What I hadn't anticipated was the sudden, powerful encounters with people - especially lonely people who looked like they hadn't connected with anyone in ages. I was amazed by the intimate moments of prolonged eye contact happening on the busy city sidewalk as traffic whizzed by, as sirens blared, as street vendors hawked their wares and activists thrust flyers at every passerby, as bedraggled transients tried to sell the local homeless community newspaper to rushing commuters... where more than a second or two of a direct, silent gaze between strangers is usually verboten.
My eyes woul say:
«Thank you. I see you.»
And their eyes would say:
«Nobody ever sees me.
Thank you.»
em The Art of Asking, de Amanda Palmer
