- memories -
we had been walking down hollywood road, our clothes still smelling of the incense from the man mo temple, when the monsoon clouds burst upon us. bewildered by the loud sound of the thunder we ran towards the steps of a closed tailor shop in one of the many alleyways leading to the main road. the angry claps of the grey, dark sky was rolling around us, people were running under umbrellas which were seemingly whipped open from thin air, and our sandal clad toes were wet as we climbed onto the cold cement stairs. we stared as the torrent of water ran from the tip of the metal roof of the shop, down the narrow strip of road from the street we were taking refuge, on to hollywood road. the roads that had been bustling only minutes before were deserted. we were quite alone, facing the Seafood Restaurant of Ten Thousand Blessings, hearing the steady flow of the water on the canvas roof above us.


"i wonder what that says."
he said, pointing towards the brightly lit red sign for the restaurant.
"it says the 'seafood restaurant of ten thousand blessings'", i said. he looked surprised.
"how do you know that?", he asked. i smiled.
"we're taught chinese characters at school in korea. i don't know how you pronounce them in chinese, but some characters i can read and understand the meaning."
i said.
"oh, right."
he said.


the rain continued beating down the small alleyway. i watched as the yellow petals of the chrysanthemums from the wreaths placed outside the shop started falling off under the pressure of the rain, tearing away from their celebratory circlular frames to form a steady line of petals swirling around in the water leading to the gutter. i heard the thunder rumble around us. the sky was still dark. he looked at the mass of clouds while i stared at the profile of his cheek, wondering how it was that we were so similar and yet so different.


it rained for the first time since 12th february today in london...