IDkuching: A Girl Smiled at me from the Sidewalk

A little girl smiled at me on the bus today. She looked so pretty, like an angel. Even though I was inside of the bus, which was headed back to Kuching from Damai Beach, and she was outside, standing along the roadside under the watchful eyes of her family, I felt a connection. The eye contact was clear as day, and in those 3 seconds I wondered what her life was like. I wondered what the furthest she had ever been from home, or where would be the furthest she’d go. I wondered how much she must have been treasured by her family, and I wondered what they did to celebrate her birthday last time around.

I don’t know what it was about this connection, but as she looked at me with eyes full of curiosity, I doubt she realized that I was just as curious about her.