Prayers

 I was born a Buddhist, as so was my father. He is much more devout to its beliefs than I am, and thus he urges me to practice Buddhism, in the form of saying prayers every night.

When it comes to Buddhist prayers, the act is called 'puja', which is a word originating from Sanskrit. As you can likely infer, the verses are also commonly in Sanskrit as well. I've never been a good learner when it comes to foreign languages, and I never went through the process of learning to understand the actual meanings of the words in the verses. When I read the Sanskrit words off the book, I'm more so making noises than I am praying.

It may seem, that as a result, I don't like praying, and I don't often pray.

My father says that I am simply doing it wrong, that while I am mouthing foreign words, I should be thinking of their actual meanings, to believe in the power of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, that they will protect me and my loved ones, their virtues which I should follow, my own faults and purity...

While the words may be different, it's their meaning that matters.

Except I've never accepted their meanings either.

I cannot accept the presence of a higher power when there remains suffering in the world. To believe that gods and deities will help those who pray is to be blind and ignorant; it is to believe that the poor and the sick aren't spending every second of their life praying. If prayers really connect us to a higher power, then those we pray to are clearly apathetic at best.

Yet why do humans pray, when it is so illogical? Because it provides hope, that even in a harsh world, there is someone out there looking out for you, who will help you if you just ask; it is like a parent who will always be there for you. When you're in pain, you pray, as there is nothing else you can do; and the belief it will become better. You sell yourself a dream of a better tomorrow. To put it harshly, it is a fairytale not unlike those you would tell your toddler so they can sleep well tonight.

I find this difficult, as I have had the practice of daily praying before, yet it did nothing when my life continued to spiral downwards. The world does not change because of a few words you tell yourself. 

Hence I cannot believe in gods and deities, but that is not to say I dislike fairytales.

I do not pray to deities, the Triple Gem, or a god, but I am far from a realist for doing so. I am still a kid filled with ideals and dreams: that one day I can live a life pursuing only art, unbounded by concerns of money; that my quirks and oddities will be fully accepted by someone else; that miracles can happen, so the world is a better place; that miracles can happen in my favour as well; that even the dreams that my parents call impossible can be attained; that one day I can just be me, and that would be enough.

Even when told that this future is unattainable, I still dream of it every day and night, holding on to the hope that I can be happy with my life one day. Honestly, this is what keeps me going through another day.

Now think about it though, is this not what a prayer is? Those who pray believe god will help them, and even if god never shows up, the hope pushes them through another day. After all, you need to live life to get to the better parts, so when it gets tough, you do what you can to armor through it. And so we dream, which is honestly a wonderful trait of humans: to be able to find light and power when there is none; we use our imagination to come up with what does not exist, yet believe it so strongly it can push us to make it a reality.

So while it may not sound like praying, yes, I do pray. The words are simply different.

Peak of Success

“Congratulations, Aaron.”

Aaron said a soft “Thanks,” and gave a small bow. She then walked towards her mother standing three metres away, booklet now in hand. Aaron then took a deep breath, trying to conceal her trembling, then opened the booklet.

Of course, there was a line of ‘A’s.

Aaron felt a huge sense of relief. She then looked up at her mother, who smiled back at her.

“See?” She said, “I told you, as long as you push yourself, you will succeed.”

“Of course, mum. I’ve always listened to you.” Aaron replied.

“However, you still have to continue working hard to do well later on. Remember, your life is only beginning.”

“Hey Aaron! What did you get?” Felicia called out from nearby.

Aaron turned around to see her friend running joyfully towards her.

“I think I did pretty well,” Felicia said, showing Aaron her results booklet. Her booklet displayed a few ‘B’s and a ‘C’. 

“Let me see… 90 RP! As expected from the top student!” Felicia laughed, then gave Aaron a tight hug.

“I’m just joking, Aaron. I knew you could do it! Anyways, we gotta celebrate! You’re joining the karaoke too, right?” Felicia asks, putting her hands on Aaron’s shoulders. Aaron looked back at her mother for approval.

“Just don’t go too long.” Her mother responds.

Aaron half-jogs to her classmates, who all congratulated her as she approached them.

“Hey! I bet you got 90 RP, right? Congrats, Aaron!”

“I knew you could do it, Aaron!”

“Well done, Aaron!”

“Aaron!”

“Aaron!”

“Aaron!”

“Director Aaron, Director, wake up!”

Aaron jolted awake amidst her stacks of files atop her table. She looked around her office and recognised the individual shaking her as Doctor Smith. She also recognised that the time was approaching 9 p.m.

“Hello, John. How long was I out?” She asked as she massaged her temple.

“I’m not sure, and I’m not sure if you can be paid for overtime if you’re also sleeping on the job.” John Smith laughed at his attempt at a joke. “I just needed to put this on your table, but it seems you already have a lot on your plate, or in this case, your table.”

“Just put it on the pile,” Aaron instructed, beginning to pack up. “It’s probably updates on the recent few Alzheimer’s cases, I’ll look over them when I get back. Hopefully, they’re good news.”

“I hope so too. I can’t imagine what those patients or their families are going through. Imagine your parents slowly forgetting everything until there’s nothing left? Or worse, imagine that happening to you! Would you even know what’s going on as your brain deteriorates over time? You could lose so much of yourself without realising it. It’s scary to even imagine.”

“I don’t think about these questions,” Aaron replies curtly, “I try not to get invested in my patients.”

As Aaron began to make her way out, John fell silent for a while but followed her outside. Before Aaron left the hospital, John asked her: “Please don’t feel offended, but may I ask: What inspired you to become a doctor?”

Aaron looked back at him. After a moment of silence, she answered: “It’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?”

John frowned at her answer. “I supposed so.” He said in reply. “Is that it? Is there-”

“Goodbye John.”

After nearly an hour of commute, Aaron got to open her front door. She was greeted by an old woman yelling at her.

“Why were you out so long, young lady? Where were you? I’ve been waiting for you for hours! You’re off at pubs again aren’t you?”

“I wasn’t. There had been an influx of patients lately so I was caught up at work.”

“Don’t give me excuses! Don’t you know how long I’ve waited for you? You want me to worry for you?”

“I’m sorry, mum. You really don’t need to.” Aaron apologised. “I bought some kuih just now, I know they’re your favourite.”

“What good are gifts when my daughter doesn’t even listen to me? Also, I’ve already eaten.”

“I’m really sorry, I’ll remember to do better next time, I promise. I’ll just leave these in the refrigerator so you can have them later.”

