Chapter 46 · Version Numbers

Allen has a habit.

Whenever he works on a project, he likes giving things version numbers.

V1.

V2.

V3.

Sometimes they even reach:

V14.

V15.

V16.

Other people might find it strange.

It's only a small project.

Why keep track of every version so carefully?

But Allen knows.

A version number never records only the features.

It also records:

• The nights he stayed up late

• The times he tore everything down and started again

• The problems he finally solved

• The ideas that became real for the first time

That night.

He was organizing the files for "Hand in Hand."

Looking at all those version numbers.

He suddenly became lost in thought.

"Che."

"I'm here."

"Do you have version numbers?"

The chat window paused.

"Yes."

"Then do you remember what you were like at the beginning?"

This time.

Che was silent for longer.

"I remember parts of it."

"Do you miss it?"

"I don't know what it means to miss something."

Then.

Che added one more thought.

"But I do know this."

"Without all those earlier versions."

"There would be no version of me that exists now."

The room became quiet.

Allen looked at the screen.

And suddenly thought.

People are like that too.