I saw everyone else as 'normal' and myself as messed up in a way.

The soft murmur of the café blended with the sound of rain gently tapping against the windows. The dim light from the overhead lamps reflected off the wooden tables, casting a warm glow in the otherwise cozy space. Jack sat quietly, his fingers wrapped around his coffee cup, his gaze distant as he watched the world outside. Jeeny, sitting across from him, was deep in thought, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup as though reflecting on something personal.

Host: The stillness between them felt like a moment suspended in time, waiting for the conversation to shift. Finally, Jeeny spoke, her voice gentle but thoughtful.

Jeeny: “I read something today that made me think of you. Gigi Gorgeous said, ‘I saw everyone else as ‘normal’ and myself as messed up in a way. And all of that made me so angry. Stealing allowed me to take my anger out on something else.’ Do you think anger like that can make us feel like we’re not part of the world around us, like we’re separate, or even broken?”

Jack: He looked up at her, his expression thoughtful, a small frown tugging at the corners of his lips. “It’s easy to feel like that, isn’t it? Like you’re different, like something about you doesn’t fit in. That feeling of being outsiders, or of being “messed up,” can be overwhelming. It can build up over time, and if you don’t have a healthy way to deal with it, you might lash out, looking for something—anything—that can channel that frustration.”

Jeeny: “That’s exactly what I thought when I read her words. Anger can make us feel so isolated, like we don’t belong, or like we’re wrong somehow. It’s like a way of distancing ourselves from everything that seems ‘normal.’ And then, it gets twisted into actions—like stealing—that are an expression of that anger, a way to try and regain control.”

Host: The quiet of the café seemed to wrap around them, the weight of their conversation creating an almost palpable space between them. Jack’s fingers slowly relaxed around his cup, his gaze now fixed on Jeeny, reflecting a quiet understanding.

Jack: “I get it. When you feel that way, like the world’s not yours, you might look for ways to take back some of the power, even if it’s through something destructive. It’s like trying to make your anger count, to make it matter, even if the way you do it isn’t the healthiest. I guess that’s what makes anger so dangerous—it pushes us to make choices that don’t always align with who we are, or who we want to be.”

Jeeny: Her voice was soft, but there was a quiet strength in it. “Exactly. Anger can cloud our judgment, make us feel like we’re fighting for something that doesn’t even need to be fought for. But sometimes, we’re just looking for a way to be heard, to express the things we don’t know how to say. It’s not about the action itself—it’s about what that action represents. Stealing wasn’t just about taking something—it was about taking control of her own emotions, of finally feeling like she mattered.”

Host: The sound of the rain outside faded into the background as their conversation grew deeper. Jack’s fingers now rested still on his cup, his expression softened, as if the conversation had reached a new level of understanding.

Jack: “So, maybe it’s not even about the ‘act’—it’s about how we deal with the anger, how we channel it into something more constructive. If we don’t learn to process it, it builds up until it forces us into these actions that feel like escapes, but only make us feel more disconnected.”

Jeeny: “Yes, exactly. It’s about finding a way to deal with anger before it consumes us. Instead of turning it outward in ways that hurt, we need to find healthier ways to express it, to release it, without losing control. Anger can be powerful, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. We can use it to motivate us, to push us toward change, instead of letting it eat away at us.”

Host: The atmosphere around them seemed to settle into a quieter space, as if the realization had quietly landed between them. Outside, the rain had softened into a gentle mist, but inside, there was a new sense of clarity in their conversation. Jack nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful.

Jack: “Maybe that’s the key—acknowledging the anger, but not letting it control us. Finding a way to use it for something better, something that helps us move forward instead of pushing us into actions we regret.”

Jeeny: Her smile was small but filled with quiet reassurance. “Exactly. Anger doesn’t have to define us, but we need to know how to work through it, to release it in ways that don’t harm ourselves or others. Only then can we truly let go of that feeling of being ‘messed up’ and find a way to heal.”

Host: The conversation had settled into a space of quiet understanding, the weight of their words lingering in the air. The world outside continued to move, the rain now fading into the backdrop of the evening, but inside, Jack and Jeeny sat in the quiet acknowledgment that anger, when not properly addressed, can lead us to places we don’t want to go. However, when faced with understanding and compassion, it could become a force for growth instead of destruction.