Now, why did Kitty, who was the most deceitful person on earth, who was in tune with every kind of falsehood, somehow by merely suffering remind us of reality? Why did her tears reveal to me what I had known long ago, but had forgotten in my frenzied love, that there is a draft that we must drink or not be fully human? I knew that one must know the truth. I knew quite well that when one is an adult one must raise to one's lips the wine of the truth, heedless that it is not sweet like milk, but draws the mouth with its strength, and celebrate communion with reality.
[In this poignant reflection, the speaker contemplates the paradoxical nature of human authenticity and deception. The character Kitty exemplifies, despite her propensity for falsehoods, a strange kind of truthfulness rooted in suffering. Her tears serve as a reminder that pain often pierces through deception and can reveal underlying realities we desperately avoid or forget. The metaphor of drinking the 'draft' ties into the concept that embracing uncomfortable truths is essential for genuine humanity. Becoming fully human involves accepting life's bitter realities—those truths that are not sweet or easy—to truly connect with authenticity and reality. This perspective challenges comfort-based understanding, advocating instead for courageous acknowledgment of life's harsh truths. It suggests that maturity involves a deliberate choice to confront reality, regardless of how painful or unfriendly it might seem. Only through such sincere engagement can one achieve a fuller sense of being alive, authentic, and deeply human. The quote resonates as a philosophical reminder that truth—though often bitter—is necessary for genuine personal and spiritual growth, encouraging us to accept life in its entirety, with both its illusions and its raw truths.]
