Parasyte and Parasite

“You called yourself superior

And concluded all else inferior

All you saw was the obvious exterior

Wilfully oblivious to the interior

Your arrogance of the days anterior

Come to haunt you in the present and posterior

Burden of changing times, its patient carrier

Prospects are slim, thus hope grows wearier

The truth, lies behind an open barrier

Your blind audacious denial, still scarier

If only you could walk a path, ulterior

Think, wouldn't all life be merrier.”

“Wh…what” I said as twitched in my bed as I heard this faint rhyme in echo in my mind.

“Oh, should I repeat it” said a pronounced female voice, an unfamiliar female voice. This was enough to jolt me awake out of my sleep, “What, who’s that?” I yelled in shock as sprung upright.

There was silence, was it my imagination I wondered, disgruntled I groped around my bed to find my phone to check what time it was, “12:05 am, what one day I try to sleep early and my brain plays tricks” I cursed as crashed back into my pillow upset that my sleep schedule was forever doomed to be messed up.

“Your brain is not playing any tricks on you” the female voice spoke again, calm and assertive, it echoed but still felt so distant at the same time.

“What who's there, who are you show yourself” I said trying to sound intimidating, but my shivering legs spoke volumes on my frightened state, betraying my tough guy attempt.

“You won’t find me anywhere there, for I am not there” the female voice spoke again, an air superiority clear in its tone.

Whatever it was, it spoke the truth, I hurriedly turned the lights on in my room, it was as I had left it, no sign of intrusion or hostility. Everything was exactly where I had left it, be the takeout parcel bowls or my laptop, I would ofcourse recognize the mess I’d create. “Then where are you, and what am I talking to?” I mustered up the courage to ask.

“There is no word in your vocabulary to describe me, but for now I speak from within you, I reside within you” the female voice spoke again.

“Huh…. what do you mean within me……am I dreaming” I ask, my curiosity now overpowering my fear.

“No, you are not dreaming, I exist and now I reside within your brain” the voice replied.

“The hell you mean my brain, is this some sort of fever dream or am I losing my sanity”, I curse at the situation, curiosity fell, it was full panic mode now.

“Your emotions and hormones are running rampant, control yourself or I will do so for you” the female voice spoke, its tone clean and surgical.

“The hell you mean you will control me get out of my skull whatever you are……” I say as I shout in panic, totally unbothered by the fact that I might disturb my neighbours at midnight.

“No, I will not depart your body human, and I reiterate, I can control you but I refrain from doing so, respecting your autonomy”, the female voice stated, the voice was unknown, but there was something in it that told me, it spoke the truth. Its voice was buttressed by some power, something I didn’t know yet. The voice had drawn a silent line, a line it expected that I didn’t cross, a line I dare don’t cross.

Its assertion, left me lost for words, silence fell, an awkward silence. The voice did not utter a word, although I could not see it, I felt it, I could feel it waiting for my response. The silence was oppressive and loud, it soon grew suffocating and distracting, I could not focus on my thoughts one bit, there was too much to think about, and too little privacy. Even amidst this silence, I felt watched, heard and observed, it was eerie. The room illuminated by the bulbs light did very little in mitigating this feeling. Light is supposed to disperse darkness both physical and metaphorical, however now it only served to remind me that, this voice spoke some truth. It was not in the room or around me physically it was within me.

“So, what are you?” I asked wearily, breaking this silence.

“I am a living organism” the female voice said, confident and curt.

“That’s vague” I immediately retort and to which it replies “it’s not- life describes me well enough.”

There was a conviction in those replies that told me that I would not get anywhere with this line of questioning, I needed a new strategy. “Fine then life-form, describe yourself what are you a tadpole stuck in my head?”.

“A tadpole……” the voice pauses, unusual for it, then continues “I may have a way to explain myself to you, think of me as snake that lives within your cranium right now and if I so choose to do so I can attach myself to your brain and completely takeover your life.”

Monotonous it was, but veiled were its interpretations, this was not just a threat, it was an introduction and a show of power. A creature that could dominate a human's life by attaching itself to the brain, scary as it sounded, it was also familiar, and I knew very well what it was!

“Fuck…. you are one of those right….one of those snake alien like parasytes that caused the whole mincemeat murder episode in Japan…. you are the same kind as them right”, I spoke overcome with fear and defeat, I had almost resigned to my fate.

“Your description is crude, but your recollection of the events that my kin wrought upon this planet is accurate, but I assure you I am not here to repeat the actions of my kind”, there was something different in its voice now, I noticed, it sounded, almost sentient and sincere.

The sincerity was almost too suspicious, “what did it mean by repeat the actions of my kind?”, I thought to myself, I ed following that story very closely on the news, every lead and update, and one of the most important aspect humans had learnt of this parasitic alien is that it lacked all sense of community, then how was this one aware of the havoc caused by its kind.

Cautiously I asked” what do you mean and why are you here?”

