Episode 7: How Are You? (The Answer That Changed Everything)
"How are you?" He almost said "fine" without thinking. Automatic. The script everyone follows. But then he stopped. Actually felt into the question. How was he? Tired. Uncertain. A little scared about money. Grateful for his health. Missing his dad. Excited about next week. All of it at once. "Honestly? I don't know. Kind of everything at the same time." She looked at him. Really looked. "Yeah. I get that." And then they both just stood there. Two people in the coffee shop line. No small talk. No performance. Just... honesty hanging in the air. "Thanks for the real answer," she said. "Thanks for asking like you meant it." They got their coffees. Went separate ways. Probably wouldn't see each other again. But something had happened in that moment. Some small crack in the armor everyone wears. And through that crack? Just presence. Just two humans being honest for thirty seconds. It wasn't much. But it was enough. See you in presence.