An example of an unusually short visit. A lot of this is brief, like the short daily entries the character would write, without verbose narrative flow, but enough that I remember the story I was constructing and imagining in my head long after.
Person dramatis: A melancholy poet
Name: (Ông) Đỗ Hào Huệ
Day 1:
I was at a tavern, drinking to forget a terrible span of time, when I spotted a door no one else seemed to notice.
I crossed the strange threshold and entered a hotel I had never seen before.
Ten years ago I dreamed about this city.
The hotel I found myself in seemed old-fashioned, with many iron railings, decorated with designs of flora; a Persian rug; and an old elevator that rattled.
I didn't meet anyone, nor did I want to meet anyone.
When I went through the door leading to here I only had the clothes I was wearing.
Day 7
A harrowing trip to the market. There were many policemen all over the place, staring intently at every person there. I left.
Throughout the day I noticed a policeman following me everywhere I went.
Day 10
A mysterious excursion to a ruin. But my fellow travel companions all around me stood stock-still in absolute silence like stone statues.
Day 15
A trip to the market, this time shocking. I saw a policeman turn a citizen into a stone statue!
I ran away quickly. The sunny skies changed to heavy rains.
Day 21
A serendipitous meeting with ruffians. I unexpectedly yet fortunately ran into a gang of thieves. I was searching the city for a way home when they ambushed me.
I turned right around and fled in the direction of the policeman following behind me and past him. The thieves ran straight into him. While they fought I escaped.
Day 27
A hopeful night at the opera (theater): an old woman sitting next to me whispered the way home.
After an intermission started and the presentation stopped, I walked through a door near the stage. Because the entertainment was not yet finished I was able to go home.
I entered the tavern of my own city and breathed a sigh of relief.
Tonight I'm going to write a poem.
The End