Athena 05 - Unexpected Support

Monday afternoon, 2:15 pm.

Athena is about to sit down

with Mary, her assistant.

Mary has been with Athena
for three years.

She has become the one
who runs the day-to-day office life.

Athena looks once more
out of the window.

The skies are clear.

As is Athena’s head now,
after meeting Conrad this morning.

She is visualizing
a great week ahead of her.

She feels the Freedom Warriors Way
will be key to this.

Athena had lunch in her office.

And read more of the Manifesto.

She realizes she has been hiding
behind a variety of masks.

She knows the time has come
to shed these... one by one.

She knows this will be a process.

But...

she is longing to be
her younger, enthusiastic self again.

…

“Athena?” Mary asks.

She is checking
if Athena is available now.

Mary had expected
their meeting would be rescheduled.

“Come in, Mary.

Let’s sit here by the window.”

Mary wonders what is going on.

They never sit there together.

Mary observes Athena.

She sees that she looks calm.

And at peace.

“Mary, let me share the story
of our family breakfast yesterday.”

Athena tells her
how they got to Julia saying:

“Mom, you don’t engage me!”

Athena shares with Mary

that she felt
as if she had lost her footing.

…

Mary just listens and waits.

Then, unexpectedly, Athena asks:

“Mary, do we have the same situation
here in the office
as I have at home?”

…

Mary shifts in her seat.

She looks out of the window.

Wondering if she can say
what needs to be said.

While they work very closely,

Athena has never really shown
what is going on in her mind.

Always directing
what needs to be done.

And never really asking
for true input.

It is now or never,
Mary thinks.

She looks once more outside.

Takes a deep breath.

Faces Athena.

And speaks.

“Yes, Athena.

It is the same here.

People are not really engaged.

They do what needs to be done.

But that may only scratch the surface.

We do not know…”

…

Mary stops speaking.

Silence fills the room.

Athena seems suddenly far away.

She gets on her feet.

After a while, she asks:

“And you, Mary?

How about you?

How do you feel?”

…

“Athena, up to two weeks ago,

I felt the same.

Not as alive as I wanted to be.

Not as engaged
with my work here.

Artificial Intelligence

has become the focus.

And how to figure out

the impact it will create.

And at the same time...

we never sat down to discuss

what it would do to all of us.”

…

“Why did you say
‘up to two weeks ago’?

What happened then?”

Athena wonders and asks.

Mary smiles.

“Athena, you remember
I met Conrad

at the get-together at your house.

We spoke then.

And we had two brief conversations since.

I just started
my daily HOPE_A practice.”

…

Athena’s eyes start to sparkle.

“Coincidences do not exist, Mary.

Just before the weekend,

Conrad sent us the links.

And you know what I am thinking now?

Let’s continue this conversation
tomorrow afternoon.

I feel—again—we can create
something special here.

You know, Mary,

I want to be a better leader.

A better parent.

Better in all domains.

Feel better.

And be better.”

…

They agree to meet
at the same time tomorrow.

Athena goes to the window.

She sees the gentle breeze
moving the trees.

“What an unexpected support,”
she thinks.

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