“How many people in this world are like me?” I ask again. “Do I really appear like that?” “Patrick,” she says. “I wouldn’t lie.” “No, of course you wouldn’t … but I think that …” My turn to sigh, contemplatively. “I think … you know how they say no two snowflakes are ever alike?” She nods. “Well, I don’t think that’s true. I think a lot of snowflakes are alike … and I think a lot of people are alike too.”

