Almost a Fairy Tale pt 2: The Alchemist

A depressed alchemist brews a love potion, so he can love himself again.

So he concocts the perfect plan to gather the right ingredients. He goes into the big "town" telling everyone he has been planning to kill himself, that he has been suffering from the big D for quite some time now, and that the meds no longer work, that the hateful words of his enemies have dealt him the final crushing blow.

And "Friends"  react, showering him with likes, sad faces, and hearts. They tell him that he is beautiful, that life is still worth it, that he has to fight on, that he has allies- He is NOT alone. He gets comments after comments of advises, praises, pledge of loyalties, and even prescriptions. Satisfied. He drinks the potion.

And for quite some time he does love himself- for a night.



The next day he goes into 'town" with a broad smile, and "sees" a former lover, who is now married and with a family of her own - A cute kid, a car, a home, a loving husband. the smile shortens. he gives them a "heart" while being reminded of the constant question  "when are you getting married and have kids? you are getting old"

Next, he sees a friend fresh from a vacation "showing" everyone the beauty of the place he has recently been in. The alchemist commends that friend, giving him a "thumbs up". The alchemist's last travel was months ago.

His smile is now barely noticeable and disappears entirely when he sees another friend wearing his graduation magic cape. He has failed to earn his own. He gives that friend a "Wow". He sees more, gym body posts, family pictures, food pornography, and all other smiles bigger than his already shrunk one. He "Likes" them all.

Mechanically now, he continues scrolling down.

And his walk through town has reveled to him that the great Amazon forest is burning (Sad face), that a convicted rapist is to be set free (angry face), that Spider Man will no longer be with his friends the Avengers, (sad face), another celebrity couple breaks up (no face), another storm is coming (sad face), that his favorite Lion King was actually plagiarized - a rip off (angry face)

The potion's effect has totally worn off, he cannot love himself again. this time neither does he love the world anymore.

He decides to quit town and go back to his hut where the all too familiar feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness welcomes him home like two invisible caring arms hugging him. He tries to shake them off as he has been trying to do, but this time he is just too tired to struggle. He returns the hug.

There, in his acceptance of his own defeat and failure, he somehow smiles again.