She told me she’d be ten minutes late, which was fine. But when it was nearly twenty minutes I messaged – where are you? Shall I walk towards you?
My daughter sent a picture of a bit of the state library she was in, people at desks etc. We’re here, is this where you are?
I am outside, I said. But I walked inside anyway. I compared the picture to what I saw. It kinda looked the same. But the floor in the picture was parquetry. Mine wasn’t. I started to wander to find the right room, calling my daughter on the phone as I did so.
Where are you?
Near the cafe. I walked to the cafe. No daughter there.
More descriptions followed. And then something clicked.
Wait, I said. Are you in MELBOURNE?
Hang on, she replied. Are you in SYDNEY?