She arrived at the airport at 4:38pm, exactly 52 minutes behind schedule. Following the crowd of frustrated and jet-lagged passengers to the luggage-collection area, she wondered whether she would find him in the crowd. As her luggage came around on the carousel, she grabbed it - just one big pack, she was travelling light, releasing the explorer within. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, hoisted her bag onto her back, exhaled and opened her eyes to look around. She was in brazil. Thousands of kilometres from home. Butterflies in her stomach betrayed her nerves. Pushing them from her mind, she walked through security and into the arrivals lounge.
Even through the throngs of people excitedly greeting family and friends, she spotted him almost immediately. He was standing to the side, leaning against a wall, lazily scanning the crowd - not sure whether she would really be there at all. She pushed past a big Brazilian family, narrowly avoided a girl being twirled around in her boyfriend's arms, and reached where he was standing.
"Hello."
She said softly, trying to convey the million things running through her thoughts.
"Buenas tardes."
He replied shyly, and motioned for her bag. She handed it to him, a smile of thanks lingering on her mouth long after it needed to.
When they reached his apartment, he showed her where she could leave her things, and suggested she take a shower while he prepared something to eat. She gladly took him up on this suggestion; the air on the plane had been stale, and had permeated her hair and clothing. Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the shower, fresh and invigorated. They ate in silence, the air between them highly charged. There were so many things each wanted to say, but neither knew where to start.
He turned the volume of the music up a little - she hadn't even noticed there was music playing, she'd been so preoccupied with her thoughts. He offered her a glass of wine. She accepted, and they sat listening for a while. Slowly, they began to talk. About little things at first - the weather, the difference in the taste of food and wine... Until a point when they realised they had finished the bottle and had been talking for 3 hours. He suggested a movie, perhaps another bottle? She agreed, and the movie was begun, a new bottle opened...
She was suddenly tired, and rested her head momentarily on his shoulder. He responded, wrapping his arm around her, gently holding her to him. As the movie progressed, and the liquid level dropped, her eyelids began to flutter. He noticed her struggle to stay awake, and wordlessly slid his arm from around her so she could lay her head on his lap. He lightly stroked her hair. When the movie ended, he carried her to bed, covered her a little, and left her to sleep.