Trina's eyes felt unnaturally tired, a force closing them shut that she hadn't held for a long, long time.
A bracing breeze ran as if to rouse her, shifting her head towards the little one that walked beside her.
A thought that troubled her for years... a little, innocent one that was here to listen with the potential to see the world in a manner no one had before.
A little one that came from the base of existence.
"What if Nature is deterministic?" Trina blurted out the question, immediately wishing to take it back. Why was she imposing question on such a young being?
A choice. Should she continue or not?
Iris's smile deepened, nodding slightly to urge her friend to continue. A sparkle of curiosity shone in the little one's eyes momentarily, returning to a neutral expression as she evened her pace and continued to move forward. Trina's footsteps fell in sync, moving soundlessly.
"Perhaps every decision created by any living being is simply a natural occurrence that follows what precedes it. Everything is an influence of what comes before it, and it becomes a part of the environment to do the same for the next thing. What if every choice one makes can be perfectly predicted? What if the only deciding factors for anything that happens at all are the settings of the universe at the very beginning of the universe?"
Trina decided to pause to gauge the young Shadow's reaction, receiving no response1, as expected.
"That would mean that everything we do is a natural sequence and bring us to the old question of free will. Perhaps that doesn't mean that we don't matter though; so what if we have no free will? We are fulfilling our roles under some convenient illusion that is personal to each of us.
"If that is true, I think emotions are a clever construct. They make us care, which is integral to living."
A slight unease now pervaded Trina's aura, and she could not bring herself to face it.
"What if emotions are deterministic too? I suppose that follows from what I say. In any case, I really would wish to know the events beforehand as I do not want false hope, ever."
Knowing may render all future actions useless, but Trina often deeply wished to know.
The two turned to look at each other simultaneously, sharing the same smile as they always did. Iris's eyes shrunk and the little one felt further away from Trina at the moment, as if the two were being separated by a force that was in control of neither of them.
Trina shuffled her aura, resuming her conversation as she took a second look at her environment.
"However, if we're living an existence circular, then everything may be pointless. If our start points and end points are the same, what does the middle matter, especially if they hold no personal value?"
Before Iris could take her next breath, Trina interjected in a quick and rather nervous manner.
"I am sorry, I don't know why I'm asking you such questions. I don't expect any answers, I just..."
"I miss the ones who would listen to me."
Iris stopped and reached for Trina's hand, squeezing it gently.
"Please don't say sorry."
Trina smiled and pursed her lips, nodding slowly. She couldn't help but think about the gesture, though.
Physical comfort still affected her, however mildly. What did that mean? What more was left to do?
If everything really was deterministic, Trina wouldn't mind knowing the answers and carrying her responsibilities sometimes. Caring was tiring.
YOU ARE READING
The Shadows of Nature
Spiritualnature Perhaps it is the home Perhaps the destination Perhaps both. Can you push past the constraints you have inherited? Can you seek to understand that which scares you? That which you hate? That which angers you? Truth and Time, is this the prin...