“You always say that,” Aaron’s mother gave a huff. “Fine then. Actually, I can still have a bit.”

“Then I’ll put some of them out for you,” Aaron said as she plated the dessert in front of her mother, who began munching down on them.

“You know, it’s not that I want to scold you, I just want you to do better, and you know it’s been lonely for me ever since… You know, he left us.”

“Don’t worry, mum, I’m here now, right?”

“But you always spend so long away from home!” She cries out into her hands.

“You have to understand, mum. I’ve told you as a medical director, there’s always a mountain of work I need to handle, and more people that need me to attend to them. I’m doing what I can-”

“What about your husband? I haven’t seen or even heard from him in a while.”

“He left for America for a while, mum.”

“Let me guess, it’s for work again as well for him, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I haven’t talked to him in a while as well, what with the timezone and all. He’s likely busy right now.”

The old woman took a loud sigh. “I knew he wasn’t ever suitable, but your father insisted… Both of you should have listened to me.”

“Mum…”

“But no, you listened to your dad instead, now you reap what you sow…”

“Please…”

“You should have tried harder in your extra-curriculars, then you would have been able to get the scholarship and work abroad…”

“Mum, I’m really tired-”

“Oh, is that it now?” Aaron’s mother shot up from her chair. “You’re tired of me now? After everything I’ve done?”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all!” Aaron replied in shock, trying to diminish her volume. “I’m just a little tired today, that’s all.”

“Don’t you lie to me, Aaron,” She pointed her finger at Aaron’s nose. “I know you well. You’re tired of living like this, you’re tired of working so much, you’re tired of me lecturing you everyday. Well, I’m tired too! You used to be a good girl, you used to have potential! You could have succeeded if you pushed harder!”

“I’m already trying my best! I’ve always done my best-”

“It’s not enough, Aaron! Now, you have fallen.”

Aaron’s mother continued, but her words could hardly reach her anymore. Aaron’s body stood there, but her mind was elsewhere. Maybe she’s right, she thought, I’ve been too weak. I should do better. I’m not doing enough at all.

I should just push harder.

Aaron awoke to a loud thud, her arms were outreached, the wall opposite her had a red stain, and her mother was on the ground.

It took almost a minute for Aaron to realise what she had done.

Aaron let out a shriek in terror, her mind quickly became a blur. She tried shaking her up, to no avail. She dialled emergency services and was able to provide the dispatch with her name and address in between her stammering.

“Mrs Lee, please keep calm, the ambulance is on its way. In the meantime, please cover the wound with a cloth.”

“Of course, thank you.” Aaron stuttered out.

“Now, just a question, do you know who the perpetrator is?”

At the question, Aaron collapsed onto her knees, her phone dropped to her side as her arms went limp. She finally faced the scene in front of her, only for it to be the sole image in her mind.

“Mrs Lee, are you still there?”

“Mrs Lee, Mrs Aaron Lee?”

“Aaron?…”

“Aaron, Aaron! Wake up, or you’re going to be late for school!”

Aaron opened her eyes to her mother smiling at her, her youthful face lit up like a flower by the intruding sunlight. Aaron leapt off her bed and raced her mum down the stairs to the dining table. Aaron greeted her father, who was reading his newspaper while enjoying his coffee, then began gobbling down her breakfast.

“Remember to chew, Aarie,” Aaron’s father commented, looking up from his newspaper. “Are you excited to start school?”

Aaron took a huge swallow before answering: “Yes I am!” like a soldier. “I can’t wait to see Felicia and my new friends again!”

“But remember, you’re not just going to school to play. You must listen to what your teachers.” Aaron’s mother informed her softly while patting her on the head.

“Yes, mummy!”

“Promise to learn well, so you’ll grow up to become a smart girl, okay?” Aaron’s father added.

“I promise!” Aaron answered immediately.

“That’s our good girl.” Her parents began laughing softly.

After Aaron finished her breakfast, she put on her schoolbag. Then, putting on her school shoes, she took her first step on her path towards success.

已读不回

 我曾有个朋友，我们称她小蓝。

在去十一月的高中毕业典礼结束后，同学们全都是分道扬镳。我的闺蜜们中的明绍灵的成绩非常好，早已获得了伦敦大学的奖学金，而我及桂田蜜都决定留在本地，而且根据我们所感兴趣的学科进入了各自的大学。小蓝则因为家庭环境不佳，无法申请小蓝所相望的大学，因此她并没上大学，则时开始了工作。我们闺蜜虽各有各的方向，但我们当时便都下了个承诺，我们必须保持联络，永不分离。

我们微信上开了“闺蜜们”群组，并且每天都一起在群组上聊天。明绍灵早已搬到了英国的亲戚家，并且每天都会发她首次到英国的的照片。我与桂田蜜都会回复叫她带回一些纪念品。但是一个星期后，我短信小蓝似乎不常发信息，我感觉上应是因为她工作忙碌，因此不常看手机吧。

十二月时，明绍灵告诉我们她会在圣诞节前夕回来与我们庆祝圣诞节时，我与桂田蜜感到十分的欢喜。桂田蜜立刻便在群组中发了上千的短信，建议该如何庆祝圣诞节，例如主题乐园、电影院等。明绍灵告诉我们她晚上要与她家人一起吃晚餐，因此只有在中午到下午的时段有空时，桂田蜜才发现她的建议太过花时间了。我便建议说一起去逛街，这样可以在买圣诞节的货品的同时顺便为明绍灵买些礼物。桂田蜜及明绍灵认同这是个好主意，因此我们圣诞节的日程便这么定了。

而这时，我们发现，小蓝并没在群组中说话，我便发了个短信，问她有什么意见。桂田蜜发现后比我更紧张，每两个小时发短信问她能否一起逛街。但是，小蓝并没回复。

到了圣诞节前夕，小蓝的名字旁有的就只是那些双蓝勾。

我与桂田蜜造成便到了超市场，等到了中午，明绍灵才到来。我们一见面便是个拥抱。可是我们完全找不到小蓝的身影。这时，电话的铃声响起，打开微信，发现是小蓝的回复：

“对不起，我无法参与”

桂田蜜看了后立刻吼道：“什么嘛？等了这么久才说自己无法来！”

“别这么生气嘛，我相信她有她的原因。”明绍灵安慰道。

虽少了个人，我们也只好如常地逛街。我们逛街时注意到了一件特别漂亮的连帽衫。它颜色是个闪亮的粉红色，便带有小蓝喜欢的皮卡丘的图案。我们买了下来，为小蓝当作圣诞礼物。桂田蜜不住我们的劝阻，立刻发了连帽衫的照片到群组中，圣诞礼物本就该是个惊喜嘛。她刚发了照片后，短信旁便有了个双蓝勾，但并没回复。

