"Hey! Sit down, how've you been?" he says motioning to the seat across from him. "I just got to town and didn't have a chance to get in touch with you."

   "Hi, yourself! I'm doing well, still writing and such.", I say, taking a seat. The waitress comes over and I order a strong coffee blend and a bagel.

   "I'm glad I was able to run into you while you're here. How are you?", I ask. "Hope you don't mind me saying so, but you don't look like you've been on the 'permanent vacation' your letters implied." He looks alittle surprised by this comment and takes a sip of his coffee.

   "Well," he sets down his cup, "all this traveling and work on the computer is wearing me out. I guess it shows alittle." He rubs his chin, as though comptemplating the comment.

   "Are you happy?"

   He chuckles lightly, and sarcastically says, "I'm delirious!" He looks around the room, then back at me. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not sad or depressed. I'm indifferent. Indifferent to the world around me.", he smirks, stretching his arms out as to encompass the room.

   "Ahh, viva indifference!" I laugh, "The great escape."

   "Now what makes you say that?"

   "Well,", I explain, "indifference to me, works when used properly. Take for instance, if there is someone I've tried to help, only to find out they don't really want help to start with, they have no desire to help themselves.", I shrug. "I become indifferent to that person because it's how they have chosen to live." The waitress brings my bagel and coffee to the table, and I work on spreading some cream cheese. "I can be indifferent to a person or a situation," I continue, "but not in general. That would be assuming the population as a whole, or any given situation, is hopeless."

   "I suppose I'm using it incorrectly by your definition?", he asks, smiling.

   "By what you've just said to me, yeah, you're mis-using it." I notice the waitress has forgotten the cream and motion for her. My friend sits quietly, glancing around the room. He seems a bit uncomfortable.

   "Read any good books lately?" he says.

   I stop stirring my coffee and look up, "Oh, took that opportunity to change the subject eh?"

   "I thought it might work.", he laughs, "but if you insist, why not answer your own question - are you happy?"

   "Well, I would prefer to think of it as content. I am doing exactly what I want to do."

   He raises his brow, "But then, you're not happy? You are content? I don't see the difference."

   "Sorry I used 'happy' in the first place. It's just what most people understand.", I lean on the table towards him. "Happy, to me, is laughing at someones bad joke. It's not real and it's short-lived." I sit up again and take a sip of my coffee. "Now, contentness is real. It's like someone being able to leave a smile on your face even after they've left. Does that make sense?" I ask, hoping it does.

   "Actually, yeah it makes sense." He leans back slightly in the chair, "But, I like my indifference, it works for me and I don't have to care about anyone..."

   "Especially yourself." I interrupt. He looks like I slapped him, but recovers quickly, grinning, waiting for me to continue the thought.

   "Your indifference seems to me, to harm no one but yourself, and knowing it's a choice you made, I can't be empathic about it." I shrug.

   "Well to me, it's the only choice. Nothing that has ever looked 'good' in my life has turned out that way." he explains, "So I'll stick to what I'm familar with, and be indifferent." he replies flatly, making a serious face to look sincere in his conviction.

   I nibble a bit more on my bagel and take a sip of my coffee. I haven't seen him in awhile, may be some time till I see him again.

   "So, how's the 3D gaming over the internet?" I ask in a cheerful tone, "I hear it's close to impossible to get a good game going?"

   He smiles, "It all depends on the machine you're using and how much RAM you have." We discuss 3D games and the internet for awhile, then he has to leave.

   "Let me know next time you're in town, maybe we could catch a movie and a steak dinner, ok?" He smiles and agrees. We both seem to know it's just a parting word. He, indifferent to life, and me, indifferent to those who give up living.
The waitress comes by and refills my cup. Damn good coffee here.