The value of a human life
.
What is the value of a human life?
It must be high, because we don't have the rights to ourselves.
I can't kill myself, that would be selfish. ___ loves me too much to bear that, i'm told. Not to mention ___, and ___, and ___, and ___ and ___ and ____ and any number of ___'s who assign me as theirs.
Why should I have to stay alive to exist as a commodity for others to consume?
Stay alive, and when you die, machines will keep you sustained until the world has finished with you.
What is the value of a human life, and why has it never been mine to own?
Can we put a price on the love of others? If someday, I am rich enough, if I work hard enough, can I buy them out?
Keep breathing. Keep fighting. Keep working. Keep grinding. You are useful. You have a purpose. You are owned.
The value of my life, disassembled and sold for stock in other peoples hearts. I am ornamental, dusted off like the Sunday Best and worn threadbare.
I didn't sign up to do the repairs.
About the Creator
Christiane Winter
Science fiction, horror, and dark comedy enthusiast. I have been a GM for D&D for 10 years, playing for nearly 20. Like all aspiring authors, I have hundreds of stories, and almost none have been finished.
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Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
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Smartystan
Rain didn’t stop Mala. Swaddling for Edgar covered the baby boy’s body and she held her other son’s, Burton, six-year-old hand. The mud, muck, and mire didn’t hinder her from staying on course with her mission. From Pennsylvania, they all trekked to get closer and closer to land that was never promised but simply implied. Each step produced more mud caked around her sneakers. She didn’t care. Her rucksack provided them protein packs to put into plastic bottles and nuts and berries and dried meats to keep their muscles in good health. Water hydrated. She rested. The baby had been asleep the entire time that she had started her journey and her eldest son remained silent throughout the excursion as well.
By Skyler Saunders3 days ago in Chapters
Comments (22)
Congrats on Top Story!🥳
This is dark and cutting and a deep reflection on the commodification of humanity. Well done. I’m glad I found your work!
"Enjoying your insightful content! If you're interested in similar topics, feel free to check out my profile for more. Would love to connect and share thoughts!"
Superb work! Keep it up—congratulations!
This is incredible. I hope you feel proud. This sent my mind spiraling in directions it hasn’t gone before. I’m a survivor of a teenage suicide attempt, and there have been many times in my life when I questioned why I’m here. I’m now one of the happiest people I’ve ever known, which is kinda odd, because my life is “normal.” I do not have it all. I know people who seemingly have it all and they’re miserable. I think the secret is to live for yourself only. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful literary art with us. I appreciate you. 🩷
Disassembled and sold for stock in other people's hearts - love that bit!
I wanted to shout YES! at the end, this is moving and I love it!
Great piece of literature here
Thought-provoking work. Thank you for sharing.
Beautiful and deeply affecting!
Nice one. Congrats.
💖 Congrats on top story!!💖
cool!
Outstanding work
SO powerful! Wow!
This is stunning in its thoughtful riskiness. Your last statement will stay with me all day and likely much longer than that. The worth of something/someone/ourselves is so complex, and you simplified it in a skilled and lovely way.
Very nicely done. Congrats on the TS.
a stunning meditation. thank you for sharing this.
More to this than simple words, took me a while to soak it all in. Congratulations
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Wow just... wow! At first I almost didn't dare respond. It seems dangerous somehow, and yet your text conveys a feeling I think many of us have experienced. It is also provoking, and seem to "vibrate" somehow. Living only for other people is not a great feeling. I do hope (if the poem reflects your own life) you find your freedom soon, and by that I mean I hope you find joy in living on your own terms. Doing the repairs because you want to, not because someone else told you to. Wishing you luck!