I was happy in the Omelas. Really, genuinely happy.
It was Saturday, not that it mattered since I wasn’t dreading the week anymore, and I was sitting on the beach. Making friends was easy here and I sat looking at the people swimming while feeling warm in the sun. I felt like I belonged and like the world really was going to be okay.
As the evening drew on we lit a bonfire and started talking. At first conversation was light and jovial, a little teasing and jesting. As the night drew on the conversation became more serious —
The group went still as one of the older in the group asked “when did you find out?”
“find out wh—” I went to ask but it appeared everyone else knew what was being talked about and silence fell through the group.
Aria was first to break the silence “my parents told me…they sat me down at the table when I was 9 and said they needed to explain how the town works”
“How did they explain it to you?” Another asked.
”Yeah I want to know” a further voice followed.
”They told me life was really complicated and difficult. That outside of the Omela’s everyone was suffering and always having conflict, wars, exploitation… it wasn’t safe out there.”
”yeah – my parents told me that too, the outside is fucked up. Those people are sick. I never want to live out there.” Another boy echoed as others nodded and mourned in agreement.
Aria continued. “They said the Omelas best philosophers and religious scholars worked for years to figure it out. They found that every society had pain and suffering. They created a system for us to minimise it.”
I was excited listening to Aria’s story but I was about to find out why everyone’s mood was so somber.
”They asked me if I wanted to hear first or just see. And I was really confused right — I had seen the whole town and I knew everyone!”
“They held my hand and said they realised one person still does need to suffer to keep the peace and security of the town. They had tears as we got in the car to drive to…the place.”
”When we arrived everyone was so serious. They walked me down to the room and I saw the child. I wanted to talk to them and offer help but they explained to me it was banned.”
“When I got home I went to bed and hid.” Tears slid down Aria’s face as others offered her comfort.
I was confused but it didn’t feel like the right time to ask. I made a mental note and resolved to take time to find out.
One of the other girls, Thea, started singing. The singing gradually lifted the heaviness from the group.
A little later, the bonfire was back to a joyful party.
Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas 