As I sat writing a few emails, I couldn’t help but notice the young girl next to me was hiding behind her dust mask, with tears almost as heavy as yesterday’s rain, running down her cheeks.
After asking her if everything was alright, she proceeded to tell me about her Italian lover who hadn’t responded to her emails in six months after leaving the city and proclaiming he would return in two weeks.
Broken love affairs are difficult at the best of times, but even in a town filled with promiscuity, one night stands and a string of broken hearts longer than the Ho Chi Minh trail, I couldn’t help but feel for this young girl who had simply been used for a little bit of fun. Thuy shared the following email with me, and was content when I asked her if I could share it.
Girls – bring out the kleenex 
i have just one thing that made me happy honey
that is my realy love. I missing you so much. I want hear in your word.
i want you said to me the true that you are still in love in me or no?
i have feeling alone here in this city not because i have no friends
because i missing only you honey
I want to here what it your feeling
i have feeling that you want make me far away from you honey
not letter not call
so all the free times you are thinking not thing about me?
that ok tell me traid what it you want honey?
i want here really clear you want to do the true.
where is your love for me? i don’t think so!
The world is not always good and i very sad for you.
If I choice not be!
The true love never have the cost honey?
maybe it late to tell you
it realy true.
That i’m in love in you!
hug
After telling her everything would be alright, Thuy hurriedly packed her bags and thanked me for listening. Having been absorbed writing her email and listening to Westlife, she had forgotten the time and was running late for work at italian restaurant ‘Pendolassco’. As she jumped on her bike and pedalled into the distance, I felt certain this wouldn’t be her last bout of dust mask tears.
I then went to visit my friend Quan and told him about the young girl. After sharing a few stories of broken hearts and empty wallets (watch out guys), he likened love to instant noodles – millions of packets on offer, cheap, quick, tasteless and unfulfilling. He said that to really know love is to spend time preparing, making sure you have all the ingredients, everything goes together well and then not only will you enjoy it, but no matter how much it changes each time it is made, you will look forward to the same meal time and time again.
