The Airbnb receipt was the first: when it arrived and I saw our names listed together in the ‘guests’ column, it gave me such an odd feeling — a little thrilled, a little shy, and only half-sure this was not a mistake: this is the first time we are — more than presenting ourselves socially as a couple — but transacting with the outside world as one. For two weeks now so many airline tickets and insurance certificates and reservation confirmations in my hands, document after document where again and again our names appear side by side — in their long, passport forms too, the semi-official flavour of that is not lost on me. Strange and new but real too, I can come to believe it; want to.
Best of the Transparent Hummingbird
