After a long and challenging day, I had agreed to accompany an elderly Ukrainian woman and her niece to view a flat. When I arrived, I was alone with the elderly lady and could only communicate with her using a translation programme. I tried to convey my sincere affection to her with my smile. Then we drove to a neighbouring town and viewed the flat on offer. There is still a lot to be clarified before it is clear whether she will get the flat. When I said goodbye to them in front of her niece's flat, the older woman kept saying ‘Spasiba!’ – ‘Thank you!’ I looked her in the eyes and smiled, just as I had done at the beginning of our encounter. Then she let me know through her niece that this smile had touched her heart deeply, because she had sensed the language of genuine love in it.
