Marshall Writes a Book

Chapter 3: It's Damien

"Life used to be so much simpler once. Sure it used to be much harder, but in ways that life seems much easier than the life we have now", Marshall was thinking while looking at one of the pictures. Louisiana Indians Walking Along a Bayou. It's one of the more popular ones in the collection of the New Orleans Museum of Art. This is the first time Marshall is visiting this place. He likes it. Art and culture are the two prime reasons behind him choosing to move to New Orleans. Marshall goes around looking at the paintings. Makes his own interpretations about them. This is what he really admires about Art. Different people perceive it in different ways while the artist's thought behind his creation remains a great mystery. It is truly beautiful to think about.

Marshall gets out of the museum. He was there for around a couple of hours. It sure didn't feel like it though. Marshall walks to the nearby bus station hoping to catch a bus. But he realizes he feels like walking. He starts walking towards his home. Marshall has been pretty at peace these last few days. He has been focusing on enjoying the New Orleans life and it has really worked in refreshing his mind. Marshall is not being able to enjoy his walk properly. He tries to observe the people around him as usual. However he seems to be distracted today. He is struggling to understand what's really bugging him. He gives up on trying. This is pointless he feels. He once read somewhere that the more we try to remember a memory or acquire knowledge regarding something of one's own inner matters of thought, the harder it gets for us to do so. Maybe that's why humans find it hard to be happy. They are always thinking about it, looking for any scraps of happiness left around. Maybe what we are supposed to do is not try to be or think about being happy. Marshall slightly laughs at himself when he realizes he is basically thinking about happiness at the moment.

Marshall stops walking. Jo's is just on the opposite side of the road. It hits him. The guy from Jo's a few day ago. He has been bugging Marshall. Marshall has gone to the café a number of times after this, but didn't find the guy after that day. The guy probably didn't have any agenda and hardly cares about Marshall's existence, but somehow Marshall can't get over it. Then he tells himself that he is not important enough of a person to be feeling insecure about something of this sort. Marshall stares at Jo's for a while. He thinks about whether he should go in or not. He wonders if the guy is in there. Marshall decides against going into the café and heads home.

4.22PM. Marshall, lying on his bed, staring at the roof. He has been staring at the roof for the past half an hour. He is trying to think, but he doesn't really know about what. It is just one of those things humans do. Marshall sits up. Suddenly he gets sight of his laptop. He goes back to his previous lying position and starts thinking about his book. It's been days since he has done or at least try to do any work. He hasn't been thinking about his book much. Maybe he is starting to give up on this. Or maybe he is just too mentally tired to get back to writing. Maybe he just needs a few more days of off-days and some breathing space before he can start trying again. Marshall gets up. He doesn't feel like thinking about this anymore. He's just going to head to Jo's. Thinks about taking his laptop with him, but then decides against it and leaves.

Sitting at his usual spot, Marshall is sipping on his coffee. He looks around. He doesn't really know what he is looking for. He observes the crowd for a while. He goes back to quietly having his coffee and blankly staring at the window.

"Where is the laptop?" asks a voice. Marshall turns to look at the speaker. It's that unknown guy. Marshall gets awkward and stays that way for a few seconds before he realizes he was asked a question. He clears his throat. "I didn't bring it today", he says.

The guy sits down and takes the opposite seat. He smiles and says, "I can see that, but why?"

"I don't feel like working today" says Marshall with an uncomfortable tone and a confused look on his face. "Umm, do I know you?" he asks.

"Do I know you?" The guy repeats Marshall while staring outside. "That is a very interesting question" he adds. He turns to Marshall and goes on, "It depends on you really. We have had interactions before, so technically you do know me. However, whether you know me or not really depends on how you define the notion of knowing someone".

"That is a very complex answer to a simple question" says Marshall looking down. The guy laughs and says, "Well that is life for you. You can ask for a lot of things. You never really get it exactly the way you wanted it. You get scraps of it and then you put it together to make it into what you wanted."

"How very philosophical of you!" says Marshall with a hint of sarcasm. "Nope. Just perceptive I guess" says the guy still smiling.

There's a moment of silence which the guy breaks by revealing his name. "I am Damien by the way" he says with his constant smile. Marshall was zoned out and gets back to reality hearing this. "Umm what?" he says.

"My name, it's Damien" the guy repeats.

"Oh right. I am Marshall" is the reply from a somewhat distorted Marshall.

"Well, hello there Marshall" says Damien with his customary grin.

"Damien huh?" says Marshall with an intense look on his face.

"Yes" Damien nods, "Is there something about that name?"

"No, it's just I always liked that name" says Marshall, "I don't know why but I just do."

"There has to be a reason. There is always a reason" says Damien.

Marshall shakes his head. "Not with this I guess" he says.

"Come on, Marshall" Damien laughs. He goes on saying, "There is a reason behind everything being the way they are. There is always a reason. We just don't notice all of them."

Marshall gets all quiet and stares at his empty coffee cup.

"This has been fun, Marshall. But I got to head out now" saying this Damien gets up. Marshall looks up at him. "I will see you some other time then. Bye Marshall" Damien adds with a smile and walks away.

Marshall watches as Damien leaves. He again starts to stare at his empty cup and think about the conversation that just took place.