Monday Dialogues
A coworker who I'm not very close or familiar with asked me about what hobbies I've recently been getting into. I told them about one of the most recent books I bought and started reading from yesterday. (Happy 11th Anniversary to me ✨️💖)
They did not expect me to describe that I was reading a memoir about someone diagnosed with C-PTSD. They looked at me quizzically, so I defined it as helpfully as I could, in comparison to PTSD!
"Well, PTSD is when someone is suffering from the negative effects of one traumatic experience that happened to them, yes? C-PTSD - Complex PTSD - is when someone suffers from multiple traumatic experiences, usually over a long period of time! Uhh... Not very fun stuff, actually."
Their response was completely unexpected and admittedly very funny. "Oh... I'm sorry you're going through that..." - as though I had told them I was the one diagnosed with it.
Part of me does wonder if it's really so clear that something ain't right with me, but then another part of me thinks how incurious it is to assume someone would only read a book if it could connect back to their own lived experience. I left it at sorta awkwardly telling them that no, I was not in fact diagnosed with C-PTSD, I just... Know these honestly crude definitions from off-the-top of my head.
It's okay though, because later on this same person asked me very suspiciously about if there are certain things not allowed to be put into the breakroom microwave. Metals obviously not counted.
I looked at them oddly for a good second, and carefully said that I don't think there's officially anything outright banned from the microwave... But that foods with intense smells are definitely looked down upon.
They mentioned... Sardines and Mayo.
I explicitly told them that they're free to do what they please, but they will likely be roasted by anybody in the breakroom - essentially bullied and ribbed on for their choice to make a biohazard of our communal space. They looked down with an awkward smile, saying it's fine, they're used to everyone thinking they're annoying.
"Oh, nooo, you're not that annoying! There are definitely people who rank higher on the annoying list than you!" ... Suddenly I realized my faux pas. "-Wait, that sounds mean when I say it."
They turned away briefly, laughing at my mistake.
"Anyway, like... Don't worry, you're only like mid-tier annoying so-" Again they turned away to laugh.
"WAIT! That sounds mean when I say it!"
I overheard what seemed to be a couple on their first date. These two seemed to be getting along fine, I didn't pay them any mind really, until I heard-
"Hey, could I be really vulnerable with you for a second...?"
My ears perked as I silently listened in to something that might be extremely private. Of course I want to listen in.
"I'm really afraid of mummies, like. It's a phobia I've had for a long time. I just can't deal with mummies."
I used all the self control I had to make sure I didn't so much as giggle. These were both some young 20 somethings, possibly my age, maybe a bit younger by just a bit.
The guy responded like he wasn't very sure what to make of this.
"Oh, uh. Okay...?"
"So we have to avoid the ancient section a bit, I'm sorry."
I silently watched as they both walked up the stairs.
They go directly towards the ancient section...