In one moment you find out your passport isn’t valid, and the country you think to be from doesn’t exist. What now? 

You are traveling when you are informed by an airport official that your passport isn’t valid, and the country you claim to be from doesn’t exist.

If that happens, go back to the airport, and start over.

Don’t expect anyone to believe you, you will have to prove yourself.

Again, this is not just an issue of travel.

It is an issue of identity, and what you are.

-Catherine Pearson, journalist

“Hello, Sifu!”

“May I help you, Deo?”

“I, uh, have a small problem, Master.”

It is interesting to look back over my life and see all the things I have done.

I know that I have grown up and have done some things I wouldn’t have ever thought I would have done, and still continue to do so.

I always wondered what it would be like to go on the streets in the cities I had been to, and now I have done that.

I have travelled to a few places in the states and some in the UK.

I have found myself hitchhiking, taking the subway, walking the streets at night, and visiting a few homeless shelters.

I have stood in the midst of a sea of poverty, and felt insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

I have walked the streets of London as an adult, and thought I would go crazy if I did it again.

But, when I look back, I realize that I felt differently in the moment, and that maybe I had grown accustomed to the experience.

I found out that there is a difference between trying to find ways to make your own life better, and feeling guilty that you are not doing something to make the world a better place.

There is a difference between making a life for yourself and helping others.

I am not sure when I realized that, but somehow it has become a lot clearer to me over the past few years.

It is amazing what you can learn in life.

It is amazing how we can change in a single moment.

It is amazing how we can change our entire outlook on life.

I am not sure how this will work out, but I know I will make a difference in the lives of some of my students.

I hope they see my light, and learn to see theirs.

Catherine chuckled, “This is my afternoon off.

I wanted to talk to you.”

“I thought you were busy, Deo.”

“Well, I was, but I took a break.”

Deo looked at her, “You took a break to talk to me?

Did you want to talk about work?”

“No, it’s personal.”

“Personal, eh?”

Deo snickered.

“Yes, personal, and Ixa8C” Catherine stopped herself from going into any more detail.

“I have a friend that has been trying to help me.”

“You have a friend?”

“Yes, I have a friend that found my mother.”

“Your mother?”

Deo was aghast.

“Your mother?

You found your mother?”

“Yes, shexa8C” Catherine hesitated for a moment.

“She disappeared during the war.

She was a nurse and she was captured by the Nazis.”

“Oh my god!

This is really personal, I can’t believe you found your mother.

I am in such awe of you right now.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate your kind words.”

“It was the least I could do.

You see, I was your roommate in college, and I was the one that found you.

I am a nurse and I found you, and then I was a driver for the team that took you to the States.

They were able to get you out before the war was over, and you were able to live in the States.

But I wasn’t able to get you to America.

You didn’t have any papers, and no one wanted to give you a visa.

I was able to get a letter to your mother.

She passed it along to you, and you found me.

I am so sorry it had to be this way, I wish we could’ve made it.

I am so sorry.

I know you must be a wonderful man now, but I am so sad that this happened to you.

I hope you can understand.

I am so sorry,”

Deo was silent.

“Catherine, you are my friend.

You are my friend, and I will never forget what you did for me.

You saved my life, you found my mother.

You are my friend.

If you need anything, if you need to talk, if you need help, you know you can find me, and you can have me as a friend.

And, I hope you know, I am here for you, anytime.

I am your friend, Deo, and I am very proud of you.

I will never forget.”

Deo blushed.

“Thank you.

You are the best friend anyone could ever have.

I have been living alone since you found me.

I was so afraid of losing my other friends, I was afraid I would be lonely.

I was so ashamed of what happened, and it seemed like the right thing to do to just keep on living, without anyone.