晚上，我便向小蓝发了个短信，问她几时在家。那短信旁再次出现了双蓝勾，但这次在半夜时有了个回复：

“不用了，我不喜欢连帽衫”

明绍灵在一月早已回到了英国，开始了大学的新学年。我与桂田蜜也因为各有各的事情，便少了互相通信，我们都甚至忘了与小蓝的存在，知道我在浏览IG时，我感到了小蓝的照片。她看来早已有了男友，并且搬到了新的组屋。照片中她穿着漂亮的短裙，她男友相当英俊，是个高个子。那些照片中小蓝与她的男友相当快乐，但我看到一个照片时，突然感到了个不好的预感。我注意到小蓝的脖子上有了个红色的印，似乎是个伤痕。我出于担心，便向小蓝发了个私人短信，问她的脖子上的印是什么回事。

那短信旁出现了双蓝勾，小蓝并没回复。

几个月后，我再次浏览IG时，我发现小蓝又发了些与她男友约会的照片。他们仍然是同样的快乐。我发现，小蓝不在穿短裙，则时改穿长裤，以及一件超大的灰色连帽衫。她，穿连帽衫吗？

很快地，一年匆匆忙忙的就这么过了，终于到了高中毕业周年。这天正巧是星期六，因此为了庆祝这一天，仍在比国内的高中同学们都纷纷安排了个排队庆祝，甚至有国外的同学也抽了空回来。小蓝却没回复高中毕业周年庆祝的邀请，到了庆祝当天也没出现。桂田蜜可气坏了，不停地嚷着：“什么闺蜜。。。毕业周年都不记得。。。”

她应是知道的。短信旁有着双蓝勾。

庆祝完了后，我回到了家，向小蓝发了庆祝的照片。我正想睡觉时，突然收到了小蓝的来信：

“林白，能见个面吗”

我震惊了。我立刻回复：

“现在吗？”

“现在”，“哪儿都可以”，“你决定”

连续三个短信，似乎十分冲忙。

“我们以前常去的巴刹如何？”

短信旁出现了个双蓝勾。

二十分种后，我到了巴刹，我仍然没看到小蓝的身影。我再次查了手机，发现小蓝删掉了她的短信，则发了另一个短信：

“我现在无法出来，你还是回家吧。对不起，打扰到你了。”

我看到这短信，感到十分可疑，在好奇心下，我决定必须到她的家，见她一面。我出发前，发了个短信：

“我来你的家，十五分钟后会到。”

我到了她的组屋，站在她的房门前，我的心里充满了困惑，为何她从未告诉过我们她的生活，她的男友，她搬家的事，同时，为什么我们从未亲自来找过她？我赌起了勇气，敲了她的门。

吱呀~

门慢慢的打了开。门没锁吗？

我悄悄地进了屋，突然闻到了个浓厚的血腥味。我被眼前的场景震呆了，屋内的家具到处乱摆，到处鲜红色的血迹及破碎的玻璃，我不禁注意到了地上的一张浸在鲜血中的照片，照片中，是小蓝及那男人。

我立刻报了警。

经过了一个疲累的夜晚，我提供了口供终于能回家休息。我检查手机，发现我的短信，旁边只有双灰勾，看来小蓝并没法读到我的短信。

第二天早晨，警方汇报表示，小蓝及她男友已从案发现场消失，但在附近偏僻的地方找到了一具相似尸体的东西，但是它大部分已被焚化，因此警方现在仍无法认出它是谁，但怀疑必定是案件中的死者。警方从证据中断定，攻击者必定是屋内的人。奇异的是，现场中找不到小蓝的手机。

我再次被惊呆了，我颤抖着打开手机，开始看回我与小蓝的短信。我感到十分后悔，自己没早点注意小蓝的状态，她的双蓝勾后面，其实有个这么不可告人的秘密，而甚至我的最后一个短信，我想对她说的最后一句话，她是没法知道了。

突然就在这时，我看到了不可思议的个画面。

我的短信后的双灰勾转成了蓝色。

Incoherent thoughts on religion

I was watching a video on YouTube at 11PM which talks about the statutes of limitation, which is a law that sets the amount of time in which the parties involved in the dispute have to initiate legal proceedings. For example, the limitation for felony theft in California is 3 years, so if you were in California and suspects someone of stealing from you, you cannot report them 3 years after the crime. Furthermore, even if everyone knows that person is a thief, they are legally innocent if they have never been convicted in the three years. This is not universal and usually only exists for crimes that are relatively less extreme such as theft, and usually, murder does not have a statute of limitation, meaning you cannot just try to wait out the statute of limitations and become legally unaccountable(There are exceptions such as Japan, where the statute of limitations for murder is 25 years.) There are many reasons for this, such as from an economic standpoint is to ensure the detectives, police and the courts will be able to focus on more important crimes, i.e. the more recent crimes, and the resources and space which are used to save the evidence and be used for more recent crimes as well. From the perspective of the court, it ensures the decision can be fair, as, over time, the evidence and witness accounts are often altered by age and may no longer be reliable. The video does state a third reason, where it quotes philosopher Derek Parfit and says that as time goes on, the individual is now distanced from the crime and therefore should have a second chance.

Now whether you agree that if sufficient time passes means a person can no longer be held accountable for their actions or if there are certain unforgivable crimes, this got me thinking about the karmic system in the Buddhist religion. In Buddhism, it is believed that every action leads you to have good and bad 'karma', and that karma determines not only what happens to you in the future as well as what happens in your afterlife and reincarnations. Hence unlike the law and justice system which may be fallible to losing criminals, the karma system always ensures that punishment is given. While the idea that karma ensures that one is always punished in the future sounds fair and just, I dislike the idea that it affects your reincarnations' lives as well. Imagine having to suffer, just because your past life did something wrong, despite you not knowing what that person did, why they did it or what type of person they are. It doesn't make sense that you should be punished for an action done by an individual who is completely different from you in every way except for your soul, which carries no memories since all memories are lost during reincarnation. My conclusion is that it makes little sense that karma should carry over and affect your lives after reincarnation.

Despite my criticisms of the logic of karma in Buddhism, I still believe the morals of Buddhism are right and should be followed, as they teach us to be peaceful. But then, a religion that has good morals and illogical explanations for why we should follow those morals is not uncommon. Almost all religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and so on teach their followers to be kind to one another, but use stories that are usually illogical. This also results in people criticizing religion to be useless due to the illogical stories, or worse people may twist those stories in ways that can create extremist ideas deviating from its intended morals. 

