Herta Muller

The red-head asked if I was the kind of person who liked to shake hands or to have a hug.

Neither, I said. I don't like to be touched.

She might have said, O I'm sorry, but she didn't. She stood her ground by looking me in the eye, becoming exactly the kind of person I'd like to know better.

If I ever see her again I'll say to her, you must read Herta Muller as she's created a world we both can live in without lying.