Atmosphere: A kitchen, a single candle, the ticking of a clock. Every Thursday at midnight, the Storyteller receives an uninvited guest. It is a sullen old man in a gray coat—his Inner Critic. He always grumbles: “You’ll never succeed,” “Someone has already written that,” “It’s too easy.” But the Storyteller doesn’t argue. He pushes the old man’s most beautiful cup of jasmine tea toward him. “Thank you for coming,” says the Storyteller. “I know you grumble because you’re afraid for me. You want to protect me from failure, but your protection has become a cage.” The old man falls silent, warming his hands on the cup. At midnight, even the most vicious critic becomes just a frightened child who wants safety. The lesson of midnight: Don’t fight your fears. Just invite them for tea and explain that you’ve grown up and can move on on your own.
