Cambodia and Dan

I didn't want to stay at the English Backpackers hostel in Cambodia, June 2009. It was expensive in context and reeked of English guys 'living the dream'. I wanted to stay in some cheap grotty place but the two guys I was half travelling with thought this place seemed great, in fact I think I may have been travelling with a small group of people who had ended up being together merely because we all met on the same bus. I think the only reason we had ended up in this slightly pretentious Gap Year place was because someone knew someone was staying there. So I submitted, albeit slightly grumpily, but ultimately I was tired and nervous about the next few days.<br /> The two men I had bonded with most, one called Alex I believe who was the same school year and another boy who I can only remember was blonde and had an accent which seemed to indicate common intellect, with a strong air of cocky bravado. The three of us had ventured out and coming back to the room which the three of us were sharing I saw him. </p> <p>'Daniel Thompson' I exclaimed. I had expected, and I had hoped we would see each other, but it was coming to the end of my expectations that we would see each other.<br /> I knew Dan from home, from Colchester and we were both on our Gap Year. We had a history made only meaningful in my eyes, I found out recently that he hadn't realised that we'd even kissed when we were 17 for me, I saw it as being far more meaningful than it even was.<br /> We met at 5 O clock that evening, in an unlikely place, we barely left each others side till 8 am the next morning. I remember as he waited for me reading a book, and we went to a local bar. I wish I remembered more. </p> <p>It was one of the best nights of my life.<br /> The coincidences of bumping into someone seem insane in retrospect. But for some reason I can't explain, I thought we would.<br />