I wanted to be asked how I was and not have to edit the answer

Dear Delyara, That is a very specific kind of longing. People ask all the time, of course. “How are you?” “You alright?” “Busy day?” But the question usually arrives in a shape that only really allows one kind of answer. Fine, tired, busy, getting on. Nothing wrong with those words. They just don’t hold much. Yesterday I realised I was tired not only of not being asked, but of being asked in rooms where there wasn’t actually space for the real version. The real version was more complicated. Heavy in places. Tender in places. Not dramatic enough for a confession, not small enough for “fine.” So I said “Fine, just a bit tired.” Then I came home and wrote this instead.