“And that’s exactly my point. Shrugging off those conventions, those subconscious affectations, those problematic insecurities–all of it–is completely necessary to completely getting something entirely fulfilling out of a relationship.”
“But you don’t understand the environment of it all. The people. The pressure. All of it.”
“I know I don’t. But you do. You understand your afflictions. And now it is simply a choice–do you succumb to these demons right in front of you or do you fight them off? That choice is your’s.” I smirk with the way I do after I’ve given someone a bit of existential advice that rings true to them, but bruises the victim image that they had used as a crutch for so long.
She smiles back. “You know, you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. And I want you to understand all of this because if any of this works–and let’s stop beating around this metaphorical relationship we have floating around and acknowledge it for what it is: an attraction between the two of us–if any of this works, it will be so damn good. You know this.” I am wild with my hands, gesticulating in between sips of my Tanqueray and tonic.
“But you’re so young an–”
“What you’re ultimately going to have to do is realize that you’re the only one that matters here and now. That, if you go into life accepting the bonds and chains that other people give to you–even if they are your parents–that you’re never going to be living for yourself. You’ll always be living for someone else. You can run into life with your eyes wide open or you can sit on the ground and let yourself be defeated before you even make it out of the gate. The choice is your’s to make.”
“You don’t understand, though, I….”
“You’re right. I don’t understand. I will never experience the things you have. I will never taste, hear, see, or smell things the way you do. Never. Thus, the fundamental divide between every single person. The gap will never be closed. It will only be bridged.” I pause for a moment to catch my breath.
“But that bridge is so rickety. You never know if you’re going to find the other person meeting you out in the middle or if you’ll be out in the middle when they decide to turn around and cut the ropes on their end.”
“You will never know. That is the most dangerous–and potentially, the most rewarding–gamble you will ever take in your life. But it is so worth it, even if it only lasts for a few moments’ time. For those few moments, you will be full of life, experience and sensation gushing from every pore of your body. Euphoria. Ecstasy. Heaven. It is not easy and it is not a sure thing. But it is there, if you can just take those conventions, instructions for life, and traditions and put them all behind you. Reach out and grab it. It is right here, right now, in front of you.”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I mean that we share a fundamental attraction to one another that, if fully realized, could be one of the most enlightening, fulfilling experiences of our entire lives. You are beautiful and mysterious and I am beautiful and mysterious and we both know this. What more is there? Opportunities like this are few and far between. They are ephemeral and fleeting. And you are a damn fool if you don’t jump on them. Here it is. You just have to take that first step…I’ve taken mine.”
Fortune favors the bold.
–Virgil
~ End Article and Begin Conversation ~
There are no comments yet...
~ Now It's Your Turn ~