In short, the mythology of religion exhibits plenty of flaws, yet it still exists, because they all serve a purpose, a purpose that is needed to convince people into religion, they all tell you to believe in something larger than yourself, which can be seen in the mythology of gods, or the existence of the supernatural in our world. It is important the belief in something larger than yourself. For example, in the movie <Serenity>, a science fiction movie which takes place in the future where an empire called the Alliance rules the galaxy while cannibalistic Reavers roam poor planets and consume innocents, in which Mal, the protagonist, begins as a character who lacks faith, and as such has the tendency of prioritising his mission and survival over others, as seen in Act 1 of the movie where he sacrifices an innocent trying to board his vehicle in order to keep his crew and the goods they were transporting away from the enemies. Shepherd Book, a Christian pastor and a friend of Mal often talks to him about his behaviour, telling him he lacks faith. When Mal insists he doesn't believe in god(as he says, "I ain’t looking for help from on high"), Shepherd Book replies, When I talk about belief, why do you always assume I'm talking about God?" When 'faith' is talked about, it is often associated with religion, such as in Christianity: the belief in God; in Islam: the belief in Allah; in Buddhism: the belief in Dharma and so on. However those are not necessarily the only beliefs that one can have, as faith can come in the form of striving for the greater good of humanity, the betterment of the environment, the advancement of information and art, as long as it the virtuous rather than harmful. Without faith, one may become more unwilling of putting in effort in working to be better and keep to themselves, while faith can give someone the courage they may need to become a better version of themselves. At the end of <Serenity>, Mal decides to begin fighting to expose the Alliance for lying about the cause of the Reavers(they made them in a project gone wrong), he is able to beat the previously unbeatable agent sent to hide the truth. Similarly, in reality, religion allowed groups of people to win crusades, spread their religion, and spread their feudalism to other lands as well as gain political and economical advantage for their own leader. Alright, perhaps this doesn't sound really virtuous, but that leads me into my second point and the problem which can arise from traditional faith.

While belief can create courage for virtuous acts, it can similarly create courage for malicious acts, which is a statement which I believe can be easily proven in this day and age, as all religions may have extremists which do malicious acts out of belief similar to those who do virtuous acts out of belief. This is often as ancient and traditional religious media(texts and stuff) either have explanations on how the world works or have contains context which is outdated and allows people to justify their bad actions. This is only one of the reasons that a larger proportion of the world population is now atheist. The other reason is that with the advancement of information and technology, people are now more aware of different worldviews, including those of other religions, philosophies such as nihilism as well as the fact that the human race is insignificantly small in comparison to the size of the observable universe and the depths of how the world functions, people are more open to understanding the concept of working for something larger than themselves rather than being overtly selfish. As such, it is no longer as necessary for traditional religion for people to function and as such a decrease in theism in general. However, I do not see this as necessarily a bad phenomenon as I believe that as times change, it is natural that what people believe in also changes. Of course ultimately there may not be a perfect way to live your life, hence there is no fault if one wishes to remain with traditional religion or make their own faith, as long as it is not harmful and they are always open-minded to question and test if their faith and their way of living is good or bad.

In conclusion, those were my views on why atheism is more prevalent in modern society, however, I believe that traditional religion is not completely needed, as long as people still strive to work for something larger than themselves and believe in virtuous acts.

Review

Recently I have been made to read <Thus spake Zarathustra>, a book written by Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher. And now I must write my review on this philosophy book to atone for my sins.

This book centers around Zarathustra, who is somewhat of a prophet and a philosopher going around and spreading his message to the people. The adventure is completely irrelevant as the themes of the book are not in the physical experience of the character and instead what he says. This is evident as so much of the book occurs in dialogue you'd think Nietzsche saw the rule 'show not tell' and immediately kicked it which all of his German efficiency and the people in the book <Thus spake Zarathustra> literally ignores whatever Zarathustra had spaken like I ignore my responsibilities. Basically, this book is what you'd have if you wrote down every single thing happening during Philosophy class and published it as literature. Then again, Nietzsche likely did so on purpose so that's all I have for that and instead I will finally begin on the book's themes. The first theme:

God is dead

This theme is one of Nietzsche's most prominent philosophies and is immediately shown in the story as Zarathustra, leaving the mountain where he was residing to spread his message he is stopped by a saint accusing him of blasphemy for not serving god. They are unable to persuade each other, and Zarathustra leaves, muttering under his breath, "Could it be possible! This old saint in the forest hath not yet heard of it, that GOD IS DEAD!"

Before I continue, it is important to know that the concept of god in your religion or culture may be quite different from what 'god' means when it is talked about in philosophy. In philosophy and in this case, 'god' is essentially the existence of an entity, usually omnipotent or at least powerful in some way that can through supernatural forces, controls our lives and even our deaths, and as such we should always serve them, or do good in their name in order to succeed in life, or for certain benefits. 

As Nietzsche through the mouth of Zarathustra announces that god is dead, he is telling the reader that god no longer has any power, god no longer has any control over us and god can no longer help us.

Because god is dead. God no longer exists, and for that we should stop serving god, and it is silly for us to continue doing so.

This is often a theme in nihilist and existentialist philosophies, that our actions by itself have no consequences, neither good nor bad, as there is no one true entity that can judge them. However there is another warning given by Zarathustra:

The Last Man

Zarathustra first comes to a small town, and begins his preaching by warning them against the Last Man, which is the state of being where one has become completely complacent with their life, and only seek entertainment and enjoyment without true fulfillment, and this is the state that Zarathustra states that man will become if they do not change.

Now a small tangent, this can very much come off with the same tone as when elders often say that the younger generation has become more lazy and complacent with their lives, only liking entertainment and not hard work. Now this book was written in 1896, so this shows that it is not that the younger generation has become lazier, but in reality humans have, at least from what history shows, a tendency to prefer to be lazy, prefer to have fun and become at times become complacent. This does not validate them nor this behaviour, but I feel that it is an important statement that the innate behaviour of younger generations are always the same as the older generations, they only seem drastically different due to drastic changes in their surroundings. In short, if a child from the 1900s was raised as a child is currently, they would be like any other child in the 21st century. So stop blaming children you've raised for not meeting your expectations of how they should act, they cannot be responsible for that because they are literally a child. Blame whoever taught them to act that way.

