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| PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot |
EMPATHY WORKS
My life was
compartmentalised into three phases:
Life Before the Virus
Life During the Virus
Life After the Virus.
During phase two, I
fled the anarchy and found refuge in a remote village.
The locals showed me
how to survive, how to share. Who said Communism was evil?
Food was harvested and
left for everyone to help themselves. We looked after each other.
Sometimes it was hard.
In Life After the
Virus, I'm still here. The outside world remains a dangerous place.
They don't know how to share. They still don't understand that
empathy works better than anarchy.
Hope you enjoyed this story and I look forward to your comments.
If you wish to read more Friday Fictioneers stories, you can find them listed HERE
If you'd like to join in the challenge, you'll find all the information posted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
- her blog is listed on 'My Blog List' on the right hand side of this page.
On a final note - I always attempt to visit the blogs of everyone who comments on mine. If I haven't commented on yours it's either because I haven't been redirected to your blog when I've clicked on your name or because you have a wordpress account that requires me to sign into wordpress first.
Please check and amend your settings. Thanks.
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So very true - and one of the hardest things for many people to achieve. Well said.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Anthony. Yes, people have to learn not to be selfish. :)
DeleteDear Susan,
ReplyDeleteLet's hope this isn't becoming a reality. The news is more disturbing every day, isn't it? Topical and well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
I could only find one outlet that still had hand sanitizer in stock yesterday, Rochelle. Alarming times indeed.
DeleteWhat an interesting take on the crisis to come. Yes, you're right - we often learn during a crisis that it all works better if we pull together and share. And then, sadly, we forget what we've learned. Again
ReplyDeleteThanks, Neil. Sadly, humans seem to be hard-wired to look after number one!
DeleteIt really just requires everyone to remain calm, stop panic buying and go about your normal life. The media is certainly not helping the situation. Let's hope empathy prevails before things get out of control.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. The media in particular are very good at manipulation!
DeleteSadly people often think only of themselves during a crisis and not the community.
ReplyDeleteAh, if only, Susan.
ReplyDeleteBut when people are involved, greed is close behind.
Remember 1984...
Indeed, CE!!
DeleteHard times behind, hard times ahead...and just like that, life passes us by.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to lose focus on the important things, isn't it?
DeleteGreat last line! We don’t do empathy and sharing very well. Sobering and timely story.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brenda. Something I've been thinking about quite a lot in the politics of today.
DeleteWhat virus?
ReplyDeleteDenial works.
Randy
Ha ha! Thanks for commenting, Randy.
DeleteEmpathy is far better than autocracy or greed (by any other name). I agree. Here's to sharing what we have more than we need of, with those who need it. As for Corona - it will come and it will go, and it is up to us to be good people through whatever may. Good one!
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is better. Thanks for the feedback.
DeleteYou told your story well, Susan.
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you to say so, Jade. Appreciate it. :)
DeleteGreat story and wish it were true here because, knowing people, someone would take all the food for themselves to hoard or to sell. The sad thing is that many people reflex action is panic and fear-2 things we should not be doing. The regular flu kills more people each year than this virus. We just need to remain calm and not let the media manipulate us.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Birgit, and thanks for commenting. :)
DeleteJoseph McCarthy.
ReplyDeleteI always say, in all dystopian stories, I would be the first one to die because I want to work together and help people. Good story. Excellent moral.
Thanks, Joseph. Working together and looking after each other should be the norm in all walks of life. I find it very disturbing that attacking people seems to be the norm now - especially via social media.
DeleteA simple message but one so many find hard to accept today.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Yes, unfortunately you might be right, Ann.
DeleteAnd if it is a virus that is necessary to bring the world to empathy, I say, "Bring it on." Very thoughtfully written.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Violet - appreciate your feedback.
DeleteA chilling tale of a situation that hopefully will never occur. The media seems set on causing panic whilst choosing to forget that flu and falling down stairs are still the biggest kllers.
ReplyDeleteYes, the media love to stoke the flames, don't they?
DeleteA thought provoking piece, and a good metaphor for life in general. It's prompted me to think about the truths that lie behind your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Penny. Always good to know that someone wants to delve a bit deeper. :)
DeleteThere will always be those who run amok once law and order is gone.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Thanks for commenting.
DeletePost-apocalyptic and well written, but scary - I hope we're too sensible for it to come tho that!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right, Liz. But from what I've observed of human behaviour, I'm not so sure!
Deletecrisis can change us only to back to the same old ways when when it's over.
ReplyDeleteI know - why do we do that?
DeleteYou're right, the world is a dangerous place, and I'm afraid it's only getting worse!
ReplyDeleteThere's something wrong with so-called progress, isn't there?
DeleteYour village wasn't experiencing Communism, because it was not forced upon them against their will. No superior power was doling out rations. They were experiencing a shared trauma, the bright side of human nature in a shared will to survive. And you brought it to life.
ReplyDeleteActually 'communism' has more than one meaning. One of the definitions of communism, according to Webster dictionary: a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed.
ReplyDeletevery topical and thought provoking, Susan, a good subject to chose.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patience - appreciate the feedback.
DeleteYou addressed this topic well. Does fit the prompt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ted. Always good to know when a story works. :)
DeleteLoved your story, well penned.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. Always nice to know when someone has enjoyed one of my stories.
DeleteEmpathy and sympathy and general altruism always works, it's finding the community with those qualities that's the problem. Well done, Susan
ReplyDeleteYes, wouldn't it be a nicer world if these things were the norm? Thanks for the comment, Michael.
DeleteI hope that there will be sharing... right now it seems more like grabbing.
ReplyDeleteIt's extraordinary, isn't it? I'm currently staying in a small village and there isn't any hand santizer to be found, which really took me by surprise.
DeleteSHaring IS caring after all. May there be enough toilet paper for everyone!
ReplyDeleteOh, that did make me laugh, Fatima.
DeleteThe trouble with all this panic buying is that the people who are NOT panicking are being forced to buy in extra stocks so that they don't run out of essentials. Mad situation!
An excellent message in this one. Your story shares it well😉
ReplyDeleteI think this last week has shown empathy is very needed!
Thanks, Laurie. Appreciate your feedback. :)
DeleteExcellent story that sums up the situation doesn’t it?
ReplyDelete