What’s The Price

Have you ever wondered if life is already written out for you?

More importantly, if you knew it was, would you want to read the book? maybe you'd skip to the end and live a life of deja vu; or would you choose to seal it shut and allow the contents to remain a mystery?

I imagine for you and me this will never have to be answered as we won't ever be faced with the situation, but I want you, for just a moment, to imagine.

It's 2021, you are in New York city; the air is thick with humidity and that all too familiar sound of sirens fills your ears. You wish you could take a moment to stop, or at least slow your pace for just a second but, as we all know, in New York City slowing down in the street will not make you a particularly popular pedestrian. This being said, there are some places to take refuge from the relentlessness, places where people understand the wonder that can be found in silence, where tranquility remains respected.

On this particular day you find yourself in luck, white pillars command your eye line, directing it to the ascending steps that lay before you. You realise this can only mean one thing, you are standing in the mouth of the New York public Library... The very essence of the atmosphere of which you desire.

Now, I am going to fast forward us slightly, as going through security etc are hassles in real life that we can spare when living in the luxury of imagination.

Take a moment. It's quiet, rich oak wood surrounds you and you could even close your eyes if you wanted to; no one is going to collide into you in here.

Bask in the serenity of the Rose Main Reading Room.

As enjoyable as this moment is and the feeling of letting this go fills you with upset, a book has caught your eye. I understand that you may be wondering what is so unique about a book catching your eye in the Rose Main Reading Room? Isn't that exactly what you'd hope?

Perhaps, but something about this one is different.

You start to make your way across the reading room, it's almost as if at this point you are being pulled towards it, forces beyond our comprehension are at work here and you simply have no choice but to surrender to the journey.

It's not an unusually large book; you are holding it with two hands but your finger tips are able to touch on the backside of the book. What sets this book apart from the rest is the front cover, or lack of one would be more accurate. The book is black but the front seems to be mirrored, it's dark but you can see yourself, make out your face; and so can the book.

A cover isn't needed, you are it and it is you, the book has seen you and I can now tell you that what you are holding is the book of your life.... literally. I don't know what you will find inside. Will you see everything up to this current moment and then blank pages? Maybe it's already fully written and waiting for you to take a look. Your next move is up to you, I'm afraid I can't tell you how this story finishes as it is, undeniably yours and yours alone. I suppose what I'm saying is our time together is nearly up, and much like life, I feel like we have gone on a most unexpected journey in a short space of time.

Before we part, I am going to leave you with 3 pieces of key information regarding your book. I suppose you'll wonder how I know what I'm about to tell you, undoubtedly question who i actually am? Call me the writer if you like; after all I am the writer of what you are currently reading.

This small black book in your hands will show you Liberty, immurement and opulence.

You will see Liberty reflected in your moments of free choice in the past, future and most visibly the present. You have a free choice right now, don't open the book and you will never know what was written, do so, and you will see your Liberty.

You will find immurement because how free can you be when you already know what happens. If you discover you're moments we're already decided, then perhaps you will decide that immurement is all you have and Liberty is the price you paid for answers.

You will fall upon opulence, or at least how to gain it. If I were to tell you that large sums of money could be yours right now, you'd want to seek out that information right?

$20,000 is in your hands, but can you sell your secrets; even if it is to yourself?

I don't mean to leave you here alone in the Rose Main reading room, I'm sure you feel that this isn't exactly any more peaceful than the streets that I took you from; i apologise for that.

I guess sometimes the mind can be the busiest place of all.

At the start of this story, I asked for a moment, for you to imagine...

I can't help but wonder, are you any closer to answering the questions I posed at the very beginning of this story? Maybe if you open that small black book you will read about yourself, reading this very moment.

In which case, I'll see you there.

If not,

Till next time.