Ahmed did not see her the next day, nor the day after that. Months passed and Ahmed did not catch even a fleeting glimpse of her. Ahmed's heart was in bitter turmoil; he was desperate to see her. One wet February morning, he spotted her soft, delicate shape walking ahead. He thought it strange that Leila should be crossing the bridge the same direction as he. Nevertheless, he decided that today was Judgement Day and decided to initiate conversation with his precious love. If it went well, he would demand to meet her father and ask for her hand. He was still a student in the Engineering department and had no money save that in his pocket, but he would try as hard as he could to convince Leila's father that he was the right man for his daughter. After gathering all his courage, Ahmed ran up to her side. He coughed and mumbled something inaudible under his breath. The girl turned to him and eyed him suspiciously. Allah! It was not Leila at all, but some other girl. How could he have mistaken some common girl for his sweetheart! Ahmed apologized quickly to the girl and in his embarrassment ran the remaining length of the bridge.
After that, Ahmed found a different route to university. He never crossed that bridge again.