The wind was soft. The sky was blue. The sea was clean. The seagulls were flying.
Green grass and jogging pigeons. Citizens travelled through the beautiful city as their daily routine. Possibly talked about their exercise plans and lunch deals. Delicious tastes fulfilled the block’s air from the bakery. Coffee and beers cheered almost everyone. Art posters and ice-cream advertisements were the local culture. Buses and cars drove them to their destinations. Little One and Little Zero lived in this seaside society.
Far from the city centre, there was a rock mountain, with grass covered. Nice view from the top to see the sea further under the mountain’s height. A legendary old tree strongly stood on the mountain. It was Little One and Little Zero’s favourite playground, a place just for them.
Little One sat on the grass, hands clawed underneath foot ankles, faced right, headed on left knee, observing seagulls.
“Little One wants to fly.” Little Zero stated, lying in the shadow grass of the tree.
Little One stunned, eyes up, feet tapped in the air. ‘Little Zero knows everything’, Little One thinks.
“Because you are tired, you want to escape.” Little Zero headed right, looked at Little One.
“Maybe you are.” Little One lied down, extended the body, crossed the arms under head and headed to Little Zero, eyes surprised.
Little Zero yawns, prepared to snap.
Little One yawned, headed back up, eyes stared at the sky.
‘What does it feel like flying in the sky? Or, what do I want to feel?’ Little One raised right hand up, touched the air, then down, ‘Nothing. I want to feel nothing.’
“What does nothing feel like?” Little One asked.
Little Zero jumped up from the snap to the thoughts, then sit up.
“What is nothing?” Little Zero asked.
“The non-existence.” Little One spoke, “What it feels like if we do not exist?”
Silence. Little One waited and Little Zero breathing.
Still silent.
Little One moved his head then voices in ears.
“You heard the answer.”
Little Zero spoke.
It was the time of waiting.
“Is that what you want?” Little Zero headed to Little One, asked.
“What do I want?” Little One was astonished.
“I want love from the heart,
I want peace of the mind,
I want…
I want no more about war,
I want…
What do I want if it matters?
I want no hurts at all,
I want,
I want to fly in the sky…”,
“I want…”
Little One was talking in tune and Little Zero smiled at the ‘fly in the sky’,
“I want to go to some places to have a good time,
I want to go to some places that accept my stay,
I want to go to some places where I can create my world from the smallest things of nature”, Little Zero interrupted with singing along.
“I want the feeling of freedom,
I want the happiness without limitations,
But it is impossible,
I want to gain my place in the world,
I want to build my mind to wisdom,
I want to see the world clearly, extremely clearly.
I want to feel myself,
I want me.”
Little One followed.
“Maybe these are the answers.” Little Zero was surprised.
“We are nerds.” Little One stated.
“Smart nerds.” Little Zero spoke.
“Beautiful people.” Little One cheered.
“What does nothing feel like?” Little Zero asked.
Little One thought about candy.
Little One brought breads, cookies, and water to their playground. Climbed the mountain while holding a picnic in arms.
“Do you want some bread or cookies?” Little One asked.
“I have had breakfast.” Little Zero answered.
There was something about Little Zero.
Little Zero opened the backpack. There were sandwiches, juices, a sketch pad, and a full pen bag.
Little One was upset because Little One did not know anything that Little Zero was upset about.
Little One and Little Zero both loved to watch TV.
They watched different programmes together. Such as online courses and news. They loved all the programmes they chose with different prior preferences.
Little One preferred online courses the most because Little One enjoyed good grades, it was a proof of self-achievement. ‘At least I can do something good’ Little One grinned at the high marks while wondering about future successes.
However, the meaning of success floated with the surrounding phenomenon and did not have a concrete definition.
Little One entirely drowned in those huge minds. The knowledge pools made Little One totally satisfied, of their minds. When Little One needed guidance, Little One headed to the brains where it felt like a sweet dream at home. Empowering Little One’s daily life.
Little Zero cared more about rights and truths. ‘What is right? What is true? Were we real?’ Little Zero is always self-conscious. Little Zero lived in the news. From article headlines to TV live broadcasts. It was a strange magnetic attraction that led Little Zero to focus on news.
There was a story about addiction.
For a very long time while Little Zero looked at the news, ‘Someone in there I should know’ Little Zero thought. Little Zero felt the familiarity behind the words, ‘There must be someone I should know’. One day, important live events brought some presenters together. Little Zero’s brain flashed by the faces and words ‘Did you exist in my memory? Are you coming to my life? Where should I place my exciting hand?’ Little Zero imagined the emotions met, ‘They are doing the right thing. With the standards. Insist on human rights. I am hoping they have the same feelings when they hear and see me.’
‘I am here for you’ Little Zero swore.
Little One and Little Zero both on the way to find the unique routes to their destinations. They are searching for different aspects to fulfil their life cycles and emotional journeys.
Little Zero brought out the sketch book then took a pencil from the pen bag, started drawing.
Little One accompanied Little Zero with silence, and sadness.
A Seagull landed beside Little One, and sat peacefully. Little Zero focused on the sketching of the sea while sending the behavioural language to the chasing pigeons. Smart pigeons ran to the seagull and Little One. Then, the seagull joined the chasing game.
Little One felt much happier.
“Is this the sea?” Little One looked at the shadow squares and curved lines.
“Paradoxical sea.” Little Zero stated, “Or, nothing.”
Many years later, One can walk, run, even sleep on the journey of life but only Zero can fly.