Two: Sad or Sweet?

"I resent the fact that I found someone who I actually love."

Last week, I shared a bench in Union Square with two elderly men. Attempting to read but side-tracked by their loud conversation and the abundance of cigarette smoke wafting my way, I couldn't help but eavesdrop. The more haggard of the two strangers admitted to his friend that it would just be easier to live alone as an alcoholic rather than improve his health. When he first uttered the above sentence, I found it strikingly sad, but then, after writing it down and thinking about its implications, I realized his confession was actually quite sweet. An investment in true love rather than survival will keep this man sober.