-^-for posterity-^-

a vietnamese girl on her hajj to mecca.

there was a knock at my door. i was working on the computer and waited for a moment. there was another knock at the door. i went to answer it.

‘hello?’

there she was, tired and dirty. she fixed her hair, looked up at me and couldn’t stop grinning and trying to conceal her gigantic smile. she didn’t say anything for a moment or two and she never truly made eye contact with me. she was young and very modern. she was dressed well but looked exhausted. she had a pretty, soft-skinned face and warm eyes. i had never met her before in her life.

‘can i come in and wash my face?’

that was the first thing she said to me. she triumphantly walked in my room after removing her shoes and headed into the disturbingly dirty bathroom.

‘i haven’t really cleaned it yet.’

‘no problem.’

she had arrived in mecca and i was her savior. she emerged from the bathroom with a bright, slightly gleaming glow about her and told me her story. it was a heroic journey.

‘i come from ho chi minh city where i work in a bank. my name is ____________ and i read about you in the newspaper. i just quit my job and i wanted to come down and meet you. i can’t believe it’s really you. wow. you look more handsome than your picture. i’m only here for a day or two and i just came down to see you. i can’t believe it.’

she sat in the midst of my clutter and smiled very puppy-like. she sat staring at me with eyes that seemed to see everything at once. i could hardly understand her motivations and tried my best to understand what was driving her. i came up with nothing. in front of me was the type of person i had never met in my life. in front of me was a fan bordering on a stalker. i had no idea what to say so i started asking very non-invasive questions.

at the end of our hour long conversation, she asked me if i wanted to go out with her tonight. i made up excuses and made my relatively busy schedule impossibly busy. i was as shocked to meet her as she was to meet me. because she traveled so long, (six hours on the back of a motorbike) i assured her that i would meet her first thing tomorrow morning for breakfast. i will go with a friend as to not arouse suspicions. i don’t want people to think i’ve got a traveling big city girl as a girlfriend. i also don’t want her to get a false sense of any sort of relationship.

i am so famous i have people travel by themselves for six hours to stay overnight just to meet me. people i’ve never met and never will see again. i am such an attraction, i am the last point on a dusty and dangerous pilgrimage.

i think that’s the first time that has ever happened to me.