NARRATOR: Tolly stood in the elevator. Her small stature makes it hard to rotate the lever. Tolly just thought that it was a part of the training. Still it was a good day as the sun was going down and the cool breeze was allowed to move through the cart. A scholar entered the cart, with a quick bow Tolly got to work. The cart moved slowly across the great chasm. The sky a brilliant red. The cart just a speck in the air.
SCHOLAR: You’re keeping on your studies.
TOLLY: Yes, sir.
SCHOLAR: Good, we need bright minds.
TOLLY: Thank you sir.
NARRATOR: The scholar watched the sky for a moment. Seeing the loose clouds.
SCHOLAR: Tell me what makes the sky so beautiful?
TOLLY: Me?
SCHOLAR: Who else?
NARRATOR: Tolly took a moment to answer.
TOLLY: Because it is. We know beauty when we see beauty.
SCHOLAR: Hmm…
NARRATOR: Tolly felt embarrassed, her cheeks turning a pink.
SCHOLAR: I see you’re a lot smarter than me at your age. When I was asked that I gave some complicated answer about color theory.
TOLLY: (assuring) That sounds like a smart answer.
SCHOLAR: (disinterested) Smart…
TOLLY: (concerned) Are you okay sir?
NARRATOR: He looked back at the sky.
SCHOLAR: How old are you?
TOLLY: Fourteen sir.
SCHOLAR: That’s good, you got a good life ahead of you. I’ve turned fifty a few days ago.
TOLLY: Congratulations sir.
SCHOLAR: Thanks..
NARRATOR: He stayed quiet for a much longer time. [cranking] The sound of the crank moving in the silent world.
SCHOLAR: Do you fear death?
TOLLY: What?
SCHOLAR: Death, do you fear it?
TOLLY: (fearfully) No?
SCHOLAR: I do, even at your age I felt that fear. I guess I need to face it sometime.
NARRATOR: She looked at him without speaking.
SCHOLAR: I spent the past thirty years looking for a why. Seems I’m cursed to never find such a reason.
NARRATOR: [creaking and small thud] He stood from the seat carefully placing down his briefcase. Tolly wanted to move back from him but she stayed put.
SCHOLAR: Maybe some of us never were meant to have a reason? You should find yours if you can.
NARRATOR: That was the last thing the Scholar said before walking to the edge of the cart and jumping…