TYX 6

¹The terrain is hilly, and barren, except for a few shrubs scattered across the ground. ²The night sky is out in all its glory, the bright stars and the full moon illuminating the landscape. ³Yex walks slowly, behind Tee. ⁴The two do not speak, but they hear the roar of a river. ⁵Eventually, the two arrive upon its bank, and Tee finally speaks. ⁶“Here, let’s rest.” ⁷“I think I get it now, my friend. ⁸To ask why is to worry about causes and reasons. ⁹But just as there is death in this life, there is life in death, too. ¹⁰This instant does not create the next, but rather, the moments flow and splash in time, like this river, powerful, indeed, but forever fleeting. ¹¹And I can’t see where the water comes from or where the water goes in the end, but I am here, now, and I can feel its current across my fingers, cold and fast.” ¹²Tee smiles, but does not respond to Yex’s words. ¹³Yex takes a small drink from the river and continues to speak. ¹⁴“And we are here simply because we are. ¹⁵It is easy to wonder why, but not everything needs a cause, I don’t think. ¹⁶This is the truth that I was searching for, and I was staring it in its eyes all along.” ¹⁷Tee, too, takes a drink from the river, and responds. ¹⁸“You are far smarter than me, my friend, smarter than I can ever be. ¹⁹And for that, I am proud of you.” ²⁰Yex remains entranced with the river, and eventually speaks after some time. ²¹“But although we are strong, we must remember that time keeps secrets, too. ²²For one day this river might carve a canyon and dry up, leaving its legacy on these hills. ²³And someday, somebody might come across the canyon, and they will appreciate its elegance. ²⁴And if they try hard enough, they can maybe even see the river that once ran strong, cutting through the rocks. ²⁵But they will never feel its current across their fingers.” ²⁶There is silence as the two sit. ²⁷“I enjoy hearing you speak, my friend. ²⁸And yes, I agree, I think I’d want to know how, rather than why. ²⁹But will they be like us, whoever comes across the canyon? ³⁰Will they be like you and me?” ³¹Yex looks at Tee, and appears almost confused, but again there is silence.