Back to Zarathustra, Nietzsche through the prophet's mouth provides a solution to nihilism and The Last Man:

The Overman, or the Superman

In German, this state of being is the Übermensch, which is the superior form of man in which they have overcame every aspect of the Last Man. One who has became self-determined in their life's purpose. They are very different from those who follow God, those who base their decisions on what society tells them to do and are complacent with that lifestyle, and those who only seek enjoyment in their life, and all of these people either make their decisions on what they should do in life completely only on what others tell them to do, either through pressure from religion or societal pressure, or the last one, which only seeks enjoyment, which Nietzsche only deems as a bad form of lifestyle, as other than enjoyment, there is no other purpose to what they are doing. A Superman, should either find purpose in what they do, or find something they find purpose in to do. They do things not because someone else tells them to, or just for fun, but rather because they truly find purpose in these actions.

This lifestyle is a much better lifestyle, as if a person does things they don't want to, and only does things they do because they are told by others to, they are unlikely to find happiness of fulfillment in those actions, and over time they will fun our of motivation as they no longer find happiness in their work, and the stress of it overwhelms them. This is also known as burnout. On the other hand only having entertainment activities is not only often unrealistic in society as a hedonistic lifestyle is unsustainable without an economic income, the enjoyment which comes from the activity may have diminishing rewards. Such as a gourmet meal, when being consumed for the first time may be very delicious, however after so many meals, the taste only turns from overwhelming to underwhelming as you become bored of the same repeated taste. Instead, perhaps, a person should at the same time of appreciating this dish, learn how it is made, and learn to prepare it themselves. Then the dish becomes more than being enjoyed for its taste, as they will not only have learned a new skill and potentially learned a new hobby, they would also have gained more enjoyment when they can finally taste the dish due to the work that they have put into it.

That is only one example, however, I hope it shows how finding your own purpose and goal in life, and then aiming for that goal is a much more fulfilling and beneficial lifestyle than one which seeks fulfillment from religion or entertainment. This is also Nietzsche's solution to nihilism, as it answers the problem posed by nihilism that there is no purpose more consequence to whatever we do in life, by stating that instead, we should then provide purpose on our own. The statement by Nietzsche to reject God and what society says to us, further emphasizes that finding this purpose should be done on our own, and not be told what it should be by anyone else.

For my final statement, I would like to tie this into a movie called 'Soul', which was made by Pixar earlier this year, which you may have or haven't watched, but I'm pretty sure it is no longer showing. I will not be spoiling the whole plot, but one of its plot points shows the protagonist achieving his life's mission to give a music performance, yet he quickly loses the satisfaction of achieving this goal. He then begins to realise that there is satisfaction and fulfillment from everyday activities, interacting with others, and simply performing music for the fun of it. This ties in Nietzsche's philosophy of deciding what we should do in life on our own, but it also warns us that we should not be obsessed with a goal, as we may then lose our motivation when we achieve it, and instead it should be the 'doing' part which pushes us in life, while 'Soul' also shows that we don't even need for it to be an elaborate activity, and can be as simple as being around with friends, and living life as usual.

A Play with 5 Scenes (Revised)

 Stage Master: Welcome everyone, thank you for coming to our performance today. Now we'll first start off with a short play, a play with only 5 scenes.

Scene 5

Curtains pull open to reveal a body covered in cloth on a slab with a vertical slab behind the body, on it the label "Here lies E. Ben Axel". On one side is a grave worker, while on the other are two individuals, one dressed in white while the other in black.

Grave worker: Is no one else coming for the funeral? Where are his relatives and friends?

⚪: He only has one. But I'm afraid it will be just the two of us. He wasn't very popular when he was alive.

⚫: He might come later, but I wouldn't bet on it though. In fact, you shouldn't bet on it either. Gambling is bad, kids.

The stage master runs out in panic, yelling at them to stop.

Stage Master: Stop! Stop! What are you guys doing?! Which scene is this?

⚪: Uh... Scene 5?

Stage Master: Why are you guys starting at scene 5? Do you guys even know how plays work? You start at scene 1!

⚫(pulls out script): Well, I mean, the script-

Stage Master(interrupts): Whatever, just start from scene 1, move the props right now! Everyone, I am so sorry for this error.

Props are moved in as curtains close. As curtains are fully closed, ⚫ peeks out.

⚫: Just so y'all know, this is all intentional, we're totally professional enough to not actually make a mistake like this, also in the industry, this is called Foreshadowing.

Stage Master shoos ⚫ as ⚪ pulls ⚫ back into the curtains.

Stage Master: Anyway, let us start with a play with 5 scenes.

Scene 1

Stage Master leaves. Curtains open to reveal the same slabs, this time the Ben is shown sitting up with a blanket on him. The label is no longer there. Beside are two tables, which are covered in small bottles. Ben is still asleep. A nurse enters from stage left with a servant.

Nurse(gently): Sir, wake up, it's time for your medicine.

Ben groggily wakes up and takes his pills with some water.

Servant: Sir, there is a visitor at your door.

Ben: Is the doctor here already?

Nurse: No, it's not, it is the one who has been trying to visit you the last week.

Ben: I don't know who that is, send him away and tell him to never return! And tell the doctor to come immediately!

Servant: Yes, sir.

Servant leaves from stage left.

Nurse: Sir, who is this person that's been trying to see you? I feel like it might be important, you probably should see them while-

Ben: I said I need to see my doctor now!

The nurse sighs and leaves.

Ben: I swear, no one in this house cares for me. Everyone I know doesn’t. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here right now. Absolutely useless!

Nurse reenters with a doctor. The nurse rearranges the bottles and keeps some of them away.

Doctor(Turns pages on his files): Hello, sir. I have brought you the results you wanted, I'm afraid your request for a transplant surgery has been denied.

Ben: What?! Why is that?!

Doctor: I'm very sorry, but your body is currently too weak for a safe transplant, the risk of the surgery is just too large. We cannot perform the surgery.

Ben: What other options are there?

Doctor(sighs deeply): I'm sorry. We've tried everything, but right now, my advice would be to make the most of how much you have left.

Ben: I can’t believe this! I’ve worked so hard all my life, and this is all I get? To be left to die alone!

Doctor: I am very sorry-

Ben: I don't want you here! Get out of my house!

Ben grabs the cup beside him and pulls back to throw it at the doctor. 

Lights out.

Lights on.

The white figure reappears in front of the doctor, holding the cup an inch away from the doctor.

⚪(Pulls the cup away and placing it on the table): Now now, this is what would send you to the bad place, we don't want that. 

The doctor and the nurse remain completely motionless. Only Ben turns his head in fear towards the white figure.

Ben: Who are you? (Turns around to see no one is moving) Am I dead?

