Eriko’s Story
It was a gray Sunday afternoon, the kind where time seemed to stretch indefinitely, inviting deep contemplation. Eriko sat at her desk, her long black hair tied loosely back, and her laptop open to a blank document. Beside her was a cup of jasmine tea, its fragrance mingling with the faint scent of rain outside.
Eriko’s thoughts swirled with a blend of history and imagination, inspired by her latest readings. She’d been immersing herself in the works of Thomas Aquinas and the vibrant culture of Song dynasty Hangzhou. Somewhere along the way, an idea had taken hold: What if Thomas Aquinas had journeyed to Song Hangzhou in the 1240s? The thought of Aquinas, with his towering intellect and methodical theology, exchanging ideas with the refined scholars and poets of Hangzhou, was irresistible.
Her fingers began to dance across the keyboard.
The Story Within the Story
In Eriko’s tale, Aquinas arrived in Hangzhou as part of a delegation seeking to build bridges between East and West. The city dazzled him—its canals shimmering with reflections of pagodas, its marketplaces alive with merchants, and its scholars eager to share their philosophies.
The climax of the story took place on a boat excursion on West Lake. Aquinas found himself surrounded by Chinese sages and a group of young women renowned for their intellect and poetry. Their discussions flowed as smoothly as the lake’s waters, moving from metaphysical questions to lyrical recitations. One young woman, with an incisive wit and a gift for weaving metaphors, captivated Aquinas with her ability to challenge even his most deeply held assumptions.
In the story, Aquinas was humbled, inspired, and transformed by the encounter—a subtle reflection of Eriko’s own reverence for intellectual exchange and the way she imagined herself in such a setting.
Sammi Reads the Draft
Later that evening, Eriko was still immersed in editing when Sammi appeared in the doorway. Her red hair was slightly disheveled, and she was wearing one of Eriko’s oversized sweaters, her hands wrapped around a mug of cocoa.
“Still at it?” Sammi asked, her voice soft but curious.
Eriko looked up, smiling faintly. “Just finishing something.”
Sammi leaned over the desk, squinting at the screen. “Mind if I read?”
Eriko hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Go ahead.”
Sammi perched on the armrest of Eriko’s chair, scrolling through the document. At first, her expression was one of intrigue—her lips curling into a smile at the vivid descriptions of Hangzhou, her brows raising at the philosophical exchanges. But as she read further, her smile faltered, replaced by something thoughtful, almost contemplative.
When she finished, Sammi leaned back, looking at Eriko with a playful pout. “So… let me get this straight. You’re writing a story where you’re basically Thomas Aquinas, hanging out with brilliant Chinese scholars and dazzling everyone with your wisdom?”
Eriko blinked, surprised. “I’m not—he’s not me.”
Sammi crossed her arms, smirking. “Oh, come on, Eriko. You don’t have to admit it, but it’s pretty obvious. The way you describe the intellectual exchanges? The admiration the characters have for Aquinas? That’s you, babe.”
Eriko flushed slightly, her composure slipping. “That’s… a stretch. I admire his ideas, yes, but—”
Sammi leaned closer, cutting her off with a mischievous grin. “And what about that young woman on the boat? The one who’s brilliant, poetic, and challenges him? She’s totally me.”
Eriko’s cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, her voice softer. “She may have been… inspired by you.”
Sammi laughed, wrapping her arms around Eriko from behind. “I knew it. You can’t fool me, Ms. Philosopher. But, you know, I don’t need a story to tell me how much you admire me. You could just say it.”
Eriko let out a soft laugh, leaning back into Sammi’s embrace. “I thought the story would be… more subtle.”
“Subtle is overrated,” Sammi teased, kissing the top of her head. “But I love it. And I love that you see yourself in Aquinas. I mean, it makes sense—you’re both brilliant, introspective, and way too hard on yourselves.”
Eriko sighed, the tension leaving her shoulders. “Thank you, Sammi. For reading it… and for understanding.”
Sammi tightened her embrace. “Always. Now, let’s go make some tea and talk about how I would totally dominate one of those philosophical debates on the boat.”
Eriko chuckled, allowing herself to be led to the kitchen, her heart lighter. Sammi’s presence, as always, was the perfect counterbalance to her deep, cerebral tendencies—reminding her that love, laughter, and connection were just as profound as any philosophy.
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