Waiting in line.
Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
Seconds turn into minutes until it's finally their turn.
They've worked so hard to get here, to be here as they are.
Years of work, years of pain and determination. Night after night after night dreaming and planning and working. Not much sleep…
And here they are. Time to see what's next, shown on the screen in front of them.
What do they see? Well, clearly something is not right.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"This can't be right."
The screen runner checks.
"No, it's right."
"It can't be. Are you sure? This isn't right. It wouldn't be fair."
"The screen is showing what I'm seeing here."
"But that's not fair."
"I know."
"What am I supposed to do? What did I do wrong? This isn't fair, what did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything wrong. That's just what it shows."
"But why? I didn't do anything wrong. Why is it showing this?"
"I don't know."
"No, there must be something else. Surely this can't be possible, it doesn't make sense. I've worked so hard."
"Let me check."
…
"No, this is the only possibility."
"Please you can't do this. It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong. Why is that what it shows? I can't do this. It's not possible."
"I don't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
"Not here."
"Why? What I did to deserve this?"
"You didn't do anything to deserve it."
"So why is it happening? It isn't fair I didn't do anything wrong this wasn't supposed to happen I worked so hard."
"It's not a failure on your part, of not working hard enough. That's just what it shows."
"There has to be something you can't just do this it's not fair how is this happening"
"…"
"You can't do this don't I get a second chance or an opportunity to argue for myself or another option even just a temporary solution"
"No, you don't."
"But what did I do wrong. I don't understand. I don't deserve this. This isn't fair. I did everything right. I clawed my way here. This is what kept me going."
"I can't change what it shows."
"Please."
"There's nothing I can do."
"I can't do this. I can't. It's not possible."
"I know."
"Why is no one helping?"
"People are helping."
"What do I need to do? How do I contact them?"
"It's too late, it wouldn't change what the screen shows."
"This isn't fair."
"I know."
"Can I stay here for a short while?"
"No."
"What am I supposed to do? I can't do this. I don't have any options. You can't do this, it's not fair."
"I don't control what the screen shows."
"That's not what I mean."
"You're running out of time. The minutes have turned into hours."
"There has to be another option this isn't fair. It's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong. Why is the screen showing this? I can't do it I already told you I have no options you can't tell me to do this it's not fair I didn't do anything wrong why isn't anyone helping why can't you help"
"I don't know. Your time is up, there are other people."
…
Hesitantly, they turned around and left. Hoping something, anything would happen. Hoping the screen runner would call to them, clarifying something they missed. Maybe this was all a mistake. But they kept walking, and nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Why did this happen? It isn't fair.