Three days had passed, and the usual rhythm of life had settled back into its course. Today, however, was different—Taehyung was on leave from the hospital, a rare day away from the sterile walls and quiet hum of medical discussions. But even on his day off, his mind never truly rested. There were things he needed to address, conversations he needed to start.
Sitting in his home office, a sleek yet comfortably lived-in space filled with books, medical journals, and a few scattered notes, Taehyung adjusted the camera, checking the angle before leaning back in his chair. The screen in front of him showed the title of today’s video:
"Where is Humanity Going?!"
It was a question that lingered heavily in his thoughts, not just today, but always. His content was never about mindless trends or fleeting entertainment. It was about the real world, the complexities of human nature, the questions people avoided but desperately needed to confront. He had built a platform not just as a psychiatrist, but as a voice for reason, for change.
Today’s case was no different.
A viral video had taken over social media—a woman, alone at night, visibly distressed, feeling harassed, yet receiving no help. People had passed by, glanced at her, and walked away. Some had pulled out their phones, not to call for help, but to record. To watch.
Taehyung’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as he skimmed through the headlines again, his expression unreadable, though his mind was already forming a storm of thoughts. Was this where society had come? Where empathy was overshadowed by apathy? Where people spectated pain instead of alleviating it?
With a quiet sigh, he pressed record.
The screen came to life, capturing his composed yet serious expression. His voice, deep and steady, filled the room.
"Where is humanity going?" he began, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately. And today, I want to talk about something that we all need to reflect on."
He clicked on the viral video, pausing at the first frame. The woman was alone, standing near the sidewalk, her body language tense, her arms wrapped around herself as if trying to shrink away from the world. In the background, blurred figures walked past, indifferent.
"Look at this," Taehyung gestured at the screen. "This is not just a video. This is reality. A woman feeling unsafe, looking for help, yet completely ignored by the very society she is a part of."
His jaw clenched slightly, though his voice remained composed.
"At what point did we become watchers instead of helpers? When did pulling out a phone to record take priority over stepping in to assist? Have we become so disconnected that another person’s distress is nothing more than a passing moment to us?"
He let the silence linger for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle.
"This is not about blaming one person, or a few people. This is about us—as a society. We talk about justice, about morality, but when the moment comes to act, why do so many of us freeze? Why do so many of us look away?"
He leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlacing.
"I’m not here to just criticize," he said, his voice softer now, more personal. "I want to understand. I want you to understand. If you were there that night, what would you have done? And if your answer is ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I would have just walked by’—ask yourself why."
His gaze flickered back to the screen, watching the paused frame of the woman once more before exhaling softly.
"Empathy is not just about feeling bad for someone," he said. "It’s about doing something. The next time you see someone in distress, remember—you are not just a bystander in their story. You can be the reason they are safe. You can be the reason someone regains their faith in humanity."
