The Degradation

Because he's different

Song: Casting Crowns – Who Am I

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32 days before the first message.

At 19 years old Harry doesn't spend his free time with friends, doesn't go to parties every Saturday, like all of the young people of his age. No. He's different, he likes to spend time with his philosophy teacher. An old idiot who thinks he knows everything. An old idiot who looks down on everyone. And he is the only person, who has understood him all this time. The only one who managed to create a connection with him. Because sometimes, a PhD in psychology can help. Because he understood his illness. And because Harry loves philosophy. They spend Saturdays together checking tests. Rarely speaking. One sits at his desk, in the center of the audience, and the other one on a bench in the front row.

Only that night was different because Harry wasn't feeling well. He was nervous and typing his pen on the table. He couldn't concentrate.

"What's going on, Harry?"

"Nothing."

And because of knowing he shouldn't be pressured, the Professor continued to check the works. He was waiting. He was waiting because knew he'd come to him if he wanted to talk. He learned to understand him. And once again, he wasn't mistaken.

"Red. His car is red."

Because that night, without even realizing it, Harry needed to talk.

"Whose car is red?"

"Louis Tomlinson."

"And you're worried that it's red?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because the Lamborghini of this model doesn't exist in red."

"And you're worried about it?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because I don't understand."

"Maybe he just wanted to repaint it."

"But why? If he wanted a red car, why didn't he buy a model that already exists in red?"

"I don't know. He probably wanted a car that was different from the others."

"Yes, but why?"

"Harry, can you leave that pen alone? It didn't do anything to you."

"Sorry."

"That's the second time you've told me about him."

"No."

"Yes. Last week, you told me about him, too."

"But then, it was because he took a Coca-Coke Light in the cafeteria."

"So?"

"He usually drinks only classic coke."

"Does it bother you that he decided to change Coca-Cola?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because he didn't need to change anything. The machine still had the classic Coca-Cola."

"Tell me if I'm wrong, but you seem to be watching him very closely."

"Not always. But yeah, sometimes."

"Why?"

"Because I hate everything about him."

"You hate a lot of people, if not everyone. So why him? What attracted your attention?"

"I don't understand him."