How much is your life worth?

He asked it like he was expecting a response. I shrugged and entertained the idea since it was almost closing time and he was the only customer left. He was patient as I said Id estimate somewhere in the negatives. I thought that working everyday wasnt a life worth much and told him that was my final answer as I kept wiping tables. I thought all in all it wasnt a bad response but he sighed in displeasure, I supposse he wanted something a bit more thought out.

Thats not what I meant, he explained, its not about your lifes worth per say but more about how much you are willing to live. Thats the question. Put a price on your soul, how many zeros are you seeing?

I didnt understand how he expected me to answer that. Putting a price on something as inorganic as the soul and as personally cultivated as my life was almost blasphamous. As I lifted chairs onto their respective counter tops I told him I didnt have a number in mind that I could say in the next 30 minutes before I had to kick him out. He laughed, amused as he explained that it was fine.

Im just glad to see that you hold such value on your life, he continued as he stood to leave. He was tall and his dark skin glowed in our yellow tinted lights, I found myself blushing a bit as I glanced over to him gathering his things. He was gorgeous like a woman, his hair hanging low behind him and glasses slightly down his nose, big lips and hair ties on his tattooed arms. I wished i looked like him.

Before you leave sir, I said, ignoring my thoughts as I kept talking.

Tell me, what is the price of your life?

He smiled kindly at me and held his shoulder bag with a soft grip as he told me that the question cant apply to him so he couldnt answer me. I asked why and he nodded at me as he turned to leave.

Maybe ill tell you tomorow. You have a good night miss, he said.

I kept my hands on the last chair that I had just put up and watched his stride, slow and steady, fade past the front door and into the dark. Then I scoffed and went back to cleaning.

There were always odd people at this time of night.