What drives people to flock altogether and partake in social interactions? It was once said that humans are social creatures, meaning it is in their very nature to seek and interact with other human beings. As for myself, I’ve been living deep in a secluded wood on an island for the past two decades now. In spite of being locked down in one of the most remote places on the planet, I desperately need to tell myself regularly that I was productive enough during last weekend.

“This is my last wish, please let me die as a true warrior who fought with pride alongside his comrades.”

These were the last words that I spoke before the girl, whom my teammates and I were ordered to kidnap, delivered the fatal blow. She slowly lifted my sword and cleanly slit my throat open. Streams of blood started flowing vigorously. It was a sunny day and the wood where I laid seemed almost peaceful if it weren’t for the small scarlet pond that had my hair drenched little by little. A few moments later, the stream of blood started slowing down. But I wasn’t there anymore to observe this because I had already left this world.

What defines reality? This endless question has been treated by countless philosphers and thinkers ever since the dawn of time. Some have argued that you will never know what it is because humans are bound by their bodies to grasp reality through their senses. If these senses are essential for us to get to know our environment and effectively undertake this task mostly, sometimes they can be deceitful.

Once again I gave a few thoughts on this matter yesterday, after I visited a twisted person whose mind was possessed by a terrifying madness. This person has been living in a psychatric facility for a year. And his delusion is so intense that he firmly believes to be living in an abandonned city where he is asked to participate in deadly games with strangers. I’ve been regularly visiting him as a member of the volunteer association over the past few months. For some reason, what initially felt like a chore gradually became a moment I came to look forward to every week. Despite this person being a lunatic, I perceived something that I lacked in this mad person. When I arrived, he greeted me in this manner: