Emotional Intelligence

Setekh fixed his molten gaze on Talyssa as she spoke about the shells. Her words about different journeys and the uniqueness of each person's struggles interested him in a twisted way within him. He watched her delicate handling of the shells, noting the contrast between the smooth and jagged edges just as she intended.

Her narrative about empathy and understanding others' experiences seemed almost naive to him. He found a dark amusement in the idea that people believed they could truly understand one another. To him, the world was a place where everyone was ultimately alone in their suffering, each scar and crack mere proof of their isolation.

As Talyssa's words lingered in the air, Setekh absorbed the lesson, but in his mind, it only reinforced his belief in the futility of empathy. The shells, to him, were merely symbols of the inevitable decay and hardship that defined existence. Yet he remained, silently observing her earnest attempt to instill compassion in those around her.