A hypothetical conversation between Audre Lorde and Vershawn Young

Somewhere beyond the veil of the waking world, a place only accessible to those who have used
up their allocated time on earth, lies a mid-sized, victorian era loft, furnished with vintage lounge
chairs and couches, as well as wicker chairs and leather armchairs, all surrounding a carved
wooden table, which sits in front of a roaring fire contained within a stone hearth. The walls are
lined with wooden bookshelves filled with old tomes, as well as painted portraits of nondescript
people, none of which seem familiar, but all carry the air of great importance about them; the
paintings are unlabeled. The entire loft smells of antiquity and soft burning sandalwood.

Sitting in a red leather armchair, cup of mint tea in her hand, is the late Audre Lorde, awaiting her
guest; a young author, still enjoying his time in waking.

Moments later, a knock would come from the cherry wood door, a tentative, shy knock. She
knew who it was even before she opened the door; The frightened Vershawn Young, who looked
around with confusion and skepticism, as he wondered how his car-crash could have brought
him here.

A: Well youre early

V: What, excuse me? Whor you? Where is this place, what is it??

A: Shh, just calm down, and come inside, you wont be here long, so I suggest you grab a cup
of tea, and enjoy it.

Audre would walk back inside, leading the bewildered Young into the parlor, where she retakes
her seat in the red armchair with a slight murmur

A: Christ almighty, you think theyd somehow find a way to fix aching bones by the time you got
here; You ok?

V: Y-yeah, fine.. Why? What is this place?

Young says, as he tentatively sits in a wicker chair.

A: Good, then youll probably be awake soon; lets chat

Audre smiles, taking a sip from her cup

V: Chat? Who are you, why wont you tell me anything!?

Audre sighs, and sets her cup down

A: You had an accident, and now youre here, with me, until they wake you up

She says, in a calm, but somewhat frustrated manner

V: And who are you, exactly?

He looks around the room, then back at her

V: A-are.. Are you god?

Audre chuckles, leaning back in her armchair

A: No hun, not god, but you can call me lorde

She smiles, extending her hand

A: Audre Lorde

Young sighs, and rolls his eyes, shaking her hand

V: You set me up for that pun, didnt you?

Audre nods, still laughing under her breath

V: Well, its good to meet you..

A: Likewise; ive seen your work, glad to see someones still carrying on our old messages;
though, I gotta say, your rate my professor rating is a bit past lacking. Good job on the chili
though

V: Wait, whats my rating?

A: Nevermind it

V: And I got a chili?

A: Enough!

V: Right, sorry, time constraint..

A: Thank you. Would you like some tea?

V: Im.. fine, thank you

A: Right

Aydre picks up her cup once more, taking another sip

A: Now, about your book

V: Which one?

Young says, with an air of smugness

A: Oooh look ere, got a lotta books to talk about?

Young sighs

V: You know I thought you might actually not berate me for being an academic? Yes, I wrote
multiple books, I got enough problems back home, I dont need this kind of treatment in the
afterlife as well

A: Write as many books as you want, boy, but itd do you good t get ridve that smugness

She sips again

A: It may even get your rating up to a two

V: Its not even a two!?

Young says, shocked, and slightly embarrassed

Audre laughs

A: There we go; Like I was saying, your book.

V: What about it?

A: Well; I think its very well written, you make a lotve great points. It makes me happy that its
become easier to talk about gay rights in your time, dont take that for granted, they used to
arrest us for that.

She sets her cup down

A: However.. I think it lacks direction.

V: Direction?

A: Yeah; you make a lotve points, but after you finished bringing these problems up, you give no
solutions, no advice, you bring the problems into the spotlight, then just leave them there.

V: Its sociology, thats the point! We dont have all the answers, and there problems need to be
seen, so people can come up with solutions to them.

A: Let who decide? The people in charge? Theyre the ones oppressing us! They already know
about it

V: No no! We dont know that! Maybe if they knew the struggle, theyd start t-

A: Theyd continue to line their pockets, at our expense, as always

V: You dont know that

A: Yes I do, I lived it! You need to give people a direction, motivation, people dont know what to
do with raw information, they need drive! They need a leader! Thats what today is missing; a
real, honest, leader. A face people can turn to, and say thats who I follow. We need a leader
down there

*Audre puts a hand on Youngs shoulder*

A: You could be that leader

Young sighs

V: I suppose.. But I dont know, standing up isnt as easy nowadays, nobody wants to be a
leader anymore

A: Nobody ever wants to be a leader; it was hard back then, and its hard now, and itll be hard
forever. If it isnt hard, you arent being a good leader

Young begins to speak again, but is suddenly violently awoken, back in waking, in some hospital
room.. Unsure if everything he had just experienced was truly real.