Chapter Ten

The audacity of hope is only a cruel foreword to the futility of process. And yet while there was little doubt in Terrence's mind as to the inexorable truth of those words, he remained confident that it was the fundamental desire of the male species to seek and pursue, and that it was the effort, not the result, that brought about gross satisfaction. Terrence was, of course, a happy man by any measurable means - he had a caring family, meaningful academic recognitions, a well-salaried employment, common friendships...

But so peculiar is the human mind, so strong its drive to seek non-platonic affections, that he had recently begun to experience an intolerable irritation of desolation and loneliness, one that seemed to exponentially multiply as time was spent in the office like yeast in an incubator.

Terrence enjoyed being around people. The dynamics of social gatherings was like a magnetic pole that harnessed invisible energy and redistributed it in predictable manners across its field of reach, displaying comprehensible contours that guided each of its members towards an ambition. Of such importance is its function, that the lack of its existence in Terrence's current routines had caused him to feel nauseated and lost, like a displaced electron which continues to seek a hospitable structure to stabilize.

But hope does have a way of reaping rewards for those stubborn enough to persist. Terrence had a scheduled lunch with Vincent, a recent acquaintance, on Thursday. And another one with Crystal on Friday. These were not the prospective meetings that Terrence had originally summoned up the audacity to contemplate, but as far as he could comprehend there was no better way to subdue his frustration than such casual social interactions. At the very least, the prospect of meeting someone his own age gave him motivation to continue his pursuit of the greater endeavour of finding a meaningful companion such is a partner. He understood that it was inevitable for there to be a journey, and that the destination would not be reached until the journey was taken.

So with little else to anticipate, he looked forward to his meetings on Thursday and Friday.

Today was a Tuesday.