Preface

People like explanations. We want to know why something happened, and we’ll accept almost any reason. That’s why Why and Because usually take the lead.

Every interpretation is a story, but Why and Because lock us inside them, making the story feel real. Match a convincing Why with a logical Because, and we can all go home.

Meanwhile, outside the story, How does the work.

How is easy to miss because it deals in causation, and causation lives under the surface.

But whether we see it or not, How is always there, quietly working alongside whatever Why or Because shows up that day.

And this, like everything else, is just a story about how that works.

Let’s begin.

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The Subtle Power of How

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Why got most of the attention.
At every party, Why was always there.
People liked asking those kinds of questions.

Why brought drama.
Why brought clarity.
Why brought a little companion named Because.

“That happened because they deserved it.”
“That failed because someone made a mistake.”
“It turned out that way because the timing was wrong.”

Neither of them said all that much.
But together, they were enough to keep the party going.

✦ ✦ ✦

How never spoke at all.
How walked behind, observing and measuring, discovering patterns.

But patterns weren’t stories.
And stories are what parties need.

✦ ✦ ✦

One day, the bridge broke.
People gathered. Voices were raised. Nothing was moving.
Why was immediately called out.

“Why did this happen?”
“Why wasn’t it stopped?”
“Why didn’t anyone see it coming?”

Because followed close behind.

“Because the supports were old.”
“Because someone ignored the warnings.”
“Because nobody took responsibility.”

The crowd nodded.
But the bridge stayed broken.

✦ ✦ ✦

How walked to the edge.
Stepped down into the rubble. Ran a hand along the fracture line. Noticed where the tension had built, where it had nowhere left to go.

Then How began.
It moved, quietly and steadily, removing what couldn’t hold, keeping what still could.

People watched. Someone joined in.
Then another.

✦ ✦ ✦

By dusk, they weren’t explaining the bridge.
They were crossing it.

Why lingered nearby, still asking.
Because stood beside, still answering.

And so, reality moved on.

The End.