Saturday. 5AM.
Ben gulps down an apple pastry we bought the day before. Suprisingly good. I ate mine at midnight. I won't eat again until late this afternoon.
We pack up the black t-shirts, wallet, passports, keys and, most importantly, my digital camera.
I kick the ignition. The motorbike wakes. It's a 1.5 hour drive to the refugee camp. And it's freezing. Probably below 70 farehnheit. We've acclimated too well. I increase speed. In the darkness I can feel goosepimples forming on my forearms as we zip past miles of breathtaking countryside, climbing into the mist-laden mountains.
Paw Sah Eh "Sarah" meets us at the gate to Mae La Refugee Camp. It's been a year, but she hasn't changed. Wide black eyes, girlish giggle. She leads us to the CFI Freedom House where we pass out the t-shirts with imprinted movie logo and embrace old friends. Many of the boys have taken to Karen chew, their once spotless teeth now streaked in brown stain.
We drive to a large dirt soccer field and wait for the departure trucks. Ben scurries, photographing everyone who realizes he has a camera and is willing to take their family portrait. Sarah's arms turn into notepads as friends scribble phone numbers, farewell notes, and email addresses. She'll be fully sleeved before the trucks finally depart in the afternoon swelter.
You see, Sarah is leaving with her family for Texas. The girl who played a Cinderalla-esque character in last year's student movie will soon realize her own fairy-tale ending.
Another friend finds freedom! And again, Ben and I are privelledged to witness.