∎̳̿͟͞E̳̿͟͞c̳̿͟͞h̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞o̳̿͟͞f̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞D̳̿͟͞e̳̿͟͞s̳̿͟͞t̳̿͟͞i̳̿͟͞n̳̿͟͞y̳̿͟͞ ̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞I̳̿͟͞∎̳̿͟͞
🔺− ☞ ☀️ ☜ −🔺
⟹ Hey!
Even today I see you feeling down..
I'm glad! It means you're living your life, which isn't always as we envision it as children.
When we have the right to be useless, ungrateful, ignorant pieces of brainless flesh that don't even remember their name, complaining about "astronomical" problems and seeking attention.
Stated like that, our adult life seems like crap (spoiler: it is!), Even though it's not!
(You just said the opposite...)
Shut up, voice in my head!
..
I took my medication this morning, so why are you still here?
Anyway... Yes, our life as adults or when we grow up and discover how the world changes completely is interesting, and it's a good thing, just like suffering in our lives.
It's a path to take with happiness; some have it shorter, while others have it longer.
(Are you talking about sizes?)
This makes me reflect on whether destiny has anything to do with all this or if we are pure chaos, seeking reality and happiness that don't exist.
We will continue to torment ourselves until the end of time..
When we finally will understand that all we wanted was the warmth of a mother's hug and the return of a dad who didn't vanish on an eternal supermarket trip.
An example is the story of Clara:
Born in San Gemini, the XXI (21st) century 2022.
As a kid, Clara sketched out a life in her mind that was bright and full of promise, like a lively fresco painted with vibrant colors of joy and success.
But then, the canvas of her existence started to get smudged with gray tones, throwing her off with a stark contrast to the masterpiece she'd dreamed up.
Growing up turned out to be like navigating a complex maze, where each turn revealed harsh truths, painting her portrait with layers of intertwined suffering.
Pausing to think, Clara pondered the big question: was life a choreographed dance or just a random shuffle of steps in the grand scheme of time?
Once buoyed by bright hopes, Clara found herself bogged down by the nitty-gritty of life's complexities and challenges.
Her mind, a vault of forgotten names and broken dreams, mirrored her constant battle to carve out an identity in a demanding world.
Happiness seemed as elusive as a fluttering butterfly, just out of reach but somehow still tangible.
That life once envisioned as a child now seemed worlds away...
She yearned for change, to become who she always wanted to be, yet emotions, those heavy burdens, wouldn't give her peace.
Was it even worth living through such emotions?
And what would be left after all that? It'd be akin to being dead...
What's the point of paying such a price for material things if you end up regretting the cost, losing your humanity along the way?
Watching how others navigated their life paths, Clara saw that some journeys were shorter, while others seemed never-ending, full of emotional and relational complexities.
▶ "Clara, we've noticed lately you seem a bit lost in your thoughts. Everything okay?"
▶ "Yes, Mom. It's just that... nothing."
▶ "You know, the world is full of opportunities, sweetheart. You don't have to face everything alone. We're here for you."
▶ "I know, Dad. Thank you. It's just that I don't even know anymore what I want.."
▶ "It's normal, do you think your father or I knew? That we had everything planned like you do? We live life as best as we can and think, trying not to regret anything."
This duel for connection, the simple comfort of an embrace, and the presence of a loved one became the poignant notes in Clara's life's melancholy tune, offering a clearer picture of her experiences and emotions.
The most critical moment in her life was her 18th birthday, which she celebrated with her besties, Alessia and Giulia.
▶"Clara, are you ready for tonight? It's going to be your first party, one to remember!"
▶ "Yes Alee, I can't wait! Finally some distraction."
▶ "Exactly Clara! And who better than us to make you forget your problems?"
▶ "You're right Giulia. With you, I always manage to see the bright side of things."
▶ "Hey Alee, I wonder if the Pendleton's daughter will show up today? I heard she got caught with her ex in the bathroom the other day, haha."
▶ "And what about that girl from the rich family at school?"
▶ "Yeah, she acts like a little princess just because her family is well-known!"
▶: "Alee, Giu.. Why are we talking about this? Let's have fun!"
And they partied hard.
Colorful lights pulsed against the walls, merging with the music in the air.
The night was alive with laughter, chit-chat, and a relentless beat, setting the scene.
Alessia and Giulia, ever the party animals, were right there with her, diving into the dance floor where beats turned into movement, and joy became rhythm.
Clara, usually on the sidelines, got swept up in the vibe.
