A Pen has a perfect life!
She lives in a bungalow in a neat neighbourhood in the suburbs. Her house has only four rooms: a bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. When someone visits her, they immediately come into the living room. It is full of light; she painted the walls into champagne colour, and white curtains only help sunlight pour into the room through the high windows. A sofa stays in the middle, near the armchairs and tea table, on which lay books and glasses. Behind the sofa, it is a door to the kitchen, which consists only of a cooker, fridge, eating table and kitchen counters. Visitors may think of her bedroom; it may be the same as the rest of the rooms: light and neat. Around the house, she has a garden; flowers are on the right, and bushes and trees are on the left. The Pen spends her time gardening or reading under the peach tree.Her life is perfect! She wears light clothes, something smart because the other doesn’t match her. Granny said it, and she was right. She adores her job where she has met her fiancé, a blue pen, who brings her white lilies. How clever! The Pen works day by day; she loves her job. A boss chooses her because she is neat and beautiful, and her ink is red, vivid, and bold.
Today, the Pen is alone: her fiancé is visiting his family in another town. So, she can decide how to spend her time. Instead of going home by bus, she walks through the park. She sees grass, covering the ground, trees, stretching out toward the sky, and a lake with swans and ducks. The Pen is sitting on the bench and looking at birds, swimming in the water and seeming to be happy when someone sits near her. She is hopping because of the suddenness and turns to the stranger. He is a Pencil, small and covered in a speck of dirt. Oh, it is not mud; it is his lead.
— Sorry, you are sitting on my bench, – he said, and before her answer continued. – Nobody sits here because of me; it is the first time in a long time. I’m just surprised. Oh, sorry for my being rude.
After a minute of silence, she answered:
— Everything is okay. I didn’t know it is your bench. I can leave if you want.
— NO! No, I’m just – just – please, stay. You don’t bother me; I haven’t spoken with anybody for a long time. I even forgot how to do this.
He rubs his neck, and the awkward smile flickers across his thin lips.
— I’ve forgotten to introduce myself. I’m Pencil, nice to meet you!
— I’m Pen. Nice to meet you too – she held her hand for a handgrip. He stared at her in awe. It lasted a few seconds, and then he shook her hand. The handgrip was warm and soft, as he was afraid of getting her hurt.
— Excuse my strange reaction, – said he, – Nobody wants to make friends with me.
— Why? Why do you think so? – she asked.
He remained silent for a second, looking at the pair of swans, and started his story.
— They used to want, but now don’t. Can you imagine me living my best life, having a beautiful girlfriend and many friends, living in a big house? – a wry smile froze on his face. – No, you can’t, not now. But if you met me two years ago, you would. My life was perfect. I had a successful job, which gave me plenty of money. So, I bought the largest house in my neighbourhood. By the way, it is still to be the largest. Oh, I digress, sorry. I worked for a big company. I did it day in, day out. I had no weekends and vacations because my career was important to me. So, it wasn’t a surprise that I got to the top of the promotion ladder in two years. My boss liked me because I did everything she ordered. And then She came into my life. A good friend of mine introduced me to her. And when I saw her for the first time, I thought it was a goddess fallen from the sky. Now I know who falls from the heavens, and it isn’t nor gods, nor angels. She is a Sharpener. You might know her; she is the most successful sharpener in our city. We started dating after two weeks of acquaintance. I loved, adored, worshipped her, and lavished her with gifts, but she wanted more. I started to spend more time at work because she wanted more expensive and precious gifts. She asked for so much, but didn’t do anything to me. And I didn’t recognize how she sharpened me. In a year, I became so small because she used me. She used me and broke my lead. Broke my lead, and – and – I was broken. I became less hard-working, and my lead started covering all my work. So, my boss forgot about me, and she found someone of similar colour. Everyone forgot me. Because of it, I haven’t spoken for a long time. Nobody wants to speak with broken and dirtied me. They see only my appearance and do not know my personality.
He stopped talking and looked again at the lake. They sit in silence. The Pen tried to gaze at the water, but she couldn’t. She realized she was crying. Crying without a word. They were sitting in silence, and then she asked:
— Do you – do you – do you know what she is doing now?
— Of course, I know. After our break-up, she met someone new, and after the next relationship, another. Now she has a boyfriend, but I can’t remember if he is third or fourth after me. He is also a pencil, but the colour purple. Or green? I can’t remember. She is sharpening him. I think they will break up in the nearest future because he is starting to crash.
— I’m sorry for you, – and before he said something, she continued. – I’m sorry for your fate. You are great, but you’ve met the wrong person.
— She isn’t wrong. She must have been in my life because she taught me to value every moment of my life and take care of myself. Yes, she sharpened me and broke my lead, but I don’t regret it. Now, I understand that some people give and those who take. You can last for long if you only give, and the same thing with taking. Harmony is the most important thing in our life. You should give something to people, for example, your love or a piece of your work, but you also need to take something back such as rest or care. You can’t work if your core is empty or broken, and you as well can’t love. You are the constant of your being, not other people, not your work. If you don’t love someone, say it. There is no need in torturing yourself by staying for the sympathy of the social status. If you don’t like your job, give it up and find a new one. Other people may think about you what they want, but the more important thing is what you think about yourself. Oh, it’s getting dark, and you need to get home before night.
He stood up and looked at her.
— I hope I haven’t made you tired.
— Oh, no. I want to thank you, – said she and stood up. She saw the unspoken question in his eyes and continued. – You only open my eyes. You open my eyes, and my core is almost empty. I was doing so much to please others so even forgot about myself.
— Every person comes into our lives on purpose. They teach us, and we get stronger. I was happy to speak with you. Thank you too. Goodbye.
The Pencil turned and started to go without her response. She was standing and staring at his back until he disappeared into the woods. Then she walked home, thinking about what Pencil said to her. She saw herself in his story. She worked so much, so her nib was empty as her ink was getting duller. She lived with her fiancé, who even can keep in mind that she hates white lilies, and their intense smell makes her sneeze.
— I only give to please others, without asking anything for myself. I work at mind-numbing work and endure an irritating creature near myself, – thought she, and then suddenly stood in the middle of the street. – I was about to marry a man I don’t love. I marry him because our parents want this.
The Pen has a terrible life, and she might make it even worse.
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