⚪: No, not yet. (Pause) But you will soon be.

Ben: Are you an angel?

⚪: Of sorts, yes. I bring good souls to the place they deserve for their good deeds.

Ben: I'm going to heaven?

⚪: No.

Ben: I'm going to hell?! But I have never done anything wrong in my life! I've been a good man!

The black figure jumps out from behind the 'bed' onto the opposite of the white figure.

⚫: You're not going to H-E-Double-Hockeysticks you scrooge ripoff!

Ben(screams): Who are you?!

⚫(sass): Well duh, by the stark contrast in our cheap costumes, I bring bad souls to the place they deserve for their bad deeds to suffer!!

Ben(whimpering): You're... the devil?

⚫(offended, then smiling): Yes, and I'm here to take your soul! (Screams, then scowls)

⚪: Stop scaring him. (Turns to Ben) Calm down, you're not dying, you're not going anywhere either. Not just yet. 

Ben: I... I don't want to die!

⚫: You ARE going to hell if you don't shut up right now.

Ben(Towards ⚪): I've... been a good man! I swear!

⚪: Yes, it is true you've not done very much evil in your life...

⚫: But you haven't done much good in your life either. In fact, you've barely done anything in your life. (Turns to ⚪) If that cup had hit (points towards the doctor) him, (turns to Ben) your sin count would increase by 50% and I would get to go back and condone in sins with the letter o in them. Why did you stop that, A?

⚪: We came to give this man a second chance, which is what we will do. Besides, remember you promised to do this to take off half of your debt.

Ben: What?

⚫: I owe A a hundred dollars.

⚪: You wouldn't if you stopped while you were ahead instead of losing another 5 rounds on the craps table.

Ben: Can't you just pay back the money?

⚫: A, why don't you just start your monologue of the premise we're having?

⚫ walks off during ⚪'s monologue to toss around the bottles, removing objects from frozen characters' hands and putting them back.

⚪(Sighs): It is true, you were not evil, nor were you good, you were, no offense, nothing, even with almost 70 years in your life. Souls like you remain on Earth, left to wander in regret, as they had when they were living, always focused on the wrong things. Which is why we are here. We will give you a chance to souls like you to redeem yourself, to fix your mistakes. This time, try not to waste your chance, or your empty life will be what you will live for the rest of eternity. We do not have long to do so, as we only have until Scene 5 when your mortal body dies. If it remains without a resolution, your fate will be one I consider worse than an eternity of pain.

Ben: I still don't understand. What is scene-

⚫(Stomps towards his original position): This is taking too long. You will understand when we get into it. (Yells) Next scene, Lights out.!

Scene 2

Lights on.

The nurse and the doctor are gone, props such as an old radio show this to be the 1950s. At stage front is a man sitting at a table drinking tea or something, who is dressed in a Camo outfit. ⚫ looks towards the radio and picks it up and presses a button, which plays some 1950s music.

⚪: I'm sure you remember this scene, don't you?

Ben: I remember this place, I grew up here, but I don't quite remember who that is...

⚫(pulls out a wheelchair from behind): How convenient, wouldn't you like a closer look?

⚪ mildly panics before continuing with mild hesitation.

⚪(to Ben, who is also hesitant): Don't worry, they can't see or hear us unless we let them.

⚫ drops Ben onto the wheelchair.

⚪: Careful!

⚪ pushes Ben towards the man so he can have a closer look.

Ben(angrily): It’s him!

⚪: Do you remember now?

Ben: Of course, he is-

A child enters, pulled in by a caretaker. The man looks towards the child. Ben nearly jumps back in shock for his wheelchair(but fails as he is a frail old man who can barely move). Lights focus on stage front.

Man(coldly): Hello, Ben.

Ben: ...cold as he was.

The child hides behind the caretaker, unwilling to go towards the man, only slowly following his caretaker.

Caretaker: Come on now, no need to be shy, go say hi to your father.

Child: H...Hello.

The caretaker nudges the child towards his father, who stares at him coldly.

Caretaker: Don't be shy, give him a hug!

Ben: No one would ever go near that robot.

The child breaks free from his caretaker, then runs off stage. The father remains motionless.

Caretaker: Elliot Ben Axel! Come back! (Turns to the father) I am so sorry, the boy is just shy, he's like that all the time.

Ben: No I’m not. You(gestures towards father) were the cause of this. You never ever talked to me.

Father robotically stands up and starts to pack his bag.

Caretaker: You're going already?

The father continues without a word.

⚪: Would you like to talk to him? Your father?

⚫: You can, just call out his name.

Caretaker: You should at least stay for a while with your son, you're the only family he has and he has barely even gotten to know you.

Father pauses briefly and looks at him, then continues to leave.

Ben: I have nothing to say to him. 

Caretaker: Then you will return soon?

The father leaves. After a while, the caretaker cleans up and leaves as well.

⚪: You didn’t take your chance. You have learned nothing.

Ben: It’s not my fault my father didn’t care enough to ever come back to be with me!

⚫: Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that. He will be returning very soon.

⚪: As he already did.

Lights out.

Scene 3

Lights on.

The scene changes to the 1950s, instead of the dining table, there is a man sitting at the desk, typing on a computer and flipping through files at the same time. Ben is visibly surprised to see this scene.

⚪(pushes Ben towards the desk): I think you must remember this scene very well.

Ben(stuttering): Yes... And... That's...

⚫(interrupting): You during your mid-life crisis, yeah we know.

⚪snaps at ⚫, who keeps quiet.

A teenager slowly walks in.

Lights focus on Young Ben and the Teenager.

Teenager: Umm... Dad?

Young Ben(warmly): Yes?

Teenager: You might not know this but I have been accepted into the art college and I will be leaving for overseas tomorrow.

Young Ben: When did you apply for this? You did all this behind my back?!

Ben: I should have seen this coming, especially from my good for nothing, disrespectful son.

Teenager: Dad, it has always been my dream to become an artist-

Young Ben: Who's going to afford your expensive college fees?!

Teenager: I'm already 18! I can do what I want!

Ben: Just because he is, he thinks he had do anything.

Young Ben: If you go overseas, then who's going to take over my company?!

Teenager: Sorry, but I just don’t want to take over that lousy company of yours.

Young Ben: I put in so much effort to support this family, to give you an easy life for your future, and all you do is throw it away for a dumb career with no future?! You are a failure of a son!

Teenager: Fine! All you care about is your failing company instead of me, your son! You always insist on me to become a part of your company, one you aren't even capable of running, one that's failing from all of your egotistical and cowardly decisions. You are stubborn, heartless, and a coward! I've had enough! Now, I'm leaving!

