7 parables
He went out to the backyard where she was bouncing a red ball against the wall and catching it. You are always so fucking happy he said. She bounced the ball and nodded that’s because i’ve realized it’s all a game. He caught the ball and snarled, you don’t take things seriously enough. She gently took the ball back from him and threw it against the wall without speaking. After a while she said, you don’t take games seriously enough.
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I can’t decide whether to be a writer or a healer, he said to her one day, while they were both chopping vegetables for soup. maybe she said you should practice getting out of the way. Either one of those jobs, you are going to need to spend a lot of time getting out of the way. Ow he said, as he nicked his finger with the knife. I didn’t say anything about being distracted she said.
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I don’t believe in love anymore he said one day over dinner, there’s no proof of its existence. Oh she said, eating another piece of meat, so you still believe in proof then?
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She came back from hunting one day to find him writhing on the floor crying in pain. There’s nothing here he said. Nothing as far as I can see in any direction. She set down her knives and knelt next to him, if there’s nothing here, then why are you in so much pain? Nothing but pain he said. Oh she said, relieved, well that’s something then. But what does pain have to do with happiness he asked. The same thing death has to do with dinner she said as she walked into the kitchen.
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I am still not convinced about love he said, that night, after waking up from a nightmare to find her sitting at the edge of his bed, it has lost all of its meaning. I’m sorry I don’t understand the language you are speaking she said. You know damn well we speak the same language he said. I’m sorry she said eyes twinkling what were you asking about love again?
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They were walking in the woods one afternoon looking for signs of the bluebirds that gave birth in the attic during the spring. I think the essential difference between us is that I believe life is about figuring out why we are here and you think life is about seeking pleasure he said. Shut up she said, pointing to the bluebirds which had taken alight from a nearby bush, you are scaring the birds away with such nonsense. A few days later they saw the bluebirds sitting in another tree. I am relieved he said, I thought I scared them away forever with my nonsense. More nonsense she said ruffling his hair and pointing to the birds as they took flight again.
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One day they were walking to the market to pick up some wine when they came upon a sobbing woman who started begging them to kill the giant spider that was chasing her. This woman is obviously mad or drunk he said, let‘s take her somewhere she can sleep it off. She calmly placed an arrow in her bow and shot it into a nearby tree. There she said, turning to the woman, now relieved, I killed it for you. Turning back to him she said, she was asking you to kill a spider, she wasn’t asking about the truth. I thought you said nothing was higher than truth he said. She shrugged, maybe I saw the spider too. Well did you see it or not he demanded. No, but I still knew where to aim she said truthfully.