Strangers' smiles blended with theirs, creating a patchwork of happy, carefree faces.
The music resonated within her, binding everyone in a single joyous symphony.
In the midst of lively dances and engaging talks, Clara felt a deep sense of belonging, as if this moment, right here, was all there was.
The electric atmosphere broke her free from the chains of everyday worries.
Yet, in this whirlwind of feelings and motion, Clara found herself pausing, as if time itself decided to take a breather.
She looked around, watching people lose themselves in fleeting moments of bliss.
Doubt crept in as she wondered if this fleeting exhilaration was what she was truly after.
The music, once a freedom anthem, faded into the background as Clara sought the deeper meaning of her presence there.
She lowered her eyes, contemplating her true desires and the essence of happiness.
Was chasing joy in parties and fleeting pleasures really the path to meaning?
In a quiet moment of reflection, Clara questioned if there was a deeper, more authentic calling behind the noise of celebration.
Deciding to sit out for a bit, she found herself at a table, surrounded by empty chairs, running her fingers through her hair, anchoring herself to the moment, making sure reality didn't slip through her fingers.
She began to wonder what she was doing there...
It hit her then that those around her weren't there to ponder life's questions but to let loose, shed stress, and forget their troubles.
But that wasn't her. Life was tough, sure, but she had to face her challenges head-on, not escape them.
So, she stood up, weaving her way through the crowd, and signaled to her friends.
▶ "Girls, I think I'm going home. The party is fantastic, but... I need.."
▶ "WHAT??"
Clara leans closer to Giu's ear: "I THINK I'M GOING HOME. THE PARTY IS FANTASTIC, BUT.."
▶ "AAAA, WHY ARE YOU YELLING IN MY EAR, ARE YOU CRAZY?"
▶ "THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD, DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID, RIGHT?"
▶ "YES, I HEARD YOU, CLARA, THAT'S WHY I ASKED WHAT.. WHAT DO YOU NEED?
▶ "I'm fine, don't worry. It's just that... tonight made me think about a lot of things. I need some time to reflect."
▶ "Okay, but if you need us, you know where to find us."
▶ "I know, thank you Alee. You girls are the best!"
Free to choose her path, even if it was narrow, fraught with hardship and pain, she opted to follow the one that sparked her passion – life itself.
Remember, there's no one correct way to live.
As far as we know, we get one shot at this, so might as well make it count, doing what captivates and enchants us.
Of course, I'm not saying hurting others or taking life is any way to live; that's a whole other level of complexity.
So, if you're up for some advice, live fully but wisely.
In a dimly lit room, where shadows seemed to dance eerily on the walls, Alberto stared at Clara with eyes reflecting a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
The young woman stood huddled in a corner of the room, while her brother wielded a sharp knife, ready to cut anything.
His voice was a mixture of desperation and determination. ▶ "Clara, you've misunderstood everything. This... it's my only way out of this pattern."
Clara's voice trembled, a thread of hope still perceptible in her interrupted words. ▶ "Alberto, please, don't do something reckless. Together we.. This isn't necessary... this.."
Alberto's anger exploded in words filled with resentment. ▶ "Together? Together?! Since when have we ever moved together, Clara? You've always been the one with all the attention, always you the 'perfect' one. Now it's my turn!"
Clara desperately tried to reach him, but her words got lost in the thick air of tension. ▶ "Please, brother, think about..you are not.."
▶ "Ah, there we go, the problem is that this is exactly who I am! But you, you've never seen it, have you? Always too busy playing the part of the ideal older sister."
Clara whispered, terror evident in her pleading gaze. ▶ "Don't kill me for money.. losing yourself."
Alberto laughed bitterly, a sound that echoed sinisterly within the walls of the room. ▶ "Losing myself? When has anyone ever thought about me?!"
▶"COME HERE, I can't afford.. You don't have to feel any other emotions!"
Alberto's order was a desperate cry, as he approached Clara with slow yet uncertain steps, his hands began to tremble - not only from anger but also from the premonition of what he was about to do, flushing his face red.
Clara's voice was a whisper, a final plea for compassion, as she tried to huddle in the corner with her eyes closed. ▶ "Al.."
In addition to Albertos voice, there were noises of heavy breathing, a body continuing to drag itself across the floor in pain, and small, painful moans.
Alberto, painted of red, looking down. ▶ "You... you don't understand. I can't... but maybe... no, it's over, Clara. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to fail, those Fa―.. I have to pay them back.. not now."
Clara's life ended in 2056 when she was just 34, tragically killed by her brother.