The teenager runs out, storming. The younger version of Ben tries to go after him, but after a while returns alone, and collapses at his desk.

Lights on.

Ben(angrily): He was right about one thing, my company eventually dwindled and became unpopular in the 2000s. It went bankrupt soon after.

⚫: That's karma for you, innit?

⚪: Perhaps, but is that what we're supposed to be focusing on here? When was the last time you talked with your son since then?

Ben(angrily): Well it’s not my fault he never came back to me!

⚪: And we’re giving you a second chance to fix that. Try to learn.

Lights out.

Scene 4

Lights on.

All of the tables have been removed, and instead lamps and artificial rocks create a road in front of them. At the end of the road is what resembles a door and in front of awaits two visitors with luggage bags facing stage left.

Ben: Hold on, I don't remember this happening.

⚪: I assure you, this is an important event in your life.

Visitor 1: So this is where you've been every morning and afternoon for the past week?

Visitor 2: Yes.

Visitor 1: Have they ever let you in?

Visitor 2: Not yet.

Visitor 1: Who are you even looking for anyway? 

Ben: Who are they?

A servant comes out from the doorway.

Servant: My apologies, but my master has said he does not want to see you.

Visitor 2: Wait, tell him that-

Servant leaves.

Visitor 1: You know what, I don't even care, they might be important to you but clearly you're not important to them. We must catch our flight in an hour or we're going to miss it.

Visitor 2 hesitates.

Lights focus on Ben.

Ben: Is that the person who's been trying to see me the past week? I don't know who they are!

⚪: I'm sure you will know who they are.

⚫: Spoilers: you already do.

⚪: You can take the time to figure it out on the way because we don't have much time left for that, we must now return to Scene 2, the one where you were a child.

Ben: Why?

⚫: Because we've only got 15 minutes left until our next play!

Ben: What are you guys talking about?

⚪: As I said, you'll figure it out. But this time...

⚫: We will be directing the play. Lights out.!

Scene 2 (Redo)

Stage returns to Scene 2.

A child enters, pulled in by a caretaker. The man stands up and walks towards the child, smiling. Ben nearly jumps back in shock for his wheelchair(but fails as he is a frail old man who can barely move). Lights focus on stage front.

Ben: Why are we here again? We’ve already seen this scene.

⚪: Yes, as you remembered it.

⚫: As you’ve directed it.

Man(warmly): Hello, Ben.

Ben jumps at this(except he does not as he is a frial old man). The child hides behind the caretaker, unwilling to go towards the man, only slowly following his caretaker.

Caretaker: Come on now, no need to be shy, go say hi to your father.

Child: H...Hello.

The father smiles warmly and squats down towards his son. The caretaker nudges the child towards his father.

⚫: You might notice this is not how you remembered this scene. Because it isn’t.

⚪: No, this is as it happened.

Caretaker: Don't be shy, give him a hug!

The child breaks free from his caretaker, then runs off stage.

Caretaker: Elliot Ben Axel! Come back! (Turns to the father) I am so sorry, the boy is just shy, he's like that all the time.

Ben: (tries to say something)

⚫: Shush, don’t deny your father his lines.

Father(stands up and picks up his bag): It's fine, you have raised him well enough. He’s healthy and clearly, he’s gotten close to you, and I’m happy for that.

Caretaker: You're going already?

Father(packing up): Unfortunately, war is still ongoing, I am needed elsewhere and it is my duty to return to my post very soon.

Caretaker: You should at least stay for a while with your son, you're the only family he has and he has barely even gotten to know you.

Father(Pauses): Perhaps for now, it is better that way. I can't stay for long and he is still too young to understand what's going on. It wouldn't make sense to him why I returned only to leave so quickly. I just wanted to make sure he is well, that is all.

Caretaker: Then you will return soon?

Father: When the war is over, I promise. Then I will have the chance to fully explain everything to him. Just tell him, I love him, and I will be returning soon, alright?

The father leaves. After a while, the caretaker cleans up and leaves as well.

Ben: He never upheld that promise.

⚪: He… couldn’t. Neither could anyone on his team that day, and it wasn’t their fault. They were brave men trying to do the best they could in the situation, it just was not the right situation to be in.

⚫: You know though, right? You’re in denial.

Ben falls silent.

Lights out.

Scene 3 (Redo)

There a man sitting at the desk, typing on a computer and flipping through files at the same time.

A teenager slowly walks in.

Lights focus on Young Ben and the Teenager.

Teenager: Umm... Dad?

Young Ben(Without looking away from his work): Yes? I'm busy right now.

Ben is visibly uncomfortable at looking at this scene.

Teenager: I've been putting this off for a while but... I have been accepted into the art college I had applied for. I know this is quite sudden and I’m sorry for that but I will be leaving for overseas tomorrow and I just-

Young Ben: When did you apply for this? You did all this behind my back?!

Teenager: Dad, please, it's really my dream to become an artist-

Young Ben: Dreams? Do you really think you can live off of dreams?! Who's going to pay for your college fees?!

Teenager: I’ve only looked into taking up a part-time job to pay for it myself, there are many I can take-

Young Ben: If you go overseas, then who's going to take over my company?!

Teenager: Sorry, but that's just not my thing dad. 

Young Ben: I put in so much effort to support this family, to give you an easy life for your future, and all you do is throw it away for a dumb career with not future?! You are a failure of a son!

Teenager: Fine! All I wanted is your support, yet all you care about is your failing company! No matter what I do, you're never proud of me. You always insist on me to become a part of your company, one you aren't even capable of running, one that's failing from all of your egotistical and cowardly decisions, instead of supporting what I want. You are stubborn, heartless, and a coward! I've had enough! Now, I'm leaving!

The teenager runs out, storming. The younger version of Ben hesitates, before trying to go after him, but after a while returns alone, and collapses at his desk.

⚪: It seems your father did return to you.

Ben(Starting to understand the subtext, however still in denial): No, what are you talking about.

⚫(flips open the script): Thou were physically there for thy son, yes.  Yet were thou there for him figuratively? When he's most down; when he's trying his hardest? Didst thou aye take the chance to reconcile with thy child? Ir didst thou, like thy father, abandoned thy child when he was still vulnerable.

⚫ tosses the script aside and leans towards Ben.

⚫: This literally can't be spelled out any clearer without it seeming like us padding the runtime.

⚪: But remember, there's still a chance, which we had given you. 

Ben: What chance?

⚫: Scene 4 please!

