The Laws of Raindrops

The raindrops splattered the train window and raced across in identical diagonals. He stared at one, trying to will it in another direction. Trying to make it respond to the irrational laws of human will.

Nothing happened.

He looked back inside the carriage. Everybody had their eyes on their mobile phones, human raindrops splattering across the algorithm of destiny.

Then he noticed the guy next to him. He had a swastika tattooed on his arm. A fucking swastika! How did this guy belong on a commuter train? Since when did neo-nazis keep tidy office hours? 

He studied the guy. He had long hair and a worn, sad face. No angry racist vibe. And in another fault in the laws that govern humans and raindrops he was wearing a Simpsons t-shirt. A comedy nerd with a swastika. The guy would have won nicest neo-nazi of the year.

He wanted to hear him speak. He stared intently at his forehead, willing him to look up from his laptop.

Nothing happened.

The train started to slow for the next station. Finally, he nudged the guy and said, 'Hi mate, can I ask you a question?'.

The guy looked up, blinking his watery eyes, ‘What?’ he said.

 'Do you think free will exists?'

The guy put his laptop in his bag and stood up. He looked like he wasn't going to reply, but then he spoke, ‘Maybe not. But you’re always free to own your mistakes’.

Analogue social post: bus shelter, Bulli.