Bonus Post- Thirst Is Like the Sun

She was living in Manila. About 35. Filipino American working with NGOs. Giving villagers microcredit for sustainable mango farms. Running with high society expats in Makati she met an American author. A rich famous one. She went to his place. To talk about a project, he said. Huge beautiful apartment. She noticed the lights were dim. Dinner was laid out and there were candles. Realized it was a date. He was shooting his shot. He was 80.

**

She went to rehab in Thailand, for benzos. Spare little place with 10 beds in the backwoods run by one counselor. His dream. He wore cargo shorts.

Years later he'd built it into a complex. 400 beds, the patients rode elephants and ziplined. He texted pictures. He was wearing YSL suits, she said. She'd relapsed and was back eating pills. She told him. He still asked her to come back and shoot a video testimonial.

He gave her the best house in the compound, all expenses paid. He had a 19 year old wife. The girls in town cost $60 all night. But it had to be her. 5 years and $8,000 to fuck her. Thirst is like the sun.