cw: implied dream assault
This story is best told with little preface and more time to soak up the wonder of this text message I received while studying abroad in Tanzania. I think it was born out of someone's very own fever dream. I had only three weeks with my host family due to the mobile nature of my study abroad program. The day before I left them for the next stage of my semester, I met this guy (in his late 20s, wearing a finely pressed suit), who ran a youth development non-profit. He had noticed all the American students staying in his community, a peri-urban area just outside of Arusha, and wanted to say hi. He invited me to check out his non-profit, and I agreed that I would after I returned from my program's next trip. We exchanged numbers, and I returned home for my last night with my host family.
Over the next few weeks, I received texts from him about his organization. He even emailed me a copy of his organization's project proposal. Finally, out of the blue, I received this gem, arranged for you in the form of poetry because it is art.
I never responded, and to this day that question lingers with me.
By Xandi
Images by Laken Sylvander
Screenshots provided by Xandi
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