THE NARRATIVE ARC
How an Unlikely Online Friendship Turned into a Global Adventure
A journey from cyberspace to San Salvador
Nervousness gripped me as I stepped out of the hotel into the bustling streets of San Salvador. After over 35 grueling hours of travel from my home in Melbourne, I had finally arrived in the capital of tiny El Salvador to meet Joe — a man I'd known for several years but never met in person.
I knew Joe wasn't a catfish or an online scammer looking to clean out my bank accounts. But what if he was weird, shy, or couldn't understand my thick Aussie accent? My mind raced with doubts about taking such a leap across the world for someone I'd never seen beyond a computer screen.
I scanned the crowd, heart pounding like I was on a blind date. That's when I spotted him — shorter than I'd imagined at five-foot-four, but unmistakably Joe. Narrowly dodging an oncoming car, I waved frantically and crossed the street.
Joe's face broke into the biggest smile as our eyes met, instantly putting my fears at ease. At that moment, the long journey felt worthwhile.
A lonely world
As I stood there, waiting to meet Joe, I couldn't help but reflect on how our paths had intertwined during the turbulent…
