Last Weekend

The howling rain slowed suddenly outside to a gentle patter as I sipped my cup of latte. I glanced into the half empty cup, wondering how fast I should finish it. I flicked my eyes to my watch, then back to the large window overlooking the busy road. I briefly scanned each face as they pass. Serious looking strangers eager to go home. Walking resolutely without so much as a look around. I wonder if they know there’s more to life than the work they carry in their briefcase. Than the world in their laptop...

I turned resolutely back to my coffee. The milky shade of mud brown stared back at me, mocking me to finish it.

Fortunately, the door slammed opened and a gust of wind swooshed in to the steady tapping of the rain. Kyle walked in hurriedly, a large, bright smile shining from his face.

“Sorry I was late,” he said gaily.

He shook his hair lightly so that raindrops flew off like beads off a broken string. A few customers turned to stare at him in annoyance but he did not notice. He pulled his jacket closer and thumped down on the seat in front of mine. Then he pulled out an envelope from the inside of his jacket and tossed it triumphantly onto the table.

I did not react.

“Well, here it is,” Kyle said. He leaned forward and pulled out a deck of photographs and a string of film. “This is it, isn’t it?”

I shot a cursory glance at the photos. In many, there were views of large temples with imposing domes and Buddhist monks. Some were of the sun baked beach. In almost all, there were two people in the foreground. Sometimes, there were many people in the background. Tourists and go-go girls, peddlers and tuk-tuk drivers.

Kyle observed me with satisfaction, the smile still plastered on his face.

Noticing my expression, his changed.

“What’s up?” he asked.

I nudged at the photos.

Kyle looked at the photos with more interest.

“What’s this?” he asked

I cast my eyes away. Out to the street with the nameless strangers through the large window.

“The last weekend,” I replied finally.

Kyle’s brow furrowed with puzzlement.

“And who’s this?” he asked and pointed at the second figure in the photos as he closed in for a better look.

I felt my thoughts wandering to a far away land again, my emotions - a strange mixture of numbness and confusion.

“She is my sister.”

I bit my lips.

“She was my sister.”