These days I was watching a documentary on television where they talked about the advantages that animals have when they are grouped together. Among the advantages they pointed out was that of moving or moving more efficiently from one place to another; likewise, they mentioned that the protection against possible predators is much more efficient, as is the search for food. Finally, for the animal, living in herds, shoals, groups, is equivalent to greater chances of survival.

Like the animal, for man to belong to a group, to live in society, is not only a desire but also a necessity. No human being can live in complete isolation. Men help and support each other, to feed, defend and even give love. This natural demand to be accompanied does not negate the individuality or the need to be alone that we may have at any moment. In fact, it is normal that we voluntarily decide to separate ourselves from the rest of the people, whether as a consequence of a painful experience or lack of courage. What's more, in the documentary I've seen, they mentioned that some animals could separate from the group when they were injured, as it was a kind of defense mechanism not only for him, but for the rest of the group.

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In Venezuelan literature there is a story entitled Creatures of the award-winning Venezuelan writer Antonio López Ortega that talks about the meeting of two great friends on a rainy day, after one of them ended up with his girlfriend and was going through a moment of great pain. The unexpected presence of an insect allows the reader to make a certain analysis and reflections on the importance for the human being of solitude and being accompanied. Let's take a look at some of his paragraphs.

The story begins when Blas, dejected and perhaps bitter, tells his friend Armando that he wants to go home. To the friend's affirmative answer, Blas cuts the call and Armando remembers the last time Blas was at home, in love and with Adriana. The breakup with the girl would bring him back:

Months ago, Adriana had abandoned him for reasons he was still looking for at the bottom of the drawers or in the concentric circles of a coffee .

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Adriana's inexplicable abandonment had provoked Blas' journey. When he arrives at the house of Armando, a strong storm is falling. Friends greet each other, almost silently. The friend senses that Blas is very sore:

Blas did something like a hug and went in without saying a word. His body ended up in the poltrona of the same room where, months before, he had hugged Adriana. Trying a conversation seemed like a failed exercise: Blas passed his trembling hands over his temples and looked at the starry mosaics on the floor.

There's a familiar phrase that says that to the place where you loved life, you must return. But we see that in some cases, as in the case of Blas, returning may mean meeting memories, looking at them with sadness and not with falling in love. We see that in the story, the rain and the grey day make the atmosphere more melancholy and painful for Blas.

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While they were in silence, a kind of swollen beetle appeared, from which some worm came out. Armando and Blas try to kill him, but at the first attempt they don't succeed. Then they try again, and there they succeed: they kill the animal. After this, we see that among friends there is another atmosphere and even a kind of smile on Blas' face:

Blas recognized that landscape again and something similar to a smile was drawn on his face.

With this line we see that in Blas a change is achieved: there is a kind of reconciliation not only with the landscape that brings back so many memories, but also with him and he has the opportunity to be happy again.

The end of this story is what makes us assemble many of the threads of the weft:

The animal had surely taken refuge in a dry place that would allow it to wait for the death that slowly gnaws at its entrails.

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It is not fortuitous that this story is called Creatures. I think we are all creatures trying to survive. Feeling in danger, we take refuge, as did Blas and the beetle, perhaps seeking healing or waiting for death. There are some spaces that can help us heal and others that can open our wounds. Blas, on returning to the place where he loved Adriana, was brave because even knowing the pain that memories could produce, returns. But Blas is not alone, feeling wounded, he seeks the company of his friend, who supports and accompanies him. In short, solitude can be good in some moments and for a short time; but in a state of crisis, the ideal is to be surrounded by people who appreciate us, value us and really love us.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post. I remind you that you can vote for @adsactly as a witness and join our server in discord. Until the next smile. ;)

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCE

https://www.amazon.com/Calendario-otros-textos-Continentes-Spanish/dp/9800109900

Written by: @nancybriti