自殺事件

Another star to the heavens.

The union workers stare in awe and silence. One speaks.

"Y'know how they say there're as many stars in Heaven as there're people on Earth?"

"What of it?" Another replies, turning his head towards the questioner. The rest continue to stare up.

"Which one do you think he is? ..." And both stared up again. "..., see the one up there? The one that shines brightly in flickers and glimmers, then falling to darkness each time? Kind of like him, isn't it?"

Eerie silence.

The questioner spoke again. "...I'm sorry. I know he was in a different branch and all. But don't you think about it? When will the skies be rich with sparkles and there be only a single man on Earth to appreciate it? What if it's me? What if all of you are gone? What would it feel like? In fact, what does it feel like to die? Why'd he do it? Did he have a good reason? Was it impulsive? Was he trying to send a strong message?"

Eerie silence.

"Everytime I think of it I stare up and I see that star right there, by itself, flickering brightly and lonesomely. And I just start thinking about him. Why? I mean, he's just a stranger in another branch, isn't it?" He looked left and right. Everyone else continues to stare up.

"...It's just that all he's done is leave us with more questions than answers; as if we didn't already have enough to begin with! And all we can do is..."

"Speculate?" The questioner turned his head, and found himself staring eye to eye with one of the other workers.

"Huh?"

"Speculate. That was what you were going to say, right?" And he turned back up to stare at the stars.

"Yeah, but..." The questioner hung his head down this time.

"Then it's best to do nothing, fellow mate." The questioner stared at him. He was still staring up.

"Wha?"

"We bear no part in this. We do not speculate, it is disrespectful to the dead. His choice is his to be, our opinions are ours to be; but our judgment of him must never come to be. We do not ask the dead to speak, the dead tell no tales. We do not seek answers from the dead, we will find too much in the truth to take."

The questioner continued to stare. "But aren't you..."

"Curious? It no longer matters. I treat knowing the answer as a mere prize and award for my curiosity when he has sacrificed his life over it. He is one of us still, fellow mate, and it best be in your interests to keep out of the lives of others. I'm sure it's in his interests too. All we do is to mourn."

And they all stared up at the sky to mourn in silence.

But even then,

Perhaps even silence is still one word too many.