I traveled to another city in another country, where for a brief moment, I met C. I had a terrible time that day, everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  She was eating ice cream in a corner when I first saw her — short, tender and attentive, with a small scar, almost like a pendant on a thin, invisible necklace. I sat down at the bar, drank a couple of drinks and talked with her. We ended up going to eat out together.

At first I thought it’ll be a fun time, nothing very notable, maybe we’ll make out, spend some time together. Something, however, dawned on me when I first held her close to me. Maybe it was the way we were laughing so much together, or how bright and fun she was, or her quiet but vivid way of being. I remember telling her things that I tell few and I remember feeling in a way that I haven’t felt for a long while — simply worthy of existing. It was good holding her and being affectionate towards her. She was really good to me and enjoyed what I had to give — something that I can really value.

This wonderful experience only remains as pieces of memories now, faded and partially forgotten, like something that we find in an old drawer and it brings back more of a feeling than something concrete. I can’t see her in my mind, but I remember the affection I gave and the affection she gave, and it feels good.