Michael’s presence
Michael arrived around noon, his face marked by a burden I couldn’t decipher. He entered in silence, and I offered him a cup of tea, hoping its warmth might ease the palpable tension in the air. Sitting opposite each other, I watched him intently, searching for answers in his eyes, which seemed to carry a heavy story to tell. But before he spoke, I mentally prepared myself to face what he was about to reveal.
Michael’s Presence
Fiery jokes
We exchanged a few jokes, but there was a palpable tension in the air. Michael talked about his work, the weather, unimportant subjects, but his voice lacked conviction. He clearly avoided mentioning the elephant in the room. I waited, patient, trying to read between the lines. These banalities seemed to be the prelude to something much more important, much deeper. All I wanted was for him to get straight to the point.
Fiery Jokes
