The bag maker worked late into the night putting the final touches on the leather duffel. My flight was a 11:45pm and I was getting nervous, as it was nearing 8pm and he was not done yet. He finished the bag around 8:30pm and it was beautiful, with my name stamped into the leather. I jumped on the back of a motorcycle and the driver drove recklessly down the highway at breakneck speeds. I made it to the airport at 10:30pm, nearly missing my flight.

Kariokor Market, Nairobi, Kenya (January 2025)