A Quiet World of Words

Imagine, for a moment, a restaurant known as Pinnacle. You're sitting down to eat. Funnily, you don't remember sitting down - You don't even remember walking in.

A Waiter is standing next to you, grinning pleasantly and asking if you'd like anything to drink. You ask for a water, and he leaves right away. You look around. You're in a room with a booth and three walls. there's no ceiling, but above you a dome that stretches out as far as you can see. The ceiling is tiled with mirrors, and they seem to have no end. You leave the three-walled enclosure and look around. 

The decor is very classy, and the dining room is huge. Size-wise it reminds you of a convention center - Aesthetically, like that of a fine hotel. There are two notable distinctions, however. One; the strange three-walled enclosures for each table - just like your own. And Two; it appears the structure is a dome, like an observatory. Around the rim there are windows showing the surrounding side-walk and passerby. You turn around the find the Waiter was waiting patiently behind you.

"You're water, Sir".
"Thanks"

It's delicious, though strangely fleeting. You thank the Waiter again, and get up to leave. He grabs your arm. 

"Wait, Sir- surely you'd like something to eat?"

You didn't before, but now that he's mentioned it of food makes you recall that you're famished. You look at the Waiter. His concerned face doesn't appear to be malicious. You accept his offer and take your seat once more. 

...

After your meal you find that you're still feeling a bit peckish. However, you've lost track of time and you don't know how much. You look around, and pop your head out of your cubby to see if there's a clock or something - maybe even a hint of the time of day from the windows.

It all looks the same. You begin to worry. You call the Waiter over, and ask to pay so you can leave.

"Sir, surely you'll want dessert?"
"That's alright- I must be going."
"Then how about a cup of tea?"
"No thank you; here's my card."
"I'm afraid we don't accept this type of payment. How about coffee?"

You feel a tightness in your chest, and a pressure behind your eyes.

"LOOK- Here's cash; keep the ch-KEEP. THE. CHANGE. I'm LEAVING. GOODBYE!"

The Waiter looks shocked as you leave and you bump into a family walking in as the hostess tries to stop you. You shrug off her hand, and walk through the revolving glass doors.

Outside, it's night. The stars are feint due to the light from the restaurant, but you can make out a few against the dark blue sky. You feel relieved as you look at the stars, but you don't feel good. You walk down the street, and try to remember where it is you were caming from.
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There's freedom in limitation, and an intimacy in the choice of that limitation. So lately, my favorite thing has been reading. Reading a book. A single book; alone, unwatched, with no-one listening in. Ten or twenty minutes on a break. A few hours at home at night. Early before I've fully started the day. 

In the quiet world of words I find myself living a life through the characters in the story. I see myself in them, and they show me things that I could never learn on my own. Their love and compassion and trust- their hopes and frustrations and fears - it's all laid bare. And, when I'm reading or watching a truly great work, it's the same as looking at my own heart - laid bare, along with the rest of humanity

It could be a manga or a comic book or a novel or a video game- it doesn't matter. The simple joy of being lost in a book - of being lost in a story - is a wonderful thing. 
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