Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas

I started running. Just fucking running. I flew through the corridors and the out the gates of the university. Fuck Noam, fuck Pangloss, fuck the man in robes speaking latin, fuck the homeless guy… and fuck that fucking dog.

“I’m not doing this, I don’t have to deal with it. I’ll go somewhere normal.”

I grabbed some crumpled notes from my pocket and shoved them across the counter at the bus terminal. The lady looked at me and sighed.

She tapped the sign.

CASH PHASING OUT.
USE YOUR ID TO REGISTER YOUR BUS CARD.

I looked at the date, it hadn’t passed so I pushed my cash further forward,

She rolled her eyes but complied, pointing to the sign.

…

I stood as the bus arrived. Rearranging the small backpack I had on my back. Finding my seat relief flooded me.

It’s not fair that this happened to me I thought but at least I can get away to a better place. My city was sick, broken, damaged — and my fellow inhabitants just couldn’t see it.

…

The bus pulled up and the towns beautiful signage made me feel I had truely entered a better place.

THE OMELAS

I’d heard about this place. There is no poverty, no crime, perfect happiness, prosperity and all with a clean natural environment.

Here I thought, here I’d be safe from the man in the robes, the dog. This stupid event would roll into the background of my life.