Page 53 of Semblance

Eventually we reached our destination. I was completely blown away by the wondrous sight of Angkor Wat.

Standing against the backdrop of the early morning dawn was a majestic stone palace, hand crafted by the gods themselves. Five tall towers, the heads shaped like lotus blossoms, stood erect behind smooth stone walls, like mountaintops peeking through an ancient fortress.

A moat surrounded Angkor Wat, reminiscent of an old medieval castle, the dark waters deterring unwanted visitors from its surreal realm.

I felt as if I were standing at the nexus of the universe and behind Angkor Wat’s sacred walls were all the mysteries of the world, woven into one harmonious tapestry.

“Beautiful isn’t it?”

I spun around to see Shadow standing behind me, looking like a bronze Adonis, his smooth skin tanned from the Cambodian sun. His muscular frame was practically bursting out of his black, ribbed tank top. His bulging shoulders reminded me of boulders while his six-pack protruded through his tank top. He wore cargo shorts that hit his knees, his muscular thighs on full display. My mind diverted to my naughty dream of him on the plane and immediately I felt myself blushing.

Shadow took a step closer to me, his dark eyes tracing the curves of my body as he placed his strong hands on my bare shoulders. I felt the heat radiating off his body and I instantly felt wetness in between my legs. My stomach was fluttering and my heart was pounding like a jackhammer. I was breathing hard and struggled to maintain my composure.

He leaned closer to me as his breath glazed the side of my cheek. I was entranced by everything about him: his heart-stopping good looks, his hard sculpted body, the mystery behind his haunting past, and the excitement of his unpredictable future.

“You’re missing the sunrise,” he said in a soft, yet commanding voice, just before he turned me to the direction of Angkor Wat. I was captivated by the miracle before me.

Emerging through the five towers of the temple was the orange sun which casted its warm glow over its majestic kingdom. The sky was a canvas of ambient yellow light, which grew brighter as the sun made its ascension into the heavens.

Perhaps the most brilliant thing about this breathtaking scene was the reflection of the temple cast against the still waters of the moat. I was staring at an endless world where the sky and the earth met in a seamless union.

“See pretty lady,” the tut-tut driver said, “I knew you would like.”

I nodded, my eyes still transfixed on Angkor Wat. I was afraid that the second I looked away, it would vanish forever, like a forgotten dream.

“The City of Temples,” Shadow said, unveiling his knowledge of the holy place. “It was built to look like Mount Meru, home of the Hindu Gods.”

“Mister Shadow remembers the history I tell him yesterday,” the tut-tut driver said with excitement.

“I was trying to impress the lady,” Shadow sighed.

I turned to him and grinned. “Failure on your part for taking credit for someone else’s knowledge, though you do get full points for bringing me here. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s stunning.”

I felt myself tearing up at the thoughtfulness of Shadow’s gift. I couldn’t help but wonder what dad would have thought of Shadow if I had brought him home to dinner one night.

“You’re going to love it here. It’s your idea of a perfect vacation,” Shadow said. “There are ruins to explore, hot sunny weather, and friendly locals.”

The tut-tut driver tilted his head towards me politely.

“What’s your name anyways mister driver?” I asked.

“Narendrapong,” he replied, “But you can call me Johnny.”

“Huh?”

“He’s a fan of Johnny Depp movies,” Shadow explained. “Most tourists have trouble pronouncing his Cambodian name so he decided to take on something more American.”

“Pirates my favorite,” he said, flashing me two enthusiastic thumbs up. “I also like his Scissor Hands.”

“Well Johnny,” I said. “I’m really happy you dragged my whiny ass out of bed so I could experience this. I’ll always remember this sunrise. Thank you.”

“We’re not done with Angkor Wat yet,” Shadow said as he took my hand. A warm sensation from his touch radiated through my entire body like the burning sun.

“Come on, let’s check this place out,” he said.

“What?” I was surprised. “You’re telling me we can go inside?”

“Of course, it’s one of Cambodia’s main tourist attractions,” Shadow said before turning his attention towards Johnny. “We’ll probably be inside for a couple of hours.”

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