Aria, this was a great read. The topic of grief cannot be brought up without also speaking on catharsis. It makes me wonder, is indifference to grief the same as reconciliation with grief? Both accomplish the same cathartic end, perhaps one is more effective… what you do think?
thank you for reading, arjun! i do think there’s a categorical difference between indifference and reconciliation. you, as a person, change when you move through grief intentionally, such that even if the outcome of this one event is the same as what indifference might lead to, your life is materially better going forward because you have a greater capacity to either address or endure. indifference might get u there faster/be more effective in the short-term, but you're much better off in the long run if you teach yourself how to process it now imo. i appreciate the comment!
I was captivated by this story! I love the attention to detail (e.g., salt air, air raw with brine, salt-burnt, sodium lamp); it really makes the narration feel cohesive. The plotline itself feels like something out of a horror movie. An organism that can differentiate between tone and intention in sound and somehow take that away and use it as sustenance? That's horrifying (not the point of the story, ik).
"And then, one day, you find yourself free of the need to carry certain burdens. It metabolizes what you no longer want. Grief. Shame. Remorse. The feelings that rot a life from the inside.” I found that quotation to be the most compelling part of the story. She insinuates that we're better off without these things, and obviously, I beg to differ (as do many others). We see that by the end, he's unable to feel. Life's color has dulled, and he loses all sense of meaning. I'm a very strong believer that if we try to take away our regret, shame, guilt, or any other negative emotion from our past experiences, we lose all of the good that came with it: this story very beautifully highlights that.
Tysm for this!! I'm really happy u picked up on that shift at the end, it’s def meant to feel like... not quite a win lol. also totally agree w what u said abt needing the "bad" to make the good mean something. It's all relative, and if the cost of not suffering is apathy/indifference, it makes life entirely not worth living in my opinion. I think we offload our emotions in other ways rn (doomscrolling/substance abuse being some obvious examples) - obviously not to the extent that he does, but there's the natural inclination to try and avoid suffering. Idk, at what point does that stop being justifiable/start becoming harmful?
I think that avoiding suffering is instinctual, but when it becomes chronic, whether through distraction or detachment, it can start to actually "rot a life from the inside." The things that make life meaningful start to erode, such as growth, authenticity, and connection. Suffering gives joy some texture, regret teaches us our values, and shame can guide us to accountability; so when we lose our capacity to feel those things, we lose depth and purpose. It's a line that's hard to teeter on for sure!
aria ur prose is very beautiful! loved reading the story and it reminded me of a black mirror episode. i wonder if even if he no longer is capable of grieving for his ex-wife, would the protag still be capable of mourning the person he was that used to grieve? or in other words can u grieve for the absence of grief? i think with relationships its always interesting to ask ppl whether they believe they lost something in the process of moving on, and whether or not that loss is something worth mourning. keep writing more!
Aria, this was a great read. The topic of grief cannot be brought up without also speaking on catharsis. It makes me wonder, is indifference to grief the same as reconciliation with grief? Both accomplish the same cathartic end, perhaps one is more effective… what you do think?
thank you for reading, arjun! i do think there’s a categorical difference between indifference and reconciliation. you, as a person, change when you move through grief intentionally, such that even if the outcome of this one event is the same as what indifference might lead to, your life is materially better going forward because you have a greater capacity to either address or endure. indifference might get u there faster/be more effective in the short-term, but you're much better off in the long run if you teach yourself how to process it now imo. i appreciate the comment!
I was captivated by this story! I love the attention to detail (e.g., salt air, air raw with brine, salt-burnt, sodium lamp); it really makes the narration feel cohesive. The plotline itself feels like something out of a horror movie. An organism that can differentiate between tone and intention in sound and somehow take that away and use it as sustenance? That's horrifying (not the point of the story, ik).
"And then, one day, you find yourself free of the need to carry certain burdens. It metabolizes what you no longer want. Grief. Shame. Remorse. The feelings that rot a life from the inside.” I found that quotation to be the most compelling part of the story. She insinuates that we're better off without these things, and obviously, I beg to differ (as do many others). We see that by the end, he's unable to feel. Life's color has dulled, and he loses all sense of meaning. I'm a very strong believer that if we try to take away our regret, shame, guilt, or any other negative emotion from our past experiences, we lose all of the good that came with it: this story very beautifully highlights that.
Tysm for this!! I'm really happy u picked up on that shift at the end, it’s def meant to feel like... not quite a win lol. also totally agree w what u said abt needing the "bad" to make the good mean something. It's all relative, and if the cost of not suffering is apathy/indifference, it makes life entirely not worth living in my opinion. I think we offload our emotions in other ways rn (doomscrolling/substance abuse being some obvious examples) - obviously not to the extent that he does, but there's the natural inclination to try and avoid suffering. Idk, at what point does that stop being justifiable/start becoming harmful?
thank you for reading and for your thoughts!
I think that avoiding suffering is instinctual, but when it becomes chronic, whether through distraction or detachment, it can start to actually "rot a life from the inside." The things that make life meaningful start to erode, such as growth, authenticity, and connection. Suffering gives joy some texture, regret teaches us our values, and shame can guide us to accountability; so when we lose our capacity to feel those things, we lose depth and purpose. It's a line that's hard to teeter on for sure!
aria ur prose is very beautiful! loved reading the story and it reminded me of a black mirror episode. i wonder if even if he no longer is capable of grieving for his ex-wife, would the protag still be capable of mourning the person he was that used to grieve? or in other words can u grieve for the absence of grief? i think with relationships its always interesting to ask ppl whether they believe they lost something in the process of moving on, and whether or not that loss is something worth mourning. keep writing more!
<3 <3
imo the loss of mourning/grief/regret, and the movement into apathy, is worse than any of the initial feelings
thank u for readingg!
great 👍