Page 40 of The Life Experiment
How would you rate your level of contentment today? (1 represents low contentment, 10 represents high)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
How would you rate your energy level? (1 being very low energy and 10 being very high energy)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What are two things you are grateful for today?
Mum trying to teach me how to cook. I made a terrible omelette this morning (apparently, they’re meant to be easy…) but spending time in the kitchen with her is so nice
A strong phone signal and Angus’s jokes. Today he told a great one about The Flintstones. I can’t remember the punchline, but it made me laugh so hard I nearly cried
What are you struggling with today?
That I can’t hide out at my parents’ house forever
Do you have any additional notes on what you would like to discuss in your upcoming counselling session?
Angus. Specifically the timing of his appearance in my life and what it could mean
With a biscuit perched on the sofa arm and crumbs from the two she had already eaten scattered across her jumper, Layla read over her latest conversation with Angus.
Remember when we met and you told me to only call when I’d had a really bad day?
Well, today’s been one of those x
I thought I was the one who had the bad days!
In all seriousness, what’s up? Is it anything
I can help with? x
Are you sure you can handle it, Cannon? It’s a lot x
I’m sure x
Prepare yourself.
My favourite Indian restaurant has removed my favourite curry from the menu… x
Angus! My heart was in my throat reading your message!
You made me panic over nothing haha x
You don’t think this is a serious issue?! What will I order when I feel like vegging out in front of the TV? x
I take it back – this is a travesty x
Layla suppressed a smile as best she could, but it kept creeping in at the corners of her mouth. It was always the way with Angus. Their conversations, even the serious ones, coaxed out a level of happiness Layla hadn’t known she could possess.
Exiting the conversation, Layla headed to Instagram. Ever since finding out her death date, doomscrolling had become her nightly routine, bringing a strange mix of nostalgia, envy and mild irritation.
She flicked past weight loss ads and videos of strangers dancing and photos of people’s dinners, but what Layla was looking for, she didn’t know. Fulfilment? Beauty? Anything that wasn’t trying to get her to buy something or click something or be angry about something?
‘That was a big sigh,’ Maya said from the opposite end of the sofa.
Layla looked up, staring blankly at her sister. ‘Did I sigh?’
