Buying a $2.000 lamp
Human: My father had said, “No way I’m getting you a 200€ pair of jeans. Ale, you’re fourteen.”
Angel: There was an eeriness to her. She couldn’t be described through words, really. At first, you saw her most obvious materials, paper and stainless steel. But if you looked closely, tiny strings of silk and methacrylate were revealed. Her light was warm and soft and her body would cast a beautiful shadow that hurt my heart. I’ll buy it, I’m thirty now, you think to yourself, as you look around, trying to convince your inner money-demon that it’s not about a lamp, it’s about a pain in your heart.
Picking up the phone from an unknown caller
Human: Not happening.
Angel: You do and you end up talking to a stranger who thought you were his ex-girlfriend. You realize, in twenty seconds, you’re both fans of Larry David.
Immersing your body in freezing water
Human: Idiotic. Unnecessary.
Angel: Have you ever tried cocaine? Have you ever tried coffee? Have you ever tried sex? Well, it’s better than all of those combined.
Getting my nails done
Human: My mother rarely had her nails done, she (correctly) thought it wasn’t great for her nails’ health, all the unavoidable chemicals, I mean.
Angel: The nail artist in front of me answers my question with the undetachable tone of a lie, “It’s not bad for your nails, the polishes have improved a lot over the years.” But I’m not paying attention anymore, I’m trying to choose between a metallic silver or a red that looks just like blood. This decision will define my frequency for the upcoming days. Everything I write will be a reflection of the color I pick here today. Think fast, Ale.
Setting the table in the morning
Human: As always, I’m late for work. It’s been three months of having a nine-to-five. Breakfast has become an abstract idea. I know the practice exists, I just don’t get why. It slows you down. Who has time to set the table in the morning? You make coffee, put it in the cup and you take sips on your way to work.
Angel: My husband asks why I’m suddenly so obsessed with dinnerware and tablecloths and silverware. All the kind of ware I avoided, I now collect. Buying a new set of salad plates gives me a high equivalent to MDMA. I don’t have a nine-to-five but, every morning, I’m still in a rush. Regardless of the hurry, I always fabricate time to set the table and choose the right combination of tools and decorations. Since I do this, an angel always sits down with us.