Showcase Sunday: The Circle

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The Circle

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He stepped across the threshold of the port and wondered, what had happened here. The steel of the structure had been ripped apart as if a beast of incredible strength and size opened a can with a hammer - insulation lay strewn about the floor, wires hung limp from gaping holes in the ceiling.

He took a step inside to have a look around and his eyes quickly adjusted to the grey gloom. Dust had settled upon surfaces and hadn't been disturbed for what could have been millennia. Time didn't move in the same way up here though so, forensic analysis would be difficult without specialized equipment.

It didn't matter though, he knew what had happened. Humans.

It always ended up the same way and in his experience, they were flawed by design or perhaps more accurately - the design was flawed.

Time and again, civilization, dynasty, kingdom, country and home collapsed under the same pressures; the conflict between desire and reality, possibility and willingness to make possible. So much potential, so little drive to explore it. Rather, the competition for resources held back the realization of abundance.

He had witnessed its manifestation many times before, seen it tear apart country and family, couples and worlds. In all likelihood, the same happened here, hope turned to desire, turned to manipulation, jealousy, competition, fear and then eventually, violence.

Such violence. Always. No matter how much there is, more is always wanted and they are only too happy to take it by force if unable to earn it easily enough. Part of their design flaw, the predisposition to favor "easy" over what is required. Do as little as possible for as much as possible to the point that the much can be used to continually extract a little more until the blood that was flowing runs dry and, scarcity sets in.

Scarcity amplifies the fear, and the circle of violence continues. After each round of violence it is sworn, "never again" and "lest we forget" but, soon enough, forget they do and again it is. Addicts. Addicts with no cure, as despite knowing the treatment, the treatment is too difficult to administer for they must do it themselves, understand themselves, work for themselves with no one able to click fingers or provide a panacea for their ailment.

Understanding themselves is too hard and it is too unflattering. None want to see their own shortcomings, none want to see that the suffering they blame upon the actions of others is actually a reflection of their own mind, their own heart, their own behavior. So many of the wise among them have implored them to, know thy self, yet no matter how, when or by whom it is said; it falls on deaf ears.

He wondered, at some point would they wake up and realize their place in this universe or, forever act an animal, mindlessly driven by impulse, always running, always chasing - always suffering.

He stepped deeper into the darkness, his eyes adjusting with each change in the light. He could see clearly in any conditions. He could see it all and he could see the confirmation of suspicion sitting at his feet. While the caverns of the outpost were scattered with bodies, the walls charred black from explosion long gone, he knelt down and put a hand on a little girls head.

She was unscathed by the violence, an innocent in the conflict but while the adults fought and died - she eventually starved to death.

Humans.

Taraz
[ a Steem original ]

This is a post for the @nonameslefttouse initiative
#showcase-sunday