The case was chalked up as a suicide, leaving Alberto free, filled with guilt... yet wealthy.
˜"°•. ♪ .•°"˜
▶ "Eve, we need to hurry; the battery won't last long!"
The girl in the air replied, looking around and putting a hand on her forehead to improve her vision.
▶ "Adam, there's nothing here... But why are we so low on battery? When you woke up, was it at 89%? It's impossible that it has dropped so much in such a short time."
Adam, with his interface projected in front of his face, continued to run, trying to understand what had happened by managing it with his hands and countered,
▶ "Eve, from what I see, the battery only uses 60% in 24 human hours (2.5% for 1 h) , so I don't understand why we are so low now. Maybe it has something to do with our return here!"
The girl raised an eyebrow and looked down towards Adam, ▶ "You're right... Maybe coming back here has used a lot of energy, so can we have time-traveled?"
Adam replied, ▶ "It's possible. It would explain why we're so low on battery. After all, we haven't been active for that many hours before, but I don't have exact data to understand how much energy it cost us or how I initiated this temporal journey!"
Eve, still with hair on her face, this time with some in her mouth, said.
▶ "Could it have been the technology of that scientist? Try searching through the files; maybe you can find anything suspicious. I'll go further ahead in the meantime!"
▶ "Okay, but if you find anything, contact me immediately and send me your location!"
Eve continued on her journey, accelerating her speed significantly. In just a few seconds, she became a tiny dot in the distance while Adam stood still and searched through his data.
Adam raised his hand, fingers gracefully dancing in the air as he accessed the projected interface in front of his face.
▶ "Deactivation of leg motors!"
▶ "Accessing memory logs. Investigating the connection between "Technology" and energy depletion."
The holographic display responded to his gestures, lines of data appearing and flowing seamlessly.
The movements of his hands resembled those of a conductor orchestrating a complex symphony of information.
▶ "Activating scanning protocols!"
With a subtle finger gesture, Adam initiated a search among the files, the virtual space in front of him responding dynamically to his commands.
The files unfolded like a digital scroll, revealing layers of information.
They appeared as luminous tabs floating in the air, each carrying a specific role.
Adam skillfully managed them, arranging them around himself to optimize his analysis.
▶ "I don't need this at the moment."
The language tab, represented by a faint glow, was placed in the bottom right next to his peripherals, being less critical now.
▶ "This neither."
The visual controls tab, emitting a vibrant light, went to the bottom left, while the internal and external sensors tab, with a delicate glow, positioned itself to the left near his shoulder.
▶ "Maybe this one later."
The processor's tab, which is darker in color, is on the right, also near the shoulder.
▶ "These I don't need at all."
Then, new tabs appeared, each representing more specific aspects of his capabilities.
With intense brightness, the neural connection tab manifested above the processor's tab.
The environmental adaptation tab, with changing light, is integrated between the visual and sensor tabs.
With a soft glow, the tactile emulation tab stood beside the peripherals tab.
▶ "Here it is; I think this one might be useful!"
The tab about his capabilities, shining in front of his face, remained the focal point of his analysis.
▶ "Now, I'll access the files."
As Adam delved into the data, his forehead creased with concentration.
The files presented themselves as a cascade of interconnected nodes, each containing fragments of information.
He zoomed in with a pinch gesture, navigating through the intricate data network.
▶ "It's not very helpful..."
Adam's hands executed precise maneuvers in this cybernetic ballet, highlighting and extracting relevant details.
His fingers traced patterns in the air, summoning holographic displays of charts and tables that floated in front and around him.
Amidst the ethereal dance of information, Adam stumbled upon a peculiar set of files.
They emitted an aura of significance, with timestamps and contents standing out in the digital fabric.
▶ "Wait, this seems to reference what that scientist said!"
A slight nod from Adam signaled the recognition of potential relevance, labeled "Heaven."
▶"H..heaven? It means paradise; maybe it's connected to the afterlife!"
As Adam continued his exploration, holographic projections shifted, revealing fragments of encrypted code and technological schematics.
▶ "Eve, I've uncovered files labeled 'Heaven.' There's a potential link to our energy troubles. I'm on my way to investigate further." He mentally shared this with his company.
He initiated a deeper analysis of these files with a series of gestures.
▶ "Maybe I have found something..."
The virtual space responded to his commands, unveiling the mysteries embedded in the data, triggering a purple rectangle with the inscription.
Adam murmured the sentence. ▶ "This is cheating.."
Then, the android put its hand on its chin and began to think.
