“Where have you been?” he asked.

There was no answer.

“Where have you been?”

Mo looked at Hammed. “In the hotel, Sir.”

“What? Why?”

“I don’t know, Sir. We fell asleep.”

“You fell asleep?! What the fuck have you been doing? Shagging?!” He looked at Hammed as if to force an answer from him. Nothing.

“No, Sir,” said Mo, “we were drinking.”

His eyes darted back to Mo’s. “Drinking?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“When you should have been working?”

Hammed looked at Mo this time and Mo looked down.

“Yes, Sir,”

“You’re fired,” he said coldly.

They both looked up with worrisome eyes. Cursing themselves in their heads.

“You’ve lost your jobs. Get off this beach.”

Mo and Hammed traded glances again. The sudden realisation of what they had done settled in as they thought of their families.

“My family,” whispered Hammed. “My family.”

They stood for a long time. Hammed watched the sea to his left and Mo watched the sand at his feet. When the man walked away, he said, “Get off my beach,” and their eyes followed him up the path. They both spotted Sam standing motionless on his balcony. He hurriedly retreated to his room, but moments later, he reappeared at the foot of the stairs and ran to the beach.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“We’ve lost our jobs,” Mo answered.

“You what? Oh shit,” and with realisation, “Shit! I’m sorry, that’s my fault. This is my bloody fault!” He gave them the most apologetic look he could.

“No, it’s not Sam. It was our choice to join you.” Mo paused. “And I’m glad we did.”

“No one’s ever made me think the way you have,” said Hammed.

“No one’s ever listened to me the way you guys have.” They all stood in silence, wearing sorry faces.

The sun broke over the mountains and kissed the beach. Warm morning sunshine threw long shadows of the men across the golden sand and dished daylight into the ocean; an ocean so still and clear that its fish could be seen swimming around in their own vibrant playground. The surrounding land welcomed the revitalising warmth.

The three friends turned to the sunrise and wrapped their eyes around it.

A new dawn was upon them.