e.i.

Somehow, the Earth exists, and humans have formed upon it. This species, composed of 70% water, has tirelessly labored under the delusion that they are the sole owner of the vast expanses of land and water, which is also 70% water. They have produced and produced, unable to stop themselves. Shelves, cabinets, and trash bins have overflowed. They couldn’t stop. They’ve polluted the waters and poisoned the air. With cries of “let’s move on,” they’ve crafted a narrative of success, deceiving themselves and those around them.

Inside the large glasses, the success story continues with applause, while those who remain outside the frame, unseen, have piled up like grains of rice that were uneaten and discarded. They have almost formed a barrier, and a little human climbed atop the heaps of trash. He believed he saw no obstacles, and in his perspective, that was true. He continued his journey, ascending above the refuse, oblivious to the fact that he was not alone in the world.

When it became acceptable to rise by stepping on others, a temporary balance was achieved. Humanity ascended to the top of the world, standing on a pile of those beneath them. Trash and carcasses became invisible on the billboards. By accepting the practice of ignoring what they didn’t want to see, they continued on their path, collecting what they could see.

Now

Single-handedly, tasks were no longer manageable. The number of those polluting more than they gathered had also increased, just like him. Meanwhile, collapses had begun at the top due to his own narrow-mindedness. Whether he stepped forward or not, the collective consciousness knew that things wouldn’t go as they used to.

The name Nasrettin Hoca comes to mind, along with the tale about cutting the branch you’re sitting on and the saying, “Do what the teacher says, not what he does.” I am not merely trying to understand; instead, I aim to artfully weave my own story.

For now, stay healthy.