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The day on which I was supposed to meet Gary Turner was approaching me with significantly large steps.

I liked Gary, yes, but I wasn’t that much into him. I watched a couple of his movies, true, but I wouldn’t consider myself a super fan. I wouldn’t scream if I saw him, I wouldn’t miss my train if I spotted him at the station. And, more importantly, if I had a boyfriend, I wouldn’t cheat on him for Gary, if I got the chance.

And yet, I participated in the lottery that he organized. It aimed to divert his fans’ interest from himself to a cause that he was fighting for: saving marine wildlife. The person who donated to the Dolphin Rescue and Research Center in Maui, New Zealand, and got their ticket chosen, could win a day of exclusivity with him.

I planned to become a celebrity myself and was at the stage of trying to break through several glass ceilings. I graduated with a fashion design degree and wanted to create an important brand. The shop I started on Etsy was quite in vogue, which meant I had real sales. If by chance I was chosen to meet Gary, and I posted our selfie on Instagram, it would definitely raise interest and attract new fans. After all, who wouldn’t buy clothes or accessories from a buddy of Gary Turner?

Besides, if I had to choose between being an environmentally ignorant or conscious designer, I would select the latter one. I cared about planet Earth, and I cared about others, even though I wasn’t always kind.

I was brought up by stern, easily irritable parents and I inherited their attitude. I lacked patience, and on my tough days, I mistreated others, for which I would later apologize. I often felt that I wasn’t a great person, so I tried to make up for it by donating money to various causes.

After donating to the Dolphin Rescue and Research Center, and attaching the bill to the lottery sign-up form, I focused on my newest collection. I completely forgot about Gary, until the day when I received a phone call from Tom, his manager. He told me that I was chosen, and I couldn’t believe it. I was convinced it was a friend’s friend making fun of me.

But then I received a thank you letter with the detailed program of our meeting and requirements I was supposed to meet. I had to medical examinations, which made a lot of sense. I wouldn’t be able to do snorkeling if a doctor didn’t confirm my health status. Gladly, I got a green light and was allowed to meet Gary.

The place of the encounter was, of course, the Dolphin Rescue and Research Center. I lived in Australia, so I had often traveled to New Zealand. I haven’t had a holiday for a long time, so I decided to book a cruise a bit earlier. I took a lot of photos, and after arriving, I spent two days roaming around fashion shops, looking at clothes, jewelry, and shoes.