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The Man Who Knew Everything

There once was a man who lived alone. One day a beautiful girl showed up at his door, pleading for a night away from the cold. The man prepared her a fine meal, and the enjoyed red wine. They were soon drunk, so the man laid the girl down in his bed and slept instead on the couch. The girl awoke to the smell of a fine breakfast cooking, and sat down at the kitchen table where there was a glass of water and an aspirin. Just as the two were about to eat, there was a knock at the door. A hag appeared, asking, “Where is my daughter?” The man let the hag in, who embraced the young girl and thanked the man for not defiling her only child. The man offered the hag his breakfast, which she gladly ate. The hag then said, “I am a very powerful witch. And for your kindness, I will grant you any earthly desire.” The man responded, “I wish to know everything any man or god has ever known.” And, as if struck by a boulder, the man crumpled to the floor, broken and afraid, and whispered through tears: “Life has no meaning.”

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