A Life Well Lived!

I don’t think I have a birthday, because I don’t remember when I was created. But I have a long heritage.

People had their views on me. Various views, some making no sense at all and some making me question what I knew about myself; but isn’t it that way with everything? Some thought of me as merely functional, nothing more than a casualty of their fickle needs! Others thought of me as beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, and, most importantly, an indispensable ally in their time of need. They never moved around without having me in tow.

Everyday, I yearn to see the sun without restraint – not just from peeking through the car window, or from my mistress’ purse. I want to feel the lushest grass between by lips, and have the rain shower on my back in the open. I want to tell them, I want them to know that I need to experience all that nature has to offer. I believe that’s what they call it.

Don’t get an old mare wrong, however: I do love to be in good company, and visit all these lavish places with my mistress – but a guy could dream, right?!

I remember a day early on in my life, when my mistress had the flu. She did not stash me in her purse as she always does, quite the contrary. She took me in her soft hands, as if she couldn’t bear the fact of losing me. I was her ‘ride or die’- I believe that’s the term most humans use. I felt important, appreciated and useful. Every speck of tissue that she picked out of my box would help alleviate a little of what she was going through. She looked very dull and worn out and my comfort was all she had. I was her personal friend and we have been inseparable ever since.

You must be wondering if I have any friends at all. I do have many friends, actually. You see, in my line of work, friends come and go.  My toilet friends last a maximum of a week, before others are brought in to take their place. I have made many serviette friends in restaurants and I must say they live one short and messy life. To be honest, and this is just between us, I quite prefer making friends with the paper towels in the kitchen. They have the most interesting stories about the people they meet during dinner parties and all the recipes they have learnt along the way. I would envy them at times because their life is full of adventure and happy times. However, I, too, have my share of surprises. Did you expect monotony?

Enough about me, though. Do you know what day it is tomorrow? It’s Valentine’s Day! My family comes in handy on this particular day. I don’t know about you, but this year my mistress has no one to share a romantic evening with. If I could trade places with her just for today, I’d make her smile. However, with my age, I can already feel my body drifting away as the space in my box has grown bigger by the day. She is usually very happy and fun-loving, but today a dark cloud hovers around her. I can already feel a storm brewing and you know what that means? She will be bawling her eyes out over a few glasses of wine and Netflix. I wish she could see the beauty everything holds. The beauty she holds.

I have always been a spectator. I see, but I don’t participate. Nevertheless, tonight I will meet my happy ending. My only hope is that the one who takes my place is as comforting as I have been and seeks to add a soft touch along the way.

In case you haven’t guessed, my name is Fay and I am a pocket tissue that has lived a full life!

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