What did I say in the letter? I don’t remember anymore. Nothing special, really. The same kind of things I always toldher. How I loved her passionately. How I’d go crazy withouther ... and I did, for a while, anyway ... I didn’t send theletter. What for? It was already too late! In fact, when I lookat the whole thing objectively, I understand her attraction tomoney, her desire to live somewhere else, somewhere far away... And I believe she loved me because that’s what I felt whenwe were in bed. And maybe that’s what made me crazy:losing someone who loved me, who really did love me. Shebroke up with me because I didn’t have money. It’s as simpleas that. Love is a rare thing. With her, I know it was love. Foronce in my life!”

He needed a minute to snap out of it, realize I was there, realize he had finished his story. I had given him my fullattention. There was nothing else I could do for him. Hedidn’t ask for anything else.

“Did you just arrive in Geneva?”

“Yes, this afternoon.”

“You look like you might be a student, now that I see you up close ... Am I right?”

“I’m here to finish my studies in French literature.”

“Do you live around here? I know there is student housing behind the Station.”

“I don’t have a place to stay right now.”

“Are you looking for a place to sleep?”

“Yes ... but since I don’t have any money ... It’s just two days till I meet with people from the University.”

“Where is your luggage?”

“I only have one suitcase. I left it at the baggage check room.”

“I see.”

“I can move and get around a lot easier without it.”

“It’s cold. Don’t you think?”

“I think I can handle the cold ... no problem.”

“That would really surprise me. Even for us Swiss, it’s not easy.”

“I’ll find out. It still isn’t that cold. Its only autumn.”

“Listen, I don’t want to offend you, but I think there’s aSalvation Army not too far from here. You could spend awarm night there ... and for free ... They accept everyone.”

“What is that, The Salvation Army?”

“It’s an association ... a place where they help people who don’t have money, don’t have a place to sleep ... the poor ...emigrants ... political refugees ...”

“Do you think they take students too?”

“They don’t care what you do in life. Just tell them your situation ... your story.”

“That’s all there is to it?”

“They know about people in need. I know it’s behind the Station but I’m not sure where exactly. I’ll ask the cabbybehind me.”

He didn’t ask me to tell him my story. He figured it out by himself. I didn’t need to say anything, to give myself away.I was grateful to him for that.