Secrets of the Night

Image of a Genet, from Pinterest

Night had fallen out on the African savanna, another day had come to an end. Some animals were stirring around , like the pangolin, arrdvark and bat-eared fox, but they were quiet. The genet was watching everything from its perch in the tree.

There might be peace among the animals on the savanna, but Alisha couldn’t sleep. She had given up lying in her bed and got up to make some hot milk, hoping that might help her to sleep. Tomorrow she would begin her internship, working with the elephants. She would be working at one of the biggest reserves in Africa. Excitement coursed through her to be working with elephants, but her nerves were getting the best of her tonight. She wasn’t nervous about working with the elephants, she was nervous about meeting the Directors.

Alisha had researched and read all she could about the Elephant reserve and the new Directors, Camille and Gavin. She had been on a mission and she had to make sure she was absolutely correct with her suspicions. After a few months, there was no denying it, the truth was staring her in the face as she stared at the picture of Camille in the most recent newsletter. She had subscribed to the newsletter after donating money to the reserve. Loving elephants she really did care about the work on the reserve, but she also read the newsletter to learn as much about Camille, as she could.

Camille had come for a summer to volunteer and she ended up never leaving. She fell in love with Gavin, who was working there that summer too and they both took over the reserve when Derek the director had decided to step down. He was ready for a break and knew he was leaving the elephants in very capable hands.

Staring out into the night, Alisha wondered if she had done the right thing by making this trip. Did Camille have any inkling about who Alisha really was or was the news going to bowl her over with shock? Would she be glad to meet Alisha?

Alisha had known the truth for a little while now and she was still overwhelmed at times. Why had her parents waited so long to tell her that she had been adopted? She loved her parents and had a great childhood, but often missed not having a sibling to share life with. She had never imagined that she did have a sister, growing up far away from her.

She would never forget the day that her Mom had told her about being adopted, all the emotions that had washed over her! There were so many questions she wanted to ask her birth mother. That was not to be though. Sadly in doing her research she found out that her birth mother had died. That hit her hard, and it made her all the more determined to find her sister, and so she had persisted.

Now for the first time ever, she was going to meet her sister face to face! Her heart was full, as she laid back down in her bed, trying to get some sleep. She wanted to be well rested for what would most likely turn out to be an extremely, emotional day! Closing her eyes, sleep overtook her and soon she was in a peaceful slumber.

Camille was in the office, making final preparations for tomorrow. A new intern would be coming. She looked at Alisha’s picture again that she had sent her with her application. There was something about her eyes that drew Camille in. She began getting goosebumps, but didn’t know why. Shaking her head, she decided that she needed sleep, it had been a long day. As she got up from her chair her eyes landed on the picture of her parents that she had on her desk. Oh how she missed them! Her Mom’s face was bright and cheerful, you could see the light shining through her eyes. She was happy that she had her Mom’s eyes, they were such a deep and vivid shade of blue. Everyone always commented on them. Goosebumps rose on Camille’s arms again. That’s what it was! Now, she knew. Alisha’s eyes shone in her picture too, they were also a very deep and vivid blue.

Night had fallen, as the fox scurried after the mouse, and the honey badger was digging its burrow. Meanwhile the genet continued its watch over the peaceful African savanna.