*Two people can be seen standing near each other on a train platform.*
Person A: Hey.
Person B: Hey.
Person A: How do you love?
Person B: Pardon?
Person A: How do you love?
Person B: How do you mean?
Person A: I mean exactly as I have said. How do you love?
Person B: Then, I must ask — How does anyone love at all?
Person A: How do you mean?
Person B: I mean exactly as I have said, just like how you meant exactly as you have said. Can you not answer that question?
Person A: I cannot.
Person B: And why is that?
Person A: How anyone loves at all assumes that everyone has, or has had, the capacity to love.
Person B: And is that not the case, as humans?
Person A: It is not.
Person B: Then, are you implying that some humans don't have the capacity to love at all?
Person A: Correct.
Person B: That is nonsense. Every human loves to some degree. Even if it means a love for hate.
Person A: Then, how do you suppose they love, even if it is only to some degree?
Person B: I assume you are referring to how the brain increases certain chemicals to produce the feelings of love?
Person A: No.
Person B: Then I must admit, I am lost upon your question.
Person A: You are only as lost as you allow yourself to be. You have already found the answer, but you do not recognize it as such.
Person B: What answer?!
Person A: It is the one without an answer.
Person B: ...
Person A: ...
Person B: Being lost is the answer without an answer?
Person A: It is a variation of it, but yes.
Person B: But, I am only lost because I don't know what the answer could possibly be!
Person A: It is not that you are lost, but because you perceive yourself to be lost.
Person B: How can that be so?
Person A: Well, I said that you had found the answer, so you aren't lost. That is a fact. The state you think you are in is only a part of your thoughts. If your thoughts contradict facts, then perhaps there are areas in your thoughts that need to be revisited in order to arrive at the answer again?
Person B: I understand that you are telling me I am not lost, but I struggle to understand how, despite your hints. I had merely asked, "how does anyone love at all?" and you told me there are people that do not have the capacity to love. And I challenged that thought by saying we all do.
Person A: Yet, you have not realized why you are not lost. Fine, I will tell you.
Person B: Tell me.
Person A: You were lost because the answer that it is, is not the answer that you were seeking. The reason you could not find an answer at all is because there is not a single answer for how anyone loves. No one loves in the same way. It is impossible.
Person B: How can that be? Surely, we all know that hugs and kisses and saying "I love you" are some of the most basic ways that people demonstrate their love to another.
Person A: Yet, a person proclaims they love writing or playing games just the same. Then, do they hug and kiss such things?
Person B: That is different. Those are material things. Not humans.
Person A: It is love nonetheless. Whether they are platonic or romantic relationships with a person, or towards objects and ideas. How one loves at all can appear in infinite forms. Do you remember a time when your parents or caretaker were being tough on you?
Person B: Yes...
Person A: Surely you understand it was out of love.
Person B: Generally speaking, yes...
Person A: Then, you can see how one loves can be expressed in ways that seem to contradict the general definitions of love, correct?
Person B: I suppose so.
Person A: Then have we come to a common understanding?
Person B: Not quite. You stated that there were those that did not have the capacity to love at all. What about those individuals?
Person A: Ah, that is a simple answer!
Person B: And what is that simple answer?
Person A: ... They are dead. Whether physically, psychologically, or emotionally!
Person B: I understand being physically dead, but the other two are quite an exaggeration! They are metaphors and hyperboles at best, are they not?
Person A: Only if you have entered such a sorrowful state, will you be able to answer that for yourself.
Person B: ...
*Train approaches the station*
Person A: In any case, you have answered my questions and I have answered yours. Your train has arrived. You must go.
Person B: You are boarding this train, are you not?
Person A: No.
Person B: Then, may I ask why you are standing here?
Person A: I suppose it is out of habit.
Person B: I don't follow.
Person A: It is a place where I lost my capacity to love.
Person B: Did something happen?
*The train door opens*
Person A: You must go.
Person B: I feel like I just know why before I can board this train. Please, tell me?
Person A: ...
*Train signals, and train doors begin to close*
Person B: Please!?
*Person B steps into the train, as the train doors close*
*Person A speaks to Person B from behind the train doors*
Person A: ... My wife was killed by a train at this very station. And I live this memory as part of my reality. I cannot love anymore.
*Train begins to move*
*Person B yells to Person A from the other side of the train door, but the train is quickly moving*
Person B: I am sorry for everything...!
*Person A watches the train as it quickly leaves the station, until silence fills the air once again.*
*Slowly, unknown footsteps become increasingly louder.*
*Another person (Person C) walks onto the station platform and stands beside Person A, waiting for the next train*
Person A: Hey.
Person C: Hey.
Person A: How do you love?
1 note
·
View note