The inner voice.
The alter ego.

Sometimes the lone voice of reason.
Often the reason we do stupid shit.

He’s the first person you ever open up to—long before you open up to anyone else.
The rehearsal audience.
The test kitchen.

You admit things to him you haven’t even learned how to say out loud yet.
You bounce ideas off him before they’re fully formed.
Sometimes he’s the one who throws the idea at you just to see if you’ll bite…
and then watches quietly while you do.

He’s your worst critic and your best confidant, often mid-sentence.

You’ve had drinks with him.
He gets invited to gatherings, but he never actually shows up.
He stays tucked away, observing from behind your eyes, nodding at jokes no one else hears.

And no—he cannot be trusted with alcohol.
That’s when his “brilliant observations” start leaking into the real world,
when the conscious and unconscious decide to co-host an open mic night.

He’s the first to know about everything.
Sometimes even before you do.

He makes sure you’re never alone.
Even when you wish you were.

He has your best interests in mind—always.
Though every now and then, he does things that make you question his management style.

In the end, he treats you exactly as well as you treat him.

He’s the ego.

He’s the id.

All that Psych 101 jazz—plus the stuff they didn’t warn you about.

He’s the reason you are you.

For better.
For worse.

And for stories like this.

We all have that guy (or girl), whether we admit it or not.

So be honest… when was the last time you let him (or her) out of the cage—and actually listened?

There’s more waiting at https://xinkblotz.com Telling stories, sharing thoughts, and drinking coffee. A blend of fiction, reflection, and whatever’s brewing – one post at a time.