Loribelle Spirovski

It was my first time going to the airport and it was really busy and crowded and

And I sort of knew and didn't know what we were doing there.

I think the idea of finally meeting this man that I'd heard all of these myths and legends about was a really terrifying thing for me because I was only used to loving him from a distance.

And the idea of him taking physical form, I mean, for my child brain, like as if Jesus came down to earth, you know, it's a terrifying concept.

And when he comes in, the first thing that I remember was my mum detaching herself from me, from my auntie who came with us, and just running into the crowd because she had seen him.

And I heard her gasp.

just as she let go of my hand.

And I never felt so lonely in my life as that moment because it felt like I was handing a relay baton to someone else.

Like she had been mine.

She had been my tether to the world because I was such a dreamy sort of child.

And the moment she let go of me and I watched her hug him almost like in slow motion in my mind,

It was such a sad and painful abandonment because I'd never seen her be so physical with a man, first of all.

And I'd had, you know, my heckles have been raised by every man at that point.

And yet I knew that this one was okay.

Like this was the good one.

You know, this one was the correct one.

And then he saw me.

And I kind of detached from myself at that point.

And I remembered that we hugged each other, but I wasn't really there.

It was almost like an outer body experience.