The Human Connection

As perfect strangers we saw each other. In silence we stared. I smiled. You giggled. Covering your beautiful mouth with those tiny hands. 

Walking on, I looked back at you. I waved. You returned my gesture with shrieks of delight. My heart melted. 

You stood spellbound. Unsure of the next move. I smiled. Your face lit a million candles. The world stood still. A moment captured in time.

Quietly I moved towards you. Your gaze never leaving mine. Placing my bag upon the ground, I knelt down. You walked closer. That enchanting giggle erupting from the depths of your soul. I giggled too. 

Closer to me you stood. Within reach of my touch. Around us, adults smiled at the scene playing out before them. Two perfect strangers connecting. On levels other than verbal.

I gently gave you my hand. You took it. Trusting. Welcoming my energy. No fear. No apprehension. Not knowing or caring that it was from across the world I had travelled. 

A deep sense of happiness emerged between us. Me, the woman about whom you knew nothing. You, the little stranger in the market. From different cultures we came. Our destiny. To connect. 

The heat of the pavement contributed to this union. Seeping up into our bodies. Forcing us to move closer. Sharing what little shade there was. The chatter in the background clearly approved of this newly formed friendship.

Your eyes intense, radiated mischief and joy. Mine, the eyes of a mom. Warm and loving. With a hint of protectiveness. We played. We giggled. Role-play naturally came to the fore. Repairing bicycles. Available resources put to good use. Including adult flip-flops.

I gazed at your innocent face. So close to mine. We had no words. There was no need for such mundane things. Shrieks of joy and the clapping of hands filled our moments. No barriers existed. They were never deemed possible. Never a reality. For what we shared extended beyond obstacles. Two strangers cocooned in an embrace of love. Of intrigue and curiosity. Of the caring kind.

You touched my face. Those tiny fingers exploring something new. Touching my hair. My eyebrows. Giggling. You looked at the world through my sunglasses. Placing them firmly back on my nose. Then laughing out loud. 

That day in Luang Prabang, in the heart of Laos, you confirmed the value of trust. Of sharing special moments. With strangers. I don’t even know your name. You will never know mine. Nor does that matter. 

On that dusty pavement, amongst plastic bags, we shared joy. We shared togetherness. We nurtured the most precious gift we humans have. That of the human connection.

In that window of time, you brought so much laughter to my life. It was good. It was beautiful. It was powerful. You reminded me of the happiness simplicity can bring. We waved goodbye. Your little face forever in my heart.