A Box of Photographs - Dua

Photograph #4

This is a photograph of a large crowd of people. The are almost exclusively dark skinned men. (You conclude that they must be Indonesian). They are almost exclusively all holding up pieces of white cardboard, emblazoned with the names of strangers. They are all standing behind a metal barrier, and all facing vaguely in the same direction. Towards the lens of the camera. In their midst is the previously alluded to anomaly: a young European man, with dishevelled, dark brown hair, several days of stubble, wearing a burgundy checked shirt. A smile emerging, starting with his two front teeth. Eyes locked on the photographer. No name card is necessary to determine for whom he had been waiting.

Photograph #5

The young man from photo #4 is embracing a girl. Although only the back of her head is visible, judging by her attire it is the same girl from photo #2, and you imagine that it was she who took photo #4, that it was she for whom the young man had been waiting. Which calls into question, a little, who took photo #2, and indeed, who had taken this photograph. Puzzled, you continue to study it. Both of the boys arms are wrapped around her neck. His right cheek is pressed against her right ear. His mouth is obscured by his elbow, but from his eyes it can be deduced that he is smiling. A reunion, you imagine, after a long separation. You smile, too.

Photograph #6

A photograph of a motorbike. The young man is driving, the girl sat behind him, arms around his waist. They appear to be going fast; her hair is flying out from under her helmet, and the background is blurred. Her face is pale. Her eyes are squeezed tight shut. You wonder, once more, who had taken this photograph. Then you place it down on the table and pick up the next.

Photograph #7

This is a photograph of a hotel room window. Room number 19. It is night. Curtains are drawn; no light shines out from behind them. In front of the window, a bamboo table, and on either side of it, two bamboo chairs, both empty. You imagine that whoever is inside the room is sleeping. Equally, it could be possible that they are not sleeping at all, that they are lying awake in bed. Talking, making up for lost time. Fingers interlaced like sea otters trying not to be cast adrift in a vast and merciless sea. But really, all you can see in the photograph, is a hotel room window. On the back of the photo is written, 'Kuta, Bali'.