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[Being holed up in a safehouse as she is, Ana is a little short on stimulating conversation. As much as she might want to resist engaging in this strange magical cellphone, she doesn't hold out for too long. After all, from what she can tell, these people have no idea who she is.

What she posts comes in two pieces, the first a series of lines in Arabic text followed by a helpful translation in English. The second piece is commentary.]

ﺃﺩﻣﻨﺖ ﺍﺣﺰﺍﻧﻲ
ﻓﺼﺮﺕ ﺍﺧﺎﻑ ﺍﻥ ﻻ ﺍﺣﺰﻧﺎ
ﻭﻃﻌﻨﺖ ﺁﻻﻓﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻤﺮﺍﺕ
ﺣﺘﻰ ﺻﺎﺭ ﻳﻮﺟﻌﻨﻲ ﺑﺎﻥ ﻻ ﺍﻃﻌﻨﺎ
ﻭﻟﻌﻨﺖ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻞ ﺍﻟﻠﻐﺎﺕ
ﺣﺘﻰ ﺻﺎﺭ ﻳﻘﻠﻘﻨﻲ ﺑﺎﻥ ﻻ ﺍﻟﻌﻨﺎ
ﻭﻟﻘﺪ ﺗﺸﺎﺑﻬﺖ ﻛﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﻼﺩ
ﻓﻼ ﺍﺭﻯ ﻧﻔﺴﻲ ﻫﻨﺎﻙ، ﻭﻻ ﺍﺭﻯ ﻧﻔﺴﻲ ﻫﻨﺎ

I was addicted to my sorrows,
Until I became scared of not being sorrowful.
And I was stabbed thousands of times,
Until it felt painful not to be stabbed.
And I was cursed in all the languages,
Until I became nervous of not being cursed.
And all the countries seemed the same,
in that I neither see myself there, nor do I see myself here.

I came across this while reading, so I thought I might share it. No particular reason, except than I found it to be moving. I wouldn't mind hearing your opinions.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Reality is whatever you work to make it be. If the reality of our pain is that it is all-consuming and drains us of our strength, we have two options: We can allow it to continue to trap and drain us, or we can turn that pain into fuel for change.

If reality has crippled you, it is your choice and arguably your responsibility to live on despite it.

[Angela is deeply set in this opinion. It kept her alive, made her into what she is today, saved countless lives. She wants to add that "the living cannot be held up by the dead", but fears that is projecting her own situation onto the discussion.]

Reality is what it is, Doctor. A broken leg does not heal simply because we will it to. Even less so when the will is absent altogether.

But you sound like a strong-minded individual. It makes me glad to hear someone so devoted to their beliefs.

[Mercy laughs as she reads the message. "A strong-minded individual" indeed.]

I've always been of the opinion that reality is something to be argued with!

As for broken legs: "Will" is not an inert force. If you are willing your leg to heal, you are taking action to make it so. You are seeking help, reaching out, and following up if you are truly willing to heal. You can choose to make the healing process your reality. Anything else is "wishing".

And if you are not willing, then the question becomes "when will you be". You can live in pain and limp about, get an infection or, depending on the type injury, die of shock or blood loss. You can choose that reality, too.

[She hesitates, fingers hovering over the keys, lips pursed tight in thought.]

Forgive me for being so forward, but it sounds as if you have resigned yourself to a very unpleasant reality. If I'm wrong, I apologize for saying so and you are free to disregard me entirely. But if you find the will to make for yourself a new, more pleasant reality, you are free to visit me and discuss the matter. I'm not sure how directly I can help but I can certainly try.

You can find me in the Outpost, in Adventure. Simply ask for Doctor Ziegler. I would offer to meet up somewhere but this sort of thing is something you have to seek in your own time.

My apologies for giving you that impression, Doctor. I thought we were still discussing poetry and hypotheticals, albeit in a roundabout manner.

I can promise that I'm not in any distress that needs your attention. But if I do find myself in need of your help, I'll be certain to contact you.

[She can sense the conversation is over. Or at least, in her mind it appears that way. The response seems very final. She can't shake the feeling that it is not an honest answer, though.

And she really wants to continue talking to this mysterious stranger. They feel familiar and put her at ease in a way that only a select few friends could. It would be a terrible shame to lose this contact.]

And my apologies for the assumption.

I admit I would very much like to talk to you in person. If not about the nature of realities, then maybe poetry or literature. I am often busy here but I can make time to travel if it would be easier for you.

Before I start rattling off coffee shops and scenic walkways, do you have any interest in that offer?

Perhaps in the future, Doctor Ziegler. I have quite a lot on my plate right now. This poetry won't read itself, after all.

You could ask your McCree friend if he'd like a cup of coffee? Everyone needs a break now and again, and it might keep his nose out of trouble.

[Well, she tried. She makes a mental note to keep tabs on this user. Again, it would be a terrible shame to lose contact.]

Ah, well. You know where to find me.

As for McCree, I'm not sure he'll go for it but there's no harm in trying. There is a nice diner-like establishment in Tomorrow. Which I would also recommend to you!

[Ah. Well, that certainly puts a damper on things. She has to wonder if Mercy saw her conversation with that boy or not.]

I'll keep your recommendation in mind. A night out might be nice for once.

Have you been there yourself?

Personally, no. I've only spent a few days in most cities, and even then it was on business I'm afraid. But it comes highly recommended from what I understand.

[Small blessings... But she'll still have to be careful with her rendezvous. It's fortunate that she already has certain measures taken care of...]

I will take your word on that. You wouldn't be the first to make that recommendation.

Any others, perhaps?

Unfortunately, no. I haven't been here long and the time I have spent has been non-recreational. I believe there's an app on this device that lists notable locations. I haven't visited most of them, so I can't give you feedback, but it may be worth checking.

A little recreation is good once in a while, Doctor.

[She would surely be called a hypocrite, if Angela knew who that was coming from...]

I haven't explored all of the features on this device just yet. I'll make sure to give that one a look.

Edited (realized i missed some html) 2016-12-06 00:52 (UTC)

CALL Network | Text | UN: alnnahs

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