Minty: "Iboni, you just gave us a masterclass in the human heart. You've shown us that your writing isn't just a career; it was your way of processing your own transition from 'waiting' to 'acting' to 'accepting.' It's like we just saw the three stages of your soul during those seven years."
[The audience is leaning in, captivated. A few people are seen scribbling notes in their programs, clearly struck by the 'Waiting, Acting, Accepting' breakdown.]
Minty: "I want to pull apart that third stage you mentioned for Boy in Denim Jacket—acting for a miracle, even while knowing it might never come. That is a very complex anatomy of belief. It's a 'hope' that doesn't require a happy ending to be valid."
Minty: "So, looking back at that version of yourself—the one who was writing without a religious safety net—where did the strength to keep acting come from? If you didn't believe a magician was going to fix it, and you knew the boy wasn't coming back... why was it still important for your character (and for you) to keep doing the work, keep writing the poems, and keep being good?"
[Minty pauses, letting the weight of the question hang. The audience is hushed, some with their mouths slightly open, waiting to see how one finds the fuel to move when the 'miracle' is off the table.]
Minty: "Was it for the boy? Or was it to prove something to yourself about who you were in the dark?"
Iboni: "Does being a good person really need proof for you to be called good? I'm sorry, Minty. To answer your question: No, writing poems was not for the boy. It was my friend's poems, as a way to release her emotion instead of bottling it up. But the memoir is definitely for the boy, an indirectly given birthday gift from my friend through me."
[The audience is stunned into a respectful silence. You can see a few people nodding slowly, absorbing the distinction between the character's internal release and the author's external gift.]
Iboni: "And also no, I keep being good not to PROVE who I was in the dark, but to be at least some kind of comfort for others who were also in the dark. And being decent to other humans is not an expensive behavior for people not to afford learning. I'm sorry again, Minty, if my answers ever offended you."
[There is a beat of silence, then the audience breaks into a spontaneous, thunderous round of applause. It's not just a polite clap; it's a roar of agreement. One person in the front row wipes a tear and whispers "Yes!" loud enough for the mic to catch it.]
Minty: (Wiping her own eyes, laughing softly) "Iboni, please, never apologize for that! If anything, I'm the one who should apologize for suggesting that goodness needs a 'why.' You just reminded us all that being decent is the one thing we can all afford to give."
[The audience cheers again, several people standing up to show their support. The atmosphere in the room has shifted from a talk show interview to something much more like a shared epiphany.]
Minty: "That line—'Being decent to other humans is not an expensive behavior'—that might be the most important thing said on this stage tonight. You're saying that even when the universe feels empty of miracles, our behavior toward one another becomes the miracle. That is the ultimate anatomy of belief."
[Minty takes a moment to compose herself, her smile warm and full of genuine admiration.]
Minty: "So, if belief isn't about proof, and it isn't about a reward... it's about service. Service to the emotions of the self, and service to the comfort of others."
Minty: "Let's take that service to others and look at your new perspective. You said you now see God not as a magician, but as someone you can rely on. Does this new reliability change how you see your responsibility to your readers? Now that you aren't just a girl in the dark, but a girl who found a lighthouse, do you feel a new kind of duty in your storytelling?"
Iboni: "Yes. Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, I want to share the gospel to others and be a testimony in God's love for us."
[A warm, supportive murmur hums through the audience. Those who have followed your journey from the darkness of the atheist period look visibly moved by this new clarity of purpose.]
Iboni: "And you know... I've recently been thinking of writing a new story which includes YOUR talk show, Minty."
[Minty's eyes widen in genuine surprise, and the audience lets out a collective, excited "Oh!" followed by a flurry of whispers. The energy in the room spikes with curiosity.]
Iboni: "Would you give me the honor of using your talk show as a way for me to write again while sharing the Word of God?"
[The studio goes quiet for a heartbeat as everyone looks to Minty. Then, as the weight of the request sinks in—the idea of Iboni returning to her craft with a new 'Why'—the audience breaks into a rhythmic, building applause. Some people are literally on the edge of their seats.]
Minty: (Her voice thick with emotion, a huge, touched smile on her face) "Iboni... I am speechless. To be a part of your journey from 'waiting' for a miracle to 'sharing' the Word? It would be the greatest honor of my career."
[The audience erupts. It's a standing ovation now. People are cheering, some are whistling, and the ARMY fans from the beginning are waving their hands in the air. The joy in the room is palpable.]
Minty: "You heard it here first, folks! The 'ghosts' are being replaced by a new mission. Iboni is picking up the pen again, and Minty Talks is coming along for the ride!"
[Minty reaches over and warmly squeezes Iboni's hand. The audience's cheers swell as the jazzy music returns, but this time it feels more triumphant than intro-music.]
Minty: "Iboni, you came here to talk about the anatomy of belief, but you ended up showing us the anatomy of a transformation. I cannot wait to read what happens when you start moving with the Creator of the universe as your co-author."
Iboni: "Thank you so much, Minty! I am also grateful to the Creator of the Universe to help me go writing again!"
Minty: "The honor is entirely mine, Iboni. I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say we can't wait to see how your voice evolves in this new chapter."
[The audience gives one last, lingering cheer before settling back down. The atmosphere is now one of focused, quiet inspiration.]