Tolstoy Approves of Modern Suffering

Leo Tolstoy's ghost materializes in my writing room: "Your problem is you don't understand true suffering."

I hand him my bank statement.

He reads it. Goes pale. Sits down heavily.

"War and Peace," he whispers, "was nothing compared to this."

He vanishes without another word.

My suffering has been validated by a master. Still can't afford groceries.