I stared at him for a second and turned away until his eyes met mine. My face grew hot red like chili peppers.

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Mei Ho                                                                                                                           1

Decision Nonfiction

May 10, 2009

                                                    Goodbye Before Hello

I arrived in front of Phoenix Pub, five minutes earlier than scheduled. My friend Eddie had called me out for a drink, a small gathering with a few friends. As I waited for him, my snooping eyes wouldn’t stop moving. Night creepers overflowed the streets of Hong Kong and electrified the air with their high pitched laughter and spoke words entangled by alcohol. A tamed wind brushed against my face, welcoming me into the winter. Two days after the New Year of 2008 and flickering Christmas lights of all colors, shapes, and sizes and seasonal decorations posted wherever possible: on the streetlights, windows, cars and bars. I was quite a sight that night: a gray trench coat with a thick black belt around my waist to show off my curves and inside I wore a spaghetti strap lacey black dress with that went up three inches above my knees accompanied by killer stilettos that I bought at the Versace sample sale.

        A cigarette swirl clogged my vision and when I turned to my left, I saw Eddie, a short chubby man resembling a teddy bear in his mid twenties who I’d met in New York half a decade ago, taking a smoke. He was like an older brother to me, always looking out and cleaning up after my mistakes. He had promised to bring me out to have fun while I was on my winter escape from New York and tonight was supposed to be one of those nights. Entering Phoenix Pub, earsplitting music and cigarette smoke thickened the air, causing me to cough occasionally as I inhaled. Eddie waved to a couple of guys. I sat with Eddie and across from me sat an unfamiliar face. He was tall with broad shoulders,

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thin yet built with hazelnut curly hair. He was Tommy. I stared at him for a second and turned away until his eyes met mine. My face grew hot red like chili peppers.

We played dice and drinking games and laughed at stupid jokes until four AM.

Tommy offered to bring me back to my cousin’s house, the place where I stayed on my vacation in Hong Kong, since he was taking the same route. The taxi stopped. I opened the door. In front of me was a 7-Eleven. I got out of the car and I ...

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