Written Portion (DRAFT)

• Page 1:

I felt the first splatter of rain when I was halfway across the street. I took shelter under a neon sign of a local restaurant. Droplets of moisture plinked off the puddles, creating synchronous circles. Dripping from the leaves, heavy rain drummed against the asphalt. So much rain was falling that the sound blurred into one long, whirring noise. It reminded me of my home, continents away, when the rain covered the roof of our house and hummed us a musical chime as we huddled together. I leaned over a puddle, staring at my deformed features, barely recognizing myself.

• Page 2:

I moved here a few months ago, and although I was confident in my abilities to navigate my way through this city, I began to doubt myself at that moment.

• Page 3:

People passed by like shadows, scurried steps rushing to go somewhere. I contemplated stopping someone to ask for directions, the words seemed to be stuck in my throat, refusing to come out.

• Page 4:

I struggled to form coherent phrases, wishing that someone would initiate a conversation. People were too busy hiding from the rain, gripping their umbrellas so close to their faces as if intentionally hiding. I let out a defeated sigh, and as a final attempt took out my dictionary.

• Page 5:

I laid out the familiar alphabets in front of me, and tried to link them to the foreign ones. After finishing one word, I couldn't celebrate and moved onto the next. After two and a half words, I began to panic. I feared that I might be late for my meeting and decided to embark on this.

• Page 6:

With a sudden burst of confidence, I stopped a person cladded in a heavy grey coat with a thick scarf wrapped around their neck, covering half their face. I spoke calmly, pronouncing each letter as clear as I could. Thankfully, the stranger noticed my struggle, and pointed at the map crinkled in my hand. I understood the gesture, and guided their index finger to the place I was headed to. The nodded and pointed to the end of the street. Before thanking them, they moved their palm to the right, then straight, then left, and the gestures continued. By the third left turn, I couldn't keep up.

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Although I was still confused, I thanked them for their time. The rain continued to pour, masking my failed attempts at remember the directions.

• Page 8:

Before returning back home, another stranger taps my shoulder. Their feature looked so familiar, and they were draped in a similar jacket as mine. They pointed at the dictionary poking out of my back pocket, and then pointed at their chest where I recognized a letter printed on the skin. My face lit up, and I pointed at the similar letters printed on my dictionary. We shared a moment of relief, both happy to have found familiarity in a foreign place. The stranger guides me towards my destination, inviting me to follow them.

• Page 9:

They left behind a trace of familiar letters. With every foot step, I was able to navigate through the struggles, and I found my way. Eventually, the rain lessened and the drops faded into nothing. The sun came out again, casting slanted beams of light across the street. I'm here.