"The present is my Goddamn bottle of Jim Beam."

"I'm not listening."

"I don't have time for heroin, prescription drugs or mania.The fucking present moment is my only coping mechanism for this ruinous world. I have to run back to that shit so my mind isn't completely absconded."

"I don't understand."

"You do."

"I'm still drinking."

"I know and I can relate."

"They have it as this 'A mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, as of something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful' at first they had it as an attachment. I like adventure."

"What are we discussing?"

"We never really discuss do we? I talk you listen."

"I do talk."

"Do you?"


"Yes."

"Right."

"What are you talking about now?"

"I'm talking about romance. Romance is long experiences. Long adventures together, and I am not referring to trips or lovely weekends. Romance is an adventure based on a detail or philosophy exemplified."

"What are you talking about? It's always going to have something to do with chocolates, music and heart shape pillows and shit."

"And shit."

"Yes, of course."

"Romance is a long experience with someone you love, right?"

"No it's heart shape pillows...."

"Those are nice moments of expressions."

"Romantic getaways.."

"No."

"Instagramy delights."

"No."

"What?"

"Why are you taking words off the shelf and using them based on what you read?"

"Are these words in a grocery store?"

"Yeah."

"OK."

"I've been having a problem with words."

"I know."

"A seamless idea that two people explore together; a long project that changes them positively on the inside is romance. learning to cook elaborately, moving to another country, city...a project that is an odyssey. An odyssey together."

"This is your definition of romance."

"I have took it off the shelf and cooked this word another way."

"It has made this afternoon---moment horrible for me."