Derrick came over to study with me for the following day’s test. We sat on the floor in my room and cracked open our textbooks, testing each other on vocabulary, history, and facts.
“Next flashcard,” Derrick continued as he was testing me. The facts were already in my head, I got every question right, but it felt odd to answer these questions truthfully.
“Hey,” I interrupted him near the end of his test. “What do you think would happen if we did not take our happiness tomorrow?”
“You should know.” He laughed, “You told me the answer earlier.”
“Yeah, but that is what Professor Elkgreen said would happen. I mean, what would happen longterm if we stopped taking the emotions.”
“I would not think about that.” Derrick said bluntly. “It would not feel pleasant, much worse than when we drank the sadness.”
“You are right, we should continue to study.”
I awoke the next morning and my calendar told me that it was time for a monthly refill of happiness. I made my way to the bathroom once more and opened the cabinet.
There in the middle stood a heavy vial of happiness. It contained 100 ml of a clear liquid. These always tasted the worst. I took the lid off, and as usual sniffed it. The smell is as always, indescribably bad. I took a deep breath, getting ready to chug it.
The liquid began to fill up my mouth, and the bitter taste made me gag, must experience the unpleasant to feel the pleasant. Must experience the unpleasant to feel the pleasant. Must experience the unpleasant to feel the...
I thought of Brianne, and her words, and her advice. I began to contemplate, what would really happen. Maybe if I didn’t drink this I would in some way impress her? But why would I care…
I spit what was in my mouth out and began to pour the remaining happiness down the drain. My emotions did not change, my smile did not fade. Maybe everything would be alright.
YOU ARE READING
Vial Happiness
Ciencia FicciónIn a futuristic, Utopian society, just about everyone uses government made narcotics that evoke emotions such as happiness, peace, and empathy. This creates a society where there are no conflicts and no war. The main protagonist, Prescott is a 16 ye...
