The cheerful ding of an incoming IM broke my concentration.

'hi hun'
'Hi :-D'
'i just wanted to say im soooooo sad 4 you'

Confused, I accidentally set off my poofer and a thousand* particle ?s billowed out of me.

'Erm... Why are you sad? Exactly?'
'u know that picture - im sad coz yr boyfriend doesnt love you any more'

My eyes widened as I considered the pithy remark M. would have forthcoming if he heard himself referred to as my 'boyfriend.'

'No, you don't understand. It isn't that love has been lost. No love has been lost. All love is tucked up at home with a movie and some microwave popcorn.'
'then why is it called LOST LOVE???????'

I paused a moment to set my emoter HUD to Frown.

'Because my love is a famous explorer and - take note - HE'S LOST.'
'how do you know?'

I checked my expression - nope, Frown is still appropriate.

'I keep telling the Authorities that they should send out a search party.'
'maybe hes not rlly lost if you know what i mean'

Wiping away a tear I closed the IM window. Truly I'm under too much stress to deal with strangers bearing misconceptions; I may not be as patient as I once was, as well. I must take matters into my own hands and organise a search party. Who is with me? I need experienced sleuths, trackers, aviators, clairvoyants, sailors, linguists, outdoorsmen, fund-raisers, chefs, grant-writers, and documentary filmmakers. And bloggers. And possibly distillers. Who is with me?

*Not actually a thousand, Jopsy, I swear. Exaggeration!