Page 38 of Status Undefined
“But youdoknow how to read.”
“True. But I’m always aware that some people aren’t as lucky, so I support the recorded books community.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding.”
The look on my face, begging him to not really be such a dimwit, made him burst out laughing.
“It’s a good answer for an interview question about how I contribute to society by being a nomad.”
“I’m begging you not to say that in an interview. If you do, I’ll never go out with you in public again.”
We browsed in the shop.
“Maybe I’ll buy this.” Daniel laughed when I held upSurrounded by Idiots.
“Shouldn’t that be in singular?”
“Well, you’re such a colossal idiot that sometimes I think there’s more than one of you.”
“In your dreams – more than one of me.”
Yes, I said to myself, maybe then one of them would stay in Phuket.
“Well, at least you’re not as weird asThe Monk Who Sold his Ferrari.” I picked up another interestingly titled book.
“Glad I still have room for self-improvement. Maybe I’ll run into that guy someday in East Asia.”
We decided to buy each other a book – one we wanted to share.
I got DanielThe Alchemist.True, it’s about a nomad, but I chose it because it’s one of my favorites and I think everyone should read it.
“What’s special about this book?” Daniel wasn’t one for mystery.
“I think the end will surprise you,” I replied after a pause.
Daniel didn’t seem satisfied with my answer, so maybe curiosity would make him actually read it.
Daniel got meThe Power of Now. I don’t know if he had even read it, but the title was enough for me to get the message.
Next we went to the nearest Starbucks, the one we’d gone to on our first date.
“I have to go soon. I have work.”
“Don’t you get tired of listening to other peoples’ problems?”
“Sometimes it can be boring, but a therapeutic conversation has a sort of magical atmosphere. It’s a place where dark secrets that might have stayed hidden forever can be revealed. It’s a place for emotional stories, full of hope and despair, disappointment and fear, but also courage. Sometimes I can feel a person put down their life’s burden during the meetings and it moves me that they trust me like that. It feels like an accomplishment every time. I need that, to feel worthy, because I don’t always remember that I am.”
“What? Of course you’re worthy!”
“Why is that a given?”
“Well, because… I think you’re worthy!”
Blood rushed to my cheeks.
“But you’ll leave and then I won’t be worthy anymore.” Frustrated, I said it out loud this time and tears welled up in my eyes.
“That’s not true. Even if I was in a parallel universe, I would still value you! All you need to be worthy is one other person, creature, to value you. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you have any control over whether you’re worthy or not!”
