I’ll never forget the day it happened – the 23rd of December 2004 – he stabbed the Waiban in the back with a knife which was at least a foot long, and then threw himself from a 5th story window. The Waiban survived but he died instantly on hitting the ground, his wife and daughter were some of the first at the scene as his wife worked at the university and his daughter was a student. The rumour was that he and the Waiban had been having an affair, but whatever it was in his life that was eating him up, it exploded in him that day.

For myself, I have never been of that type, my own problems leak out easily enough with a bit of alcoholic oiling when necessary. If I ever thought I was going down the same road as my old boss, well, I’d try and get some help quick. Don’t worry though, everything you say seems very normal.

Thanks friends for your beautiful, thoughtful comments. You are half of this blog!

But yes I empathise with your loneliness. Even in much more awesome cities such as M one can be lonely at times.

I am also stealing your urban myth story about the teacher who undressed himself for a monologue. So sad and so beautiful at the same time.

Also connections to other people do matter — you won’t make the right “read” of someone every time, but don’t give up. There is romance in our relationships with the people around us, even if our everyday communications are such a thin veneer on what is happening inside of us.

Loving your writing and ideas, as always.

Dave

I don’t agree that you’re over romanticising things, though, by seeing beauty and romance (in the broadest sense) and meaning and connection in them. You’re applying a particular lens, sure, but you would be doing the same thing if you chose to see life as devoid of those things, too.