Wil Wheaton: A Fictional Narrative

The smell of coffee greeted me like an old friend as I walked through the door of the coffee shop. I looked forward to this moment all morning, which was as rushed and hectic as ever. I looked around for familiar faces, but none jumped out as I headed to the counter. There was a line as always in this place. I moved forward at a snail’s pace, and other caffeine-deprived drones joined the line behind me. I remained as focused on my mission as a surgeon saving a life, aware yet unaware, until finally it was my turn. I was met by my favorite barista with my usual order in hand, and I gave her my money with her usual generous tip that kept me from waiting like the rest. I turned, and went to go sit down. I nearly bumped the man who had moved up …show more content…
“I’m sorry, I was just going to let you grab your coffee, but the these guys, man, they will have you here all day.” He laughed, and nodded. He seemed relieved I wasn’t a completely crazy fanboy. His face was regaining its color. “I’m Josh, by the way. I’m sure you must get a lot of attention. I’ve seen your vlogs. Sounds crazy what some people will do. Must be awful to have to be ‘Wil Wheaton’ when you just want to be you.” He looked thoughtfully a moment, and said, “It’s not awful all the time, sometimes you meet cool people.” I listened as he told me stories of crazed fans doing terrible and most awful things in the name of love. “There were some amazingly awesome people, too,” and he continued with a story that choked him up as he told …show more content…
She handed him a letter she had written to explain what he meant to her since she wouldn’t have been able to express it in person. He told me he cried as he read that letter. It turned out that as a girl she had a complication of lupus that was supposed to leave her unable to walk, but she had a crush on him and brought his picture every day to physical therapy and would try to walk to him. He inspired her to walk. He laughed remembering the confused looks on people’s faces as he stood up and put his arms out and told her to walk to him. He hugged her, and they cried in front of everyone. “That’s the thing about being famous, getting to have incredible moments of meaning everything to someone you might never know, and instead having them mean everything to you once you do.” We realized that the obnoxious guys had left and the coast was clear. After we said goodbye, with his words still resonating in my head, I stumbled on an epiphany that you didn’t need to be famous to be important to someone, or to have them be important to you. You just need to be present in your life and with the people around