Solace

The ding of the airplane’s intercom cut through the ambient hum of the flight. The pilot’s measured voice filled the cabin. He addressed the passengers in a calm tone. Thanking them for their patronage and informing them that decent was to commence shortly. A second ding punctuated the end of his address.

Simon shifted in his seat and peered out the window. Home. It had been 6 long years. Joy and anticipation welled up inside him. Sweet memories flooded his mind. The people, the places… A tender squeeze from a loving hand brought him back to the present. He turned and smiled at Camila. He was happy to be with her.

His elation, however, was undercut by a lingering question: what if things had changed beyond recognition? People had moved on; forgotten him. It would be selfish to wish stagnation upon them. It stung to accept the, almost definite, rift time would have brought. He brushed those thoughts aside. This was Camila’s first visit to Kenya after all; a joyous time was meant to be had.

Hot sun rays met Simon and Camila as they strode through the international arrivals exist. Simon’s older brother, Stephen, beamed at them. Simon waved back enthusiastically and increased his pace. Hearty greetings ensued as the brothers embraced in a tight bear hug. Stephen welcomed Camila with equal zeal. Reunion complete, luggage loaded, the trio set course to Stephen’s home. His wife and kids would be primed to welcome their guests.

The brothers traded stories, accompanied by emphatic bouts of raucous laughter, as Stephen drove. Occasionally Simon glanced at Camila through the rear view mirror. Her eyes deftly darted at her surroundings through the window; taking in every detail. Simon smiled. He was now home; with her. Their journey came to an end as Stephen pulled the car into the garage. He merrily welcomed his guests to Kiambu.

The night was consumed by merry making. Stories seamlessly flowed into one another. The hours trickled by. Next thing they knew, it was nearly 01:00. The quartet bid each other goodnight as Simon and Camila retired to the guest bedroom. Simon was content. He drifted off to sleep with Camila by his side. Eager to show her around his former stomping grounds. Eager to share the people and places that pieced him together. Eager to breathe life into the tales of home he had shared with Camilla.

The following days were a whirlwind tour for the visitors. Stephen chauffeured the young couple. They visited the neighbourhood the boys had predominantly grown up in, met long-time friends and passed by places Simon frequented in days gone by. As the circuit zipped by the sheen began to fade away. Simon was underwhelmed. He was confronted with a disheartening realization. Perhaps he had idealized home during his time abroad. Pristinely preserved it in his mind’s eye. Now he questioned:

Had the drivers always been this reckless?

Had the roads always been this congested?

Had the houses always been this neglected?

Simon’s family had relocated from the neighbourhood he was raised in prior to him commencing his studies abroad. He was, however, keen to take Camila there. The area clung on to its air of vibrancy, albeit being worse for wear. Small business activities spilled onto the pedestrian walkways. As he had fondly remembered. Everything you could imagine: electric appliance shops, carpenters, vendors of various sorts, butchers, eateries… The roadside was pulsing. A select few businesses from when he was a high schooler were still operational. Which warmed his heart. The state of several buildings and the road networks had deteriorated severely, however. In addition water access was still a problem. It was rationed through the various sectors with each having allotted days in which they were privy to the precious resource.

The fortunes of the friends he grew up with varied; which was to be expected. Indeed, some were drowning, most were keeping their heads above water, while things were going swimmingly for a fortunate few. His reunion with James, in particular was heart-breaking. The two had been inseparable as children. Their families had been neighbours. In retrospect, their divergent paths began to form towards the end of high school. Now, years later, Simon was a BSc Computer Science and Technology graduate forging his professional career. Whereas James had not done much of anything; stuck in place, frustrated.

As is oft the case, gems tend to lay nestled safely at the heart of derelict neighbourhoods. Simon took Camila to a nyama choma place and bar he used to frequent. He was first taken there by his cousins. He was pleased to see it was still operational. This was, seemingly, a part of town that time had forgotten. Not so much time, but progress. Decay had left its mark on the aging place. However, much of what had been there, still was. Standing defiantly, triumphantly, eschewing development. It was equal parts comforting and concerning to know that some things would never change.

The days traversing Nairobi had been a mixed bag. Simon’s disappointment was palpable as he lay with Camila. She probed and he divulged his feelings. In a word his return had been “underwhelming”. As he spoke Camila gave him understanding nods and reassuring smiles. He remembered fearing things having changed beyond recognition. People having moved on and forgotten him. Alarmingly, not much had changed. Perhaps, that was an even bigger concern. For the most part, the people and places he so fondly remembered had either stagnated or deteriorated.

Moreover, Simon felt a man detached. Yulin, China was a very different playing field than Nairobi, Kenya. During his time studying and working in the East he had picked up social norms and customs foreign to his motherland. Now norms in Kenya felt strange, unnatural, forced. Simon and Camila embraced. He simultaneously acknowledged that, perhaps, it was time to let go. Stubbornly clinging onto the past was a hindrance.

The following day saw Simon and Camila travelling to western Kenya to meet Simon’s parents. Unencumbered by expectations, he was able to thoroughly enjoy the visit; being present in the moment. The days spent there were fulfilling. Finally, Simon and Camila jetted off to spend a few sun kissed days in Diani. The coast was idyllic. The bleach white sand and clear blue water, seemingly, straight out of a travel magazine. The days meandered along lazily. Time was theirs to share. Then it was time to depart.

The ding of the airplane’s intercom cut through the ambient hum of the flight. The pilot’s measured voice filled the cabin. He addressed the passengers in a calm tone. Thanking them for their patronage and informing them that decent was to commence shortly. A second ding punctuated the end of his address.

Simon shifted in his seat and peered out the window. Home. It had been 2 eye opening weeks. Peace and acceptance swept over him. New possibilities flickered in his mind. The people, the places… A tender squeeze from a loving hand brought him back to the present. He turned and smiled at Camila. He was happy to be with her.

He was back home.