Ignorance usually is bliss...

Robert left the office with a sick feeling inside him. He knew that the decision the board made wasn’t easy. There would be consequences to their decisions that awful day. How could he go about living his life now? Or worse, how could anyone else live theirs? He climbed into the black sedan and slid into the leather seats which were always cool and sterile. The driver looks into the rear-view mirror, 

“Am I taking you to the party, sir?”

“No, just take me home,” And the car rolls forward.

How could I let this happen? Robert thought to himself. The research put into the science was supposed to be for improving the lives of millions, and now something went awry. Probably something in the math. But where? An illegible equation. A forgotten digit? The science was so sensitive that several technicians were manning the research and spent several late nights going over the sequencing on and on and on. And yet, human error was still the victor. Now the board had executed an executive order to try to cover up the mess, but Robert knows that it is already too late.

He looks out of his tinted window only to see his reflection flashing on and off from the sunset peeking through the tall hi-rises. In his reflection’s absence, he would see the people walking along the busy sidewalks. Robert knew that there was nothing he could do to stop what was about to happen. There was no one he could save. The authorities if notified would not have enough time to act. All he could do was to just go home and try to enjoy one more night of the routine life.

“Are you okay, sir?” The driver asked him.

Robert delays his response still lost in his thoughts. “I’m fine Jeffrey. Just…a long day at the office.” Robert concludes with a faded smile.

“Oh yeah? Well cheer up. There’s always tomorrow.”  

“Yes there is…” Robert knew that that statement was hearsay which now caused him to well up in tears.

Arriving at his quiet apartment on the 34^th floor, he looks out across the cityscape marveling at the tangerine sky slowly being chased down by the violet night. That will be the last time the sun will set on a sane world (as sane as it can be) he thinks to himself. While taking a seat at the edge of his bed, he reaches under to pull out a box. He removes the top lid only to discover a picture of him graduating from MIT. He had so much promise and wanted to do so much good, but now the world will be altered for the worse. He did play with the idea of suicide but rather thought of it noble to stay alive and go down with the ship – owning up to his mistakes by bracing for what was about to happen.