Slowly...slowly
- elbielm
- Feb 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 26
(Slowly by Olivia Dean)
The bus stop turned me around a few times, but we found the Rio Melcocho group: Drea, Juan David, their friend Andrea, a cluster of expats: Amber and her wife, Monique and her ten-year-old daughter, Mich'ellé, and Alex.
Please don't be with us.
Please don't be with us.
God, please…
"Hey! There you are," Drea says, hugging me, then Langston.
I hug the ones I know and introduce Langston and myself to those I don't, leaving him last.
I inhale.
"Are you with us?" I say.
"Oh yeah, Alex, this is Elbi. " "Elbi, Alex. He's from Philly…"
She says more, but I give my attention to his face.
He is older. Early fifties. Lean. Strong. Tall. Six-four, maybe.
Smooth chestnut skin, white teeth, small moles near his eye like my mother's, and her mother's.
Ash-brown locs falling down his back.
"Hey. Nice to meet you."
His voice is steady. Tenor.
We exchanged pleasantries and loaded the bus for the half-day journey to Rio Melcocho.
The trip requires a three-hour bus ride, a one-hour motorbike ride, and a two-hour horse ride through the jungle.
On the transition from bus to motorbike, we stopped for a bathroom break and snacks at a small convenience store. Alex offered the group bottles of water. Monique said she appreciated a chivalrous gentleman. The women chimed in: me, me, thank you, I'll take one too.
He half-smiled and asked me. I said no. Langston said yes.
He returned with an armful of bottles and handed me one.
I half-smiled back.
After settling in, we all went to shoe the horses. Drea started and struggled, but Alex stepped in and helped Anduve as if it were second nature. He held one of the legs so Langston could participate.
On the walk back, I decided to walk ahead. Alex was five paces behind, and I slowed my walk to match his rhythm.
"Drea said this wasn't your first time here?"
"Yeah, this is our fourth. Are you enjoying yourself?"
His posture was upright. Anchored.
I rolled my shoulders back.
His stride matched my pace.
I slowed about a half step, just enough to stretch our time together, but not enough to close the distance.
I told him the highlights of trips past. I asked how he learned Spanish. He said he dated a Colombian woman for about six months who didn't speak English. Said it taught him patience and improved his communication skills in every way.
Then Andrea ran up to us, and we moved on to talking about the chickens occupying the road. I hadn't noticed them until then.
I went to pull myself up onto the rocks, but he extended his hand. I caught a whiff of his natural scent. Cinnamon and cedar.
I said thank you and hurried to the large cabin.
I heard Langston and him chatting behind me.
I remembered when a young Army soldier and I made out in the small closet-turned-office at NSA headquarters. His scent was of strong medicine. This was unlike any other.
I went into the shared bedroom and took a few puffs of my inhaler.
That night, we sat around the bonfire making up scary stories for the children. We sent them to bed and talked about our past lives.
Amber and her wife shared how they met at the post office.
Alex talked about volunteering on a farm for a couple of years. Said that's when he became vegan. He retired here about four years ago and keeps to himself, preferring to venture off with locals.
Andrea spoke about her PhD dissertation on the journeys of immigrant women from South America to the United States and the hidden dangers they face.
He sat close, and our skin grazed from time to time. Time halted in the moments it did.
Drea bragged about my acceptance to Georgetown and Oxford. Alex clapped and gave a bright flash of white. I mirrored his expression.
I told him Oxford was my dream school, but I'd be choosing Georgetown. I repeated what Shawntina told me about networking where I live. He nodded. Said it made sense.
He turned to face me.
"You're a force."
I shifted in my seat.
The river we usually venture into was flooded, so we went south to the bridges. Langston was eager to prove his bravery. Drea, Angel (the cabin owner's son and Anduve's nephew), and Anduve took the leap.
Langston coaxed me to go, and I climbed up. The group below cheered me on, but I hesitated and hesitated. Anduve sat quietly, holding the rope down for me to climb under. Drea counted. Three. Two. One.
Thrice.
"Elbi, you have to go, or you need to walk back down."
"I'm going…"
Alex climbed up the bridge ladder and walked across to us. He stepped through the rope and sat on the bottom rung facing me.
"...Sometimes you just have to let go."
He leaned back into a graceful descent.
I mustered bravery, but it took two more countdowns for me to take the plunge. When I came up for air, he smiled and swam away.
The next day, Drea convinced Anduve to take us to the big waterfall, about an hour's hike away. The trek was mostly by river and, to her own admission, pretty rough. Most of the group declined, except Langston, who was told he was too young.
Alex asked about equipment and proper shoes. Anduve said we needed boots with strong traction and long sleeves to prevent bites. He said he'd be down.
He asked if I was up for it. Drea tried to convince me, but I had only brought Crocs and didn't feel comfortable.
I passed.
After breakfast, the small group went off on the hike. I took Angel and Langston to the small ravine. We stacked towers of rocks and played Marco Polo.
By early afternoon, they were back with stories.
Drea said Alex saved her life. They were climbing a mountain, and her foot slipped. They were about a hundred feet up. She was barely hanging on to the edge and was losing strength.
Anduve was twenty-five feet higher and she truly thought it was the end.
Alex said he heard a gasp and turned around. He trekked five or ten feet back and grabbed her arm.
Drea said she looked into his eyes and felt rescued. He told her she was alright and she believed him. Pulled her up like a rag doll. They continued, and both said the view was worth it.
He sat by me eating his vegetable soup. I ate mine with chicken.
"You made the right decision staying back. I split my boots in half."
I looked down and saw his hiking boots torn across the middle and met his gaze with wide eyes.
"I'm glad you made it back safe."
"Me too. I was worried for a minute there. Anduve didn't lie, it was dangerous. But my God, was it worth it."
"Yea?"
"Oh yea. I'd never seen anything like it in my life. I can't even describe it for you. All I could do was sit and meditate in reverence."
A chill inched slowly up my spine. I studied his face, saw the gray creeping through his wet locs, noticed the faint lines near his eyes.
He stood at the table, anchored.
I rolled my shoulders back.
On the trek home, Langston clung close to him. In the back of the truck, Amber's wife asked about Alex's children. One was twenty-four. The other twenty-one.
I watched a black stray chase the truck, tongue out.
On the bus back, Langston said, "Mr. Alex is like a real good man. I want to be like him one day."
I told him to share that. He turned around and did.
Alex grabbed his chest and leaned back. "Wow, you're a good kid, Langston. I'm glad I was able to meet you." He shot me a look and nodded his head. I returned it with a half smile.
Langston turned back around, cheesing hard. I leaned out the window, thanking God for the experience.
At the bus terminal, everyone hugged and exchanged gratitude while waiting for Ubers. Alex hugged everyone individually. He came to me last.
"Elbi, I am so grateful to have met you. You are a phenomenal…"
I grabbed Langston's arm and pulled him between us.
He paused. Then nodded.
He dabbed Langston up, saying he hoped to see him again soon.
I grabbed our bags.
"Come on, Langston."
I stepped into the line of cabs, canceling my Uber.
"I thought we were getting an Uber," Langston said.
"It's fine," I replied.
I spent $25 more than needed.
I looked out the window and let the tears fall.
See you next week. 🥂
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