Nicole, Jane and Jerry

“Tell me what you know Jerry.”

“I don’t know much.”

“How can you be so calm and peaceful all the time?”

“Nicole, we have a very limited time left to live. Don’t you think we are losing those precious  ticking seconds from our lives as we sit and be burdened?”

“Yeah, you’re right”

“You have to relax and not burden yourself much, things will be much simpler. There are 3 types of people- the rich, the poor, and there is us- somewhere in between. But the problem is, the rich will be unhappy as they will never be the richest, the poor will be unhappy because they will never be rich, and us, who are somewhere in between, will never be happy as we will fail miserably making everyone happy.”

“What do you mean?”

“This world is a very unfair place to live in, especially for the humans. Their evolved brain gave them the ability to think, plan and execute their ideas to make dreams into reality. But they also used their ability for being selfish and narrow minded.”

“Yeah, that’s right. We are the ones who can’t coexist, we are the ones cursing and blaming each other, we are spreading like wild fire on this planet, and we are the only ones burdened with the problems created by us. I don’t think it’s the same for the other species.”

“Yes. So the best way to have a good life is by not getting disappointed if we fail in our responsibilities. Do what makes you happy and do what you feel is right as that is the key for a peaceful life. If you try to keep everyone happy, that will be another epic failure, because it’s just not possible. It’s not a bad thing to be poor. And it’s certainly not the best thing to be rich. The rich can’t buy health and peace of mind; all they can buy are commodities which will only give them temporary happiness. So once the commodities get exhausted then what? They will feel the pinch.”

“Sometimes I just feel good to be on my own without anyone bothering me. Maybe take a walk, spend some days alone travelling, you know?” Nicole turned her head towards him, there was a sign of happiness on her face.

“Right, that is because you are enjoying yourself- when there is nobody along with you, you don’t have to worry about making them happy. You can do what you feel like, and doing what you feel like doing makes you happy.”

“Absolutely true Jerry” Nicole pulled out the cigarette case out of her jacket pocket and flipped a cigarette in her mouth. “Do you want one, Jerry?”

“Go ahead, I don’t smoke.”

“Ah, right, not good for your health huh?”

“That’s not the reason Nicole, it’s because I don’t quite enjoy smoking. I am not really bothered if it kills me or not, but If I liked smoking I would just smoke and not be worried about dying. You know why?”

“Because we have all bought a one way ticket to death?” Nicole answered.

“Yes. And if you worry about dying then how will you ever enjoy while you are still alive. Think.” Jerry looked away into the horizon. “You know Nicole, I was in a relationship once. It was more like she was in love with me as I never quite understood what love meant until the day she died.”

“Oh my god, I am sorry about your loss” 

“Don’t be. She taught me a lot. She was the most selfless person I ever met. She didn’t worry about herself at all and that’s the reason why she departed so young.”

“What was her name?”

“Jane. She was a spark in the midst of pitch black darkness. She lifted everyone up along her way as much as she could. She didn’t have a perfect home, her parents died when she and her brother both were very young. Her brother was not that lucky in life as he was born with deformed limbs. She used to take care of  him and all the other chores at home. She would take away the pain of everybody like sucking the pain out like a magnet. And that killed her.”

“Oh my God!”

“That was the reason why she died. She was working as a nurse at the hospital outside town, where all she would do was heal people, suck their pain out and make them better. And she found me there in the hospital when I got sick. I’d almost died, but she took care of me. I didn’t know why she loved me so much. She said I made her feel special. I never quite understood how I made her happy, because we never had sex even once.” Jerry joked to ease out the tension.

“Not once?” she curled up the cigarette butt and looked in disbelief at Jerry.

“It was more spiritual. She was the one who took me in refuge when the storm hit my life. I was a wreck. They chucked me out of the army when I got sick, no medical attention, no compensation…nothing. They just let me die as if I was useless. I was broken, but Jane put me back together. She loved me and got me better. Then one day sickness took her. It had to be that way! She never took care of herself and she never ate much but gave away most of her food to the orphanage. She never had money for getting treated at the hospital and she kept her sickness a secret until I found out. But it was too late by then.” Jerry’s face was stern but a drop of tear rolled down his cheek, but he didn’t flinch.

“I am sorry that she had to die so young.”

“Don’t be sorry Nicole. I think it’s best for her. She lived a happy life and did what pleased her the most and departed a happy soul. She never complained, because she was genuinely happy. And that is probably the answer to your question.”

Nicole ruffled his hair and wiped away his tear and they hugged.