With a hammer I've decided to begin this story, the story about Subject-16353-H. With only a hammer can you discuss such a tragedy, I believe, and also, to amplify one sentient-being's tragedy, you amplify the fact that our subject's story is being repeated across the globe. I'm sorry to say, our subject's story is definitely a daily story.
That was the physician's writing. If you want to continue reading I must warn you, for some this might be a little ...uncomfortable. Are you ready? Okay, and even though these notes were mere fragments of thoughts, a streaming conscious approach used by the physician, I'll do my best to distill the essence. Thank you.
(Subject-16353-H ---Above photo ---see foot note below, # 1)It's when the stars shine at night that Subject-16353-H comes to life. When people leave their homes bundled tight from the cold, he must prowl the streets looking for anything 'rudimentary' for survival. It's in the nooks, through others discarded garbage, through broken shards of glass that our Subject finds the necessities for life. When most of us pulling the blankets tighter over our heads, this is when it begins for our Subject. Most nights shadows are mistaken for killers more sadistic than the next.
So ...into the darkness he roams. He finds his favorite nook. His eyes pan his environment, quite a nice vantage point. But of course it's only temporary. He has to remain nomadic. But he sees all the danger here, all the vulnerabilities across his perimeter. His eyes dart to the weaknesses, for a moment, and then he moves to the next. Circularly he does this, never actually having his eyes stay on 'any one thing'. The weaknesses are all over, given equal attention if he can.
He stays in his nook for three hours, motionless. But his muscles are strung tight. He's ready at an instant if he has to be. The only movements he'll allow himself are his protecting eyes. They scan his perimeter relentlessly.
But suddenly, it appears as if his perimeter will be breached. A figure is coming at him at an incredible speed. The collision will take place in 10, 9, 8, 7; he's caught off-guard, frozen. The breach has occurred with a scream, "Tom just got it!"
(His friend ---above photo, who said, "Tom just got it!")"What did you just say? Did you say that Tom just got it?"
"Yup."
"Oh man! That's just horrible. Hey! ---don't stand up, we weren't meant to live that way. Come on down into my nook with me."
"Really?!"
"Don't be ridiculous, of course."
"Thanks. Hey ...you wouldn't have believed it if you saw it."
"What, really, that bad, I'm so sorry."
"I couldn't understand it. I mean it was horrible. They all took their sweet time!"
"What happened?"
"Well ...Tom tried to make that hairy intersection, you know the one. He saw a half eaten sandwich just sitting there across the street, so he had to go for it. You would have done the same. He almost made it, but a car just clipped him. So ya, Tom lay there in the gutter bleeding to death. But still they just stared at his agony not knowing what to do. But then, they looked in his back pocket for some identification, and it was confirmed: Tom was a CAT!?! Just a minute later he died right there in that gutter! I doubt I'll ever get over it." They hugged.
Foot note # 1: He's scared!
