The sun was going down in Cape Town, making the sky all orange and pink. Haze Taylor, 33, stood on her balcony in Sea Point, looking out at the sea. She was a trans woman with pretty brown eyes and long dark hair. Her dress moved in the wind, and she smiled, feeling happy and strong. Haze wrote stories for a living, but what she really wanted was to find a man to love.


Tonight, she was going to an art show in Woodstock, where people who like art hang out. She hoped to meet someone special. When she got there, the place was full of people talking and drinking. Haze looked around and saw him โ€“ Liam, 35, a guy who built houses. He had short curly hair and a nice smile. He was looking at a colourful painting, and something about him made Haze want to talk to him.

โ€œNice painting, hey?โ€ Haze said, walking up to him. Her voice was soft but sure. Liam turned and smiled, his eyes bright. โ€œYeah, itโ€™s cool,โ€ he said. โ€œBut you look even better.โ€ Haze laughed, feeling her heart skip. They started chatting about the art, Cape Town, and what they liked to do. Liam talked about making houses that fit with nature, and Haze shared how she wrote stories that made people feel things. It was like they forgot everyone else was there.

Later, they went outside, the air nice and cool. โ€œWant to walk?โ€ Liam asked, his hand touching hers a little. Haze nodded, her cheeks warm. They walked by the sea, the waves making soft sounds, and sat on a bench. โ€œHaze,โ€ Liam said, looking at her, โ€œyou make me feel happy. Jy laat my hart sing.โ€ Haze smiled, holding his hand. โ€œYou make mine feel light,โ€ she said back.

They sat there under the stars, talking about real stuff. Haze told him about being a trans woman, how she worked hard to be herself, and how proud she was. Liam listened closely, his hand warm in hers. โ€œYouโ€™re amazing,โ€ he said, his voice soft. โ€œEk wil jou nog meer ken.โ€ Haze felt her heart grow big, like a dream coming true. She leaned in, and their kiss was sweet and warm, like it promised more good things.

Time passed, and they got closer. They went to barbecues, drank coffee in Kalk Bay, and made plans together under Cape Townโ€™s big sky. Haze found her man, and with Liam, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.

Afrikaans

Die son het gesak in Kaapstad, die lug al oranje en pienk. Haze Taylor, 33 lolita, 33, het op haar balkon in Sea Point gestaan en na die see gekyk. Sy was โ€™n transvrou met mooi bruin oรซ en lang donker hare. Haar rok het gewaai in die wind, en sy het geglimlag, bly en sterk. Haze het stories geskryf vir werk, maar sy wou graag โ€™n man vind om lief te hรช.

Vanaand sou sy na โ€™n kunsplek in Woodstock gaan, waar mense wat van kuns hou, kom. Sy hoop om iemand spesiaal te ontmoet. Toe sy daar kom, was dit vol mense wat gesels en drink. Haze het rondgekyk en hom gesien โ€“ Liam, 35, โ€™n ou wat huise bou. Hy het kort krulhare en โ€™n lekker glimlag gehad. Hy het na โ€™n kleurvolle prent gekyk, en iets aan hom het Haze laat dink: ek wil met hom praat.

โ€œLekker prent, nรจ?โ€ het Haze gesรช en nader gegaan. Haar stem was sag maar seker. Liam het omgedraai en geglimlag, sy oรซ blink. โ€œJa, dis gaaf,โ€ het hy gesรช. โ€œMaar jy lyk nog mooier.โ€ Haze het gelag, haar hart bietjie vinniger. Hulle het begin gesels oor kuns, Kaapstad, en wat hulle graag doen. Liam het vertel hoe hy huise maak wat by die natuur pas, en Haze het gepraat oor haar stories wat mense laat voel. Dit was asof niemand anders daar was nie.

Later het hulle buitentoe gegaan, die lug koel en lekker. โ€œWil jy stap?โ€ het Liam gevra, sy hand liggies aan hare. Haze het geknik, haar wange warm. Hulle het langs die see geloop, die golwe sag, en op โ€™n bankie gaan sit. โ€œHaze,โ€ het Liam gesรช en na haar gekyk, โ€œjy maak my bly. Jy laat my hart sing.โ€ Haze het geglimlag en sy hand gevat. โ€œJy laat myne lig voel,โ€ het sy gesรช.

Hulle het daar gesit onder die sterre, eerlik gepraat. Haze het vertel syโ€™s โ€™n transvrou, hoe sy hard gewerk het om haarself te wees, en hoe trots sy is. Liam het geluister, sy hand warm in hare. โ€œJyโ€™s wonderlik,โ€ het hy gesรช, sy stem sag. โ€œEk wil jou nog beter ken.โ€ Haze het gevoel haar hart word groot, soos โ€™n droom wat waar word. Sy het nader gekom, en hul soen was soet en warm, soos โ€™n belofte van meer.

Die tyd het verbygegaan, en hul liefde het gegroei. Hulle het by braaie gedans, koffie gedrink in Kalk Bay, en saam planne gemaak onder Kaapstad se groot lug. Haze het haar man gevind, en by Liam het sy gevoel syโ€™s presies waar sy hoort.