When Sam goes on a gay website looking for romance, he finds more than he bargained for. Rejecting all the usual requests for hook-ups, he searches for something more sincere. And he finds it in the most unexpected of places, as he is drawn to the profile of a man in a faraway place. Amir, an Algerian descended from desert nomads, has posted a profile looking for the love of his life. Sam finds it amazing that a gay man born in the Algerian desert has the bravery to not only declare he is gay, but also to admit his dream is to find a husband to spend his life with. While Sam doesn’t consider himself the marrying kind, he starts chatting with Amir, telling himself he just wants to learn about another culture. His friends laugh at him, saying this man just wants to use him to emigrate to the west and take him for his money. But he refuses to believe it, sensing a sincerity he has never seen with anyone else. The two begin a dialogue that moves to weekly Skype sessions, discussions of religion and world politics, assistance with life challenges and, finally, a declaration of love ... and an invitation. Can these two men from vastly different worlds and cultures meet and find common ground for a romance? The challenges are great, and spending a life together seems like an impossible dream. While Sam’s friends continue to discourage him, he knows he cannot give up this man. Is Amir sincere, or is Sam being used? There is only one way to find out if Amir is really sincere. And Sam knows what he has to do.

Not on My Bucket List

After about ten minutes he came into my room. “Habibi,” he said, “why are you sleeping in here?”


“You need your rest. You have had a rough day. I thought you would sleep better if I left you alone.”


“No,” he said, still wearing his very strictest teacher face. “You come sleep with me. I want you to sleep with me.”


Figuring this would be the closest thing I would get to an apology, and knowing that, deep down, he loved me and needed me, I joined him in bed. He immediately rolled over and went to sleep. I did not fall asleep for quite a while, all the events of the day turning so quickly from positive to negative, churning around in my head. But I was glad he had been able to fall asleep so quickly, exhaustion winning out over pain. Secure in this knowledge, I finally fell asleep.


Chapter 36