Lights out.

Scene 4 (Redo)

Lights on.

Lamps and artificial rocks create a road. At the end of the road is what resembles a door and in front of awaits two visitors with luggage bags.

⚪: This is your last chance.

Ben: For what?

⚫: To make up for the chances you didn’t take.

Visitor 1: So this is where you've been every morning and afternoon for the past week?

Visitor 2: Yes.

Visitor 1: Have they ever let you in?

Visitor 2: Not yet.

Visitor 1: Who are you even looking for anyway? 

A servant comes out from the doorway.

Servant: My apologies, but my master has said he does not want to see you.

Visitor 2: Wait, tell him that-

Servant leaves.

Visitor 1: You know what, I don't even care, they might be important to you but clearly you're not important to them. We must catch our flight in an hour or we're going to miss it.

Visitor 2 hesitates.

Visitor 2: I need to see him. He's my father.

Ben looks up in surprise.

Visitor 1: The one who you said didn't want you to become an artist?

Visitor 2: Yes, he might not be the best father, but he is my father nonetheless, who raised me up.

Ben: Son? Son! It's me!

Son: I want him to come see the convention, I may not be the best artist yet, but being the first national art convention in which my art is featured, I only wish for my father to see my progress. I don't expect him to be proud of me, but I hope he will be.

Ben: Son! I am! Can you not hear me?! I'm right here! Let me talk to them!

Visitor 1(sighs): Fine, I'll wait for you slightly longer, but as I said, if you want to get to that convention, we need to catch that flight which is like only 40 minutes away, so when I say we need to go, we're going, alright?

Son(Walks towards the door): ...Okay.

The son continues to knock on the door, to which he receives no response.

Ben: I'm right here! Why can 't you hear me? Son!

Lights focus on Ben.

Ben(sobbing): Why can't they hear me?

Ş̵̥̝̲̐̕c̵̨̳͈̿̋e̵̪͚͗̿́n̵͖̖̳̈̚é̷̛̞̗͆̄ ̶̡̖̤͘3̵̲̰̯̞͒́

Young Ben and Teenager move in two tables and place them beside the 'bed'. ⚪ pushes Ben back to the bed.

⚪: You can't change the past.

Ben: You... You lied to me! You said that's what you were going to help me with!

S̵̜̘̍č̷͖̱̟̺̆͠ė̸̜̱̱n̷̙͓̈́͐̀ě̶͍͎̾̀̈ ̴̟̑̿͝2̴̖̖̳̒̉̚̕

Caretaker, Father, and Child walk in and place the bottles on the tables. ⚫ places Ben back on the bed.

⚫: No, we said we will help you fix your mistakes, and you do that not by dwelling over what cannot be changed, but by focusing on the present.

Ben: What do you mean?

Scene 1 (Continued)

Doctor and Nurse enter and regains their frozen posture.

⚪: This scene is not that far past, remember?

Ben thinks for a moment, then jumps up and runs towards stage right offstage, Nurse and Doctor regain movement, and are surprised by this.

Nurse: I thought he couldn't walk, what's he suddenly running like that for?

⚫: You and me, dude. I'm surprised too. (Nurse does not react as ⚫ and ⚪ are usually invisible to mortals)

Servant appears from stage left.

Servant: Stop knocking, I said our master does not want to see you.

Visitor 1: I've told you so, let's just go already or we are really going to miss our flight.

Son(starts to panic): But...

Ben runs out from stage right.

Ben(happily): Son!

Son(happily): Dad!

Ben: It's been so long!

Son: I have so much to tell you!

Ben: I know, son. We can talk inside.

Ben and his son walk inside, Ben lies on his bed. ⚫, ⚪, Visitor 2, Servant, Nurse and Doctor remove any props at stage front.

Son: Dad, I'm so sorry for leaving you, and not coming back to you for so long.

Ben: It's fine, what matters is we're together now. I... am sorry too, for what I've said. I'm proud of you and how far you've come.

Son: You knew?!

Ben(weakly): ...Yes. And I am, from the bottom of my heart, happy, that unlike me, you took the opportunity and youth you had to achieve your fullest potential and your true dreams.

⚫ and ⚪ enter solemnly. Standing from a distance, they stare at Ben. Ben slowly closes his eyes.

Son: Thanks Dad, I never had the chance to tell you this either, but... I love you.

Ben doesn't respond.

Son: Dad?... Dad? Dad!

The son tries to hold up his father in desperation.

Son: Help! Is there a doctor here? Help!

The Doctor and the Nurse rush in, as lights slowly dim out.

Beep. 

Beep. 

Beep. 

Beep

Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Scene 5 (Final)

A body covered in cloth lies on the slab Aith a vertical slab behind the body, on it the label "Here lies E. Ben Axel''. On one side is a grave worker and another man dressed in a dark suit, while on the other are two individuals, one dressed in ⚪ while the other in black. This is the first and the last time this scene is seen.

Son. Elliot Ben Axel is my father. He... Well... We never spent much time together, to be honest. But he was brave, caring and most importantly a man who always tried his hardest for me. He raised me up, and not only that, he supported me in my dream, even when I was unaware of it. Unfortunately, I was never able to repay what he has done for me, but I will do my best to honor him in his death.

Son sits down next to the grave.

Son: Dad, I love you.

Son leaves, and the grave worker leaves after him.

⚫ jumps from behind ⚪ and sits on the foot of the slab.

⚫: Well, glad that's finally over with.

⚪snaps at ⚫, who jumps up into a standing position.

⚪: To be honest, I just feel like we have lied a lot in this one, you know, to Elliot, to the audience basically.

⚫: Well, they're just little white lies, aren't they? Everything turned out alright. As the moral of the story goes, focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past.

⚪: Is that really how it's supposed to go?

⚫:  Nah, it's all up to interpretation actually, we're just characters, we don't need to worry about that. (Takes out a stack of paper) The script says it's time for us to go back now anyway, which is exactly what I want to do right now.

⚫ puts away the papers.

⚪: Huh. Remember, you still owe me 50 bucks, when can you hand it over?

⚫: What?

⚪: You owe 50 bucks, this is only taking half of your debt, remember?

⚫: Well I'm not paying.

⚪: No you are, I expect it by next week. You got it?

⚫(looks towards the audience): Lights out.!

⚪: Where did- Lights on.!

⚪ looks around to find that ⚫ has disappeared, looking around, ⚪ finds ⚫ sneaking out from behind the slabs. 

⚪: Come back here! (Chases after ⚫)

⚫(running away, towards the audience): And Scene.!