▶ "It seems there is nothing else."
He completed his analysis and noticed that there was nothing else above besides the "X" in the top right corner.
He closed the tab with his hand making a swift and decisive motion resembling closing a book.
The holographic interface instantly dissipated, leaving behind a faint trace of digital particles.
The intricate web of files and information vanished from the virtual space, returning to the unseen depths of the android's internal systems.
As the interface closed, Adam's expression shifted, a mix of contemplation and realization crossing his features.
▶ "I wonder what sense the phrase has: This is cheating!"
The files he had explored, now hidden from view, seemed to relate to the abrupt depletion of their energy reserves.
The android turned his attention to the environment, taking in the surroundings as if seeking answers beyond the digital realm.
▶ "Better if I join Eve; it's been almost 20 minutes now.."
The word "Heaven" echoed in his mind, a cryptic reference that begged further investigation.
Closing all tabs around him with a hand gesture, he communicated with his company.
▶ "Eve, where are you? Have you found anything?"
The response took only a short time to arrive. ▶ "Here I am. I'm seeing a city with large buildings; I think it's worth exploring.."
▶"There must be a technological spot where we can recharge!"
Adam replied, positioning himself and activating on his facial display, at the top, some sort of compass, ready to mark Eve's position and follow.
▶ "Give me your coordinates then. I'm coming as soon as possible!"
Eve replied ▶ "Go northeast, you should be able to find me!"
Adam set off, once again activating the motors in his legs, increasing the battery usage from 2.5% to 3%, leaving him with only ⁓8% battery remaining.
With a smile on his face, he said:
▶ "I need to hurry, but if I exceed 80 kilometers per hour, I could drain the battery."
▶ "Fortunately, she shouldn't be too far away.. Right?"
The landscape unfolded before him, a mix of the familiar and the unknown.
The urgency of their situation lingered, and Adam couldn't shake the feeling that they were entangled in a puzzle with pieces scattered across time and space.
The enigma of the closed file and the mysterious reference to "Heaven" hung in the air, propelling Adam forward into the unfolding narrative of their unforeseen journey.
If there were answers to be found, they lay hidden within the intricate dance of data and the unexplored depths of their shared existence.
🔺− ☞ 🎛️ ☜ −🔺
30 minutes into Adam's journey toward the northeast, the landscape continued its ever-changing transformation.
The outlines of the city emerged on the horizon, with imposing and partially destroyed buildings standing against the sky.
Along with the city, numerous bodies scattered on the ground began reappearing.
They, too, were lifeless and surrounded by flies in gruesome positions.
As he advanced, Adam pondered the enigmatic phrase:
▶ "This is cheating." He whispered to himself.
The connection between that statement and the rapid depletion of energy reserves became more evident in his mind.
With hands on his face. ▶ "Maybe there's something in the files I closed that could unveil the reasons behind this unusual sequence of events."
Meanwhile, the horizontal line on Adam's display, serving as a compass, indicated Eve's position as his run continued.
He was now aware of the limited remaining energy, which had dwindled to 6.5%.
Tension intensified, fueled by the realization that every decision could influence their fate.
Meanwhile, Eve explored the city, captivated by the grandeur of decaying buildings surrounding her.
Through their digital communication, Adam sought additional details about the city and potential charging points for their batteries.
Eve, she responded with a vivid description of her surroundings, pointing out promising locations.
▶ "There are tall towers here, Adam. There might also be power stations. We need to search!"
▶ "I'm almost there, Eve. Keep exploring; let's see if we can make it out alive."
Adam's battery percentage dropped, but determination guided him through virtual obstacles. (0.05% every 1 minute = 0.0008333% every second)
The city drew nearer, and his anxiety blended with the excitement of discovering what the next chapter of this reality held for them if there was a future.
The puzzles multiplied, but with each step, Adam approached a clearer understanding of what awaited them.
Initially, as he crossed the city's boundaries, the air was still fresh and pleasant, carrying a subtle scent of freedom.
However, as he ventured further, the transformation of the atmosphere became evident.
The initial freshness dissolved, replaced by a heavy and poisonous air, just like before.
The corpses emitted an increasingly unbearable stench, causing a ripple effect in the air.
Yet, Adam had grown accustomed to their presence.
Naturally, they remained victims of a potential massacre, but in that reality, this had become as ordinary as the flesh of dead animals we find and adore in supermarkets.
Finally, he reached Eve, facing a strange structure containing technology.
🔺− ☞ 🌐 ☜ −🔺