"Don't be sad."

August 29, 2012

Today at the craft market in Livingstone, the people selling things start all kinds of conversations to try and get you to buy things. 

"Where are you from, miss?"

"The United States."

"Oh! The U.S. and Zambia are good friends."

Then they ask what your name is, and then tell you that "looking is free" and ask you to look at their crafts.

One woman started the standard conversation. Then she asked me for my name. 

"Claire," I said. The woman stared me and started to get tears in her eyes. 

"My only daughter's name was Clara," she said (Zambians often add vowels to the ends of names). "she was my firstborn. She died at 8 months."

She went on to say that she has 4 sons, and that "This is life. Don't be sad. Clara would be 11 by now."

But I am sad. 

This isn't any life I know, and the pain in this stranger's eyes connected in a way I never expected.