The article reflects on the author's introspective moments while navigating daily life. It highlights a sense of calm amidst the chaos, illustrated through sensory experiences like drinking and biting into lemons. The protagonist grapples with identity and feelings of discomfort, especially regarding his lifestyle and choices. Imagery of a tidy apartment contrasts with deeper, unsettling emotions about self-perception and the nature of existence, creating a rich tapestry of thoughts and feelings.
"Four floors up, I'd look up from my work and cherish the little arc of calm I felt from time to time. I liked a drink, and to pose myself a problem I could not always solve. Now and again, I'd bite into a lemon, to clear my head. The acid was like a hook in my mouth: It was so sour, I thought it must be good."
"The one with the sewn-up face, he gave me an electric feeling. I got a little belly from all our drinking, and cooked meats tasted distressingly of animal."
"I felt glad of my tidy apartment and my four gas rings. I came to read a little less. I wondered what I was, or even just what I looked like, idling in that way."
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