My wife accidentally ruined a continent for me

I love Africa. I did the whole difference thing, and it was incredible. Met a lot of wonderful people, and saw countless wonderful sights. <br><br>The country I was in was surrounded by conflict, with famine raging like a plague. I was often the only person in the hotels I visited. But here I am, in an airport waiting to fly to Africa, to the park where I once saw over 100 giraffes, and a tree filled with a hundred owls. <br><br>My wife had never been to Africa so when it was time to plan a trip over Christmas we thought it would be a good idea to visit. I was so excited to share it with her. But I think a lot of times the world doesn’t live up to our recollections. <br><br>I once went back to the house I grew up in, and it felt like the most rickety shitebox. But I also didn’t know what difference was, and I was twelve. <br><br>I thought I would avoid that with Africa. But my wife has been awful for me. It’s nothing against her. She’s just so fucking beautiful. <br><br>I had always thought of myself as unattractive. But I took a selfie next to her, and all of a sudden I’m a supermodel. <br><br>It’s not the men either. It’s the women who look at my wife and smile, and then back to me. It’s my heart skittering with joy because I know her, and she’s with me. <br><br>We flew into Cairo, and then spent a few days in a small town. I felt like I was in a Disney movie, because everyone smiled at my wife, and then at me. And I felt like I was just being offered the keys to the kingdom. <br><br>The morning before we were going to hike Mount Kenya, we wandered into a church. I always enjoyed going to church in Africa, the singing was beautiful and people were always kind. But again, it was the women, smiling at her, and then at me. <br><br>I thought maybe the reaction would go away as soon as my heart calmed down but it’s only grown. <br><br>I’ve often thought of a smile as the most beautiful thing. It’s my heart skipping a beat, and my soul crying “I’m home”. I don’t know where it came from, but I’ve felt that before. <br><br>I love my wife. <br><br>And I’ll never see her the same way again.