“That’s really sweet,” says one patient to the other, “but the second you fall in love, a fate worse than death is on the table. I’m not wrong.”
The basis of the current application is adaptation.
I first made note of Dali’s method in 2017, but it never appeared to be practically useful until I came home and started digging through websites instead of books.
In a windowless room yesterday, a nearly pristine green notebook opened for the first time in seven years.
What’s your favorite memory which you’re not certain was real?
Who cares for the person you care for most, as much as you do?
Has anyone ever broken your heart without knowing your name?
When did you last look into the mirror and see something beautiful looking back?
Would you see something impossible if you looked behind you right now?
What’s the last dream to make you feel bad in a way you couldn’t understand?
What’s the idea you had? You know the one.
Is there anything you love so much that you never need to think about it?
When you laugh so hard that your eyes close, what color do you see?
Remember anything.
What does it make you feel? What are the images which comprise the memory? What are the sounds? Is there a flavor? A scent? What is the dominant color? Is the light artificial? Is the scene in motion? Does the memory proceed by your narration to yourself? Is there any ambient sound? Does any part threaten to pull you away to some other memory? Any that you want to forget? Are there recognizable textures? Can you reach out, into your memory, to touch and feel anything?
Does any part of your body flashback with you? Do you resist it? Does it work?
Is there any noticeable weather? Is it relevant?
Do you remember the date? The time?
Were you hungry? Thirsty? Longing? Inebriated? In love? In pain?
What were you doing with your hands?
Was your pulse quick? Was your breath short?
Were you alone?
Who were you?
About a quarter past one, for a moment there are only two of us left.
Behind her, someone in the next booth is laughing, yelling, laughing again. To my left, her right, every barstool is occupied, along with most of the space between them. Beyond the bar on stage two, one girl leaves down the narrow steps, another climbs them past her. A name is said, another song begins – Future’s Incredible. Behind me, someone screams, stops, says “oh”, and laughs loudly.
I light a cigarette. She notices and extends a hand over the knee-high table. I place it between her fingers and light another. She crosses her legs and sits back. The bartender looks over. She nods. A minute later, two more drinks arrive and I pay with cash.
She takes short drags, absently watching the performance on stage two.
Takes a drink.
Looks at me.
Breathes smoke.
Audibly bored yet barely audible, I read her lips:
“We’re friends, right?”
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