I had been here for over 15 years. I felt like a member of the people here. I knew their habits and flaws like the back of my hand. I always knew that this was my happy place. I mean, I knew it the minute I understood their humor. And I had also bowed not to move until I had tried everything that a country has to offer. The culture, their hobbies, and their food. And it's not that I conformed, this place grew on me and I stayed. As simple as that.
Yet, there were many things that I hadn't been able to achieve. And one of those things was, to have a real friend. I knew many people. Yet, it never came close to what I had with my best friends, who of course, I met when I was in High School. Nothing ever came close to that. No matter how hard I tried. And this made me feel defeated at times. I couldn't shake the feeling of not being able to make a real friend in 15 years.
I had tried hanging out with my colleagues. I had tried hanging out with my clients. I had tried hanging out with people looking for friends. I had tried sticking a conversation with strangers. I had tried it all. Maybe, I was just too old for making real friends, I mean, who has time to invest in something new when they already have that checked off their list?
My life was more or less good. I would just drown in hopeless loneliness from time to time. Nothing that would kill me but for a man who has everything, and can have anything, not having a friend here really hurt.
And then, one good day, my better half suggested I should try this app. It was a new app developed especially for people like me. I never liked to call myself an ex-pat, I really had embraced the term "immigrant" despite the fact that it held a negative connotation both for locals and immigrants alike. I was one proud immigrant in the land of broken dreams we were building for ourselves.
I downloaded the app with a bit of hesitation. I had tried it all. Even online meetings. I had lost hope. Nevertheless, I got the app and I quickly registered. The way the app worked was that you had to tick what you liked and what you'd like your future "friend" to like. It was crazy! I mean, I had lots of online friends on Twitter.
We had been trying to debunk all the crazy stuff Evan Rachel Wood had said against Marilyn Manson, my favorite musician and artist. It really wasn't a requisite for anyone to like the same music I liked. Nor to like horror films. I didn't really care about these things at all. I just wanted to meet someone with whom I could speak about it all without having to bite my tongue. That was all I wanted. No censorship. No more taboos.
I had grown a bit uneasy and thought that the app didn't work. After three days of waiting for a possible match, I finally got a hit.
I was working when the notification came my way. I didn't really care as I was really looking forward to finding a friend here, after years and years of eternal letdowns. I had found someone! Or some AI had found someone who was what I was looking for!
We met at the local park. We both like playing Pokemon Go. We clicked instantly and went for a beer to celebrate our new friendship. We both liked Pilsner beers, philosophy, and talking about the what-ifs of life.
On our second meeting, he took me to the lake. I had been there several times but there was nothing I would personally come back to and do or admire. As we strolled down a path leading to a woody area, he said to me that he had been waiting to meet someone he could share his most private thoughts with. I didn't know what to reply, but given the fact that I had been feeling the same for such a long time, I disregarded the strangeness of it all.
As we walked down the forest trail, we wound up to a meadow with a little cottage in the center. My new best friend then told me: "We have arrived"
I didn't know what to expect. I had always been a super cautious person, and this type of surprise would normally be a red flag for me. But, he was my new best friend, I had to trust him. I had to believe his intentions were good. So there was nothing for me to be afraid of. I kept repeating that as a mantra, even though I really wanted to know what we were supposed to do there.
There was nobody around. It was the two of us in the clearing. Just us and the cabin. And such a nice warm and pleasant day with clear skies. There couldn't be anything wrong with it, I kept reminding myself.
"Come", he said and motioned me to follow him into the cabin. I followed as any good friend would.
He reached for the door and turned the door knob. The door opened with a creaking sound. He was careful enough to open the door only to a 45° and proceeded to walk inside. Once inside he signaled me to follow him. I didn't know what this all was about. I just knew that I shouldn't fear him as we were meant to be each other's friends.
I stepped inside and once in, he shut the door closed. A short but somewhat loud bang came out from his action. The light dimmed out and soon we were inside the cabin without so much light from the sun.
As my eyes adjusted to the new setting I had walked into, my friend told me not to be afraid. "Ok", I said.
"My daughters do not like the light", he whispered.
I was somewhat relieved, hearing that his daughters disliked the sun, made me feel better, less afraid and insecure.
"I didn't know you had any kids", I said.
"Their mother left me a couple of years ago", he said
"How old are they?", I asked
"3 and 5", he replied
"My youngest students are 4 years old, you should send them to my school next year", I said
"That would be nice, but they have never left this cottage"
"Well, make sure you send them to my school when they are ready to leave this place", I said to my new best friend.
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