Really...I'm Fine.

“How are you?” they ask…

That’s what they always ask…

Genuinely wanting to know?

I really don’t know…

Persistent all the same,

As if it’s all a game…

What’s the aim?

“I’m fine thanks.”

Sigh…

Am I, are you…are we really fine?

What else can I say,

When I don’t even know how I really am…

-Laugh-

Fine indeed…

What is this fine business anyway?

A deflection perhaps,

To evade subjection

To inspection

Of our inner reflections

That may bear revelations

To the true state of our inner beings

Fine indeed!

Cue the game changer…set the balls rolling

Strategy…

Shift focus from me to the opponent

“And how are you?”

Eat that!

My game is so good I rate it as awesome

Sips imaginary coffee

Watches the opponent’s ground unravel.

Now we shall see if they can eat what they serve…

For every answer I gave

They have to respond in similar depth, and hopefully honestly

Risky business…

A few sweats and inner deliberations,

Contemplations

That rock inner foundations…

In reality

Few are willing to go all bare,

But will appear to dare.

“Great catching up… let’s do this again” we whisper to each other

As we wipe away imaginary sweat on our brows.

What we really want to say is

“Let’s not do this again...

Unless we’re both ready and willing

To honestly be bare...

No inhibitions

That is, if we really care to share,”

Of course

This never escapes our lips

Instead

Just musings 

Like

“Phew! That was close,”

“Dodged that exposure like a bullet!”

Is it all really genuine?

I don’t know…

From here on out the rules of interactions are clear.

Keep it open but mostly closed ended:

Start: Open-ended

Paint an illusion of genuine concern:

“How are you?

Close: Closed-ended

Restrict the flow of back and forth responses

Especially the prying ones

Showcase an illusion of concern,

“Trust…” (Nope. Too affirmative)

“Hope you’re fine?”

(Perfectly subjective)

Fine? Yes... I’m fine.