and so we were summoned; as counselors, arbiters.

"We are different, in almost always every way possible.
The few similarities that we have is that we were taught to listen. To just listen."

-

Sometimes it seems that we weren't given the choice to choose what we learn. But we do, actually.

In school, we're driven. Pointed to a direction, the people who bestowed us there pray that we remember the steps we took along the way. For the most part, we do remember. However, when the time comes for us to recall them and we can't, it's not that we don't know it, it's just that we choose to remember things that we want to remember.

As counselors, we were taught many things.

We were taught never to judge and while that we are entitled to our opinions, at the end of the day, we're not facing their horrors of life. Or at least, not yet.

We were taught to understand. While some actions may seem condemned, we are there to understand their perspectives and their standings. For darkness is not evil, until we believe it is.

We were taught to listen. For them to tell us their stories, the least we could do is listen - an outlet. And we do ask questions, we're only to ask for a clearer picture, elaboration or their opinions.


There's one thing we're not taught. Instead, there's one thing we are meant to believe.

We're meant to believe that there is goodness in everyone; that everyone has the right to a second chance.

but we know that's a lie.


M

there is no blood in betrayal

Lies are a common part of life;

it's the 'archivist for three years' we place in our resumes,
it's the stories we tell kids to avoid them from harm,
it's that 'why yes i am a doctor' pick up line we use every Friday night.

We use it all the time, for both good and evil - it exists.

For the most part, it means no harm. Its purpose is to withheld the truth and we all know that. The moment it becomes harmful is when we choose to believe it; the moment the lie becomes the truth is the moment when we decide to fool ourselves.

Like an idiot chasing a mirage while completely aware of the mirage itself.

So the moment YOU chose the confident liar over the stuttering truth, it's the moment you choose to live a lie.


Cheers.

fall of the arisen, part one

morning after, chapter twelve

They said to me, close your eyes long enough and you'll see the world spinning (in chaos).

-

I woke up to witness the sun beaming between the blinds, pulsating due to the rapid cloud movements of Melbourne's spring weather.

Sat up at the side of my bed with my hands covering my face. Headache; as words from previous agendas echo over. and over,

I felt betrayed..

. . . someone who has done so much and trusted upon.

. . . 'a mutiny' of ten including one of us.


My head still trying to wrap over the idea of what just happened, more importantly, why. There was a time when we were called 'elites' (elitists).


November first.

And so we were gathered.

Usually something of this significance would be the result of a face-to-face meet but in the light of this urgency, I attended in a digital way that my era had provided with - webcam. Bear in mind that gathering of this sorts does not occur commonly, so when we were summoned, we expected melancholy.

Though my presence was more of a formality than actual necessity, what was told had more questionable assumptions than actual rationality. It was not a question of who was wrong or right but which story had more holes and false providence than the other.

"one of you." she said. one of us.


written by I.O.