The whole truth and nothing but the truth

"Free tonight?"

"No. Actually on way home now. Just conducted interview, need to write article by tomorrow. Not sleeping tonight."

(radio silence)

Not even the usual grouchy tongue-in-cheek comeback or an acknowledging grunt, which would have made it so much less awkward for two adults (especially himself, I should think) who clearly knew what just went on, no?

Had I been too effusive about work? Which is true, by the way. Cross my heart. Too much information, I suppose.

And you would think older men have less fragile egos, especially since he has been around a fair bit - much more than I have (which is not even much), anyway.

Sometimes, it just does not make sense. How does someone like that manage to keep trying? Or is he just masochistic?


What goes up...

She said that something must have changed last year.

As I took a physical and mental breather at the train station, while waiting for my sister to go for dinner, I thought about the hectic start to the week, and how my days seem to be filling up with work and other stuff, much faster than what I have been used to. I do not think it is even due to any conscious will on my part, mostly.

But, whatever it was that had changed, it feels like I have gotten on the G-Max and have not stopped flying.

And then, as you stop screaming and learn to appreciate the unusual scenery, you begin to wonder what happens when the bungee cord reaches its end. In that defining moment when the cord strains against itself to reach for the skies, frozen in a longing that would never be fulfilled, you wonder what will happen on the free fall back down...