“I am here to propose a deal” the female voice asserted, its usual haughtiness now back in its voice. “A deal… you want to bargain with me for what….” I sneer at the odd idea of talking with a murderous species of aliens. “For not killing you off right now” the female voice spoke, it reeked with murder, for a moment I could feel an invisible blade held at my throat. The alien spoke true, the murder in its voice loud.

Alerted by the I imminent danger to my life, i retracted my sneer, with caution I inquired, “deal?????? of what kind, what do you want.” The response was quick, almost too quick, it felt rehearsed and planned, the female voice spoke again “the deal is very simple, you shall be my host for the next 24 hours and let me observe human life and quell my doubts about your kind whenever should they arise. Comply to these and i shall reject your body and depart voluntarily?”

This almost didn’t feel like a deal, it felt like a ransom, i was effectively being held hostage, but there was a strange sense of honesty in the alien’s proposition, it almost felt genuine. My mind raced with possibilities, firstly why does this alien wish to observe human life, didn’t they just consume human’s whole like they did in the past. Secondly, it was clear this variant of the alien parasite was different from the rest, it had sentience and a sense of independence from the host. Thirdly and possibly most important, why it have to be me?

“I accept, i have some questions however” I replied, carefully choosing my words, ‘conditions’ would barely make any sense I didn’t have any desired card in my deck, questions seemed optimal, as much as I hated it, I knew i had to play along.

“I shall clarify them and I accept your proposition” the female voice spoke stately as ever.

“Aight, then before everything else tell me why on earth do you want to observe humans, doesn’t your kind just think of us a food, or are you something different and have some other goals”

“My behaviour, is not much different from my kind and yes, I still see your kind as food, if i were to quote a human process, i would say this would the first stage of domestication. Your kind studied and slowly interacted with other species before subjugating them and so that is the very sum of my visit. To analyse how well can we take over human life, without much protest.”

I was mortified, what were those words, domestication, take over, protest, species just what was this alien talking about, if this alien just wanted to dominate human civilization, then why not do it the old way, just bring space ships, what is this intellectual domination nonsense. It almost sounded like the parasitic alien species now wanted to enslave humanity and not just consume them.

My heart sank lower, not only was I currently infested with a one such parasite now I had to play along with its whims and fancies of dominating human society. It said that it wanted to study humans, observe them, what could that mean? The alien sounded eloquent enough so it was reasonable to assume that it didn’t mean language or some basic human intellect, heck it was even singing a poem or something…wait that poem…” did you write that poem or was it anthem……” I enquire of the parasite.

“Oh, that poem is something I wrote now, it’s no anthem, it was merely an effort to break ice, which apparently seemed to have failed, noted” the alien said her tone distant as ever. “Break ice, you aren’t here for kinship are you why bother and seriously a poem” I retort, increasingly feeling repulsive, being treated as some lab rat. The alien responds, its voice patronising “I only did so because I thought it would appeal to you, when I inhabited your brain and began to harvest thoughts and information, I noticed you have a flair drama and theatrics, therefore I concluded that you would be more amicable if I began with a poem. I also used a feminine voice for the very same purpose, I was able to conclude from your thoughts that you are bachelor who has never reproduced so, a female voice would be more comforting and enticing. However I was proven wrong on both s, it seems.”

I was flustered and furious, “hey I am not some weird theatre kid who lives in a fantasy world and what do you mean not reproduced, I am just 22 and I am NOT some desperate guy…” I yell in protest at the awkward conclusions the alien drew.

“Is that so human, albeit your thoughts suggest otherwise, and interesting so in human society mating is delayed much after attaining sexual maturity, I see” the alien concludes.

I couldn’t take it anymore, “first thing I am not some human, I am Apt, that’s my name and you will stay out my thoughts and mating life… I mean love life.”

“For now, I shall agree to the latter two demands, but no I shall not address you as Apt, I shall address you as ‘human’ itself” the alien asserts coldly.

“Why?” I ask feeling somewhat dejected.

“Because I see no meaning in it, human, names are just an artificial construct your kind chooses to associate with, unfound in all else species, so why on earth should your kind be allowed to indulge in this farce of self-identification.” The parasites words echoed in my brain, it came at the expense of my esteem and courage. This extraterrestrial being thought so lowly of us humans this was clear, all it thought of us was food, or an exotic ingredient maybe worth experimenting, beyond that we were as expendable as we got. My grim moorings were cut short by the alien, “names add an artificial sense of separation and superiority in your kind, and dare I say a sense of personal bonding. Let me make this very clear human, to me you are no different than a dog or cat or an elephant, you all are mammals and have largely coinciding needs and behaviours, you all seek shelter, food and a mate. Therefore, I see no reason in, using ‘names’, furthermore names are just an extension of your selective personal bonding, you name some animals while you don’t name others, you don’t have one name but many, sometimes you become a teacher or a mom or a dad or a customer or a guest or a student or an employee, again all artificial identities, of which I have no concern.”

These words broke me, completely, no response or thought stirred within me, there wasn’t even a reaction, the aliens’ words were not only surgical and cold but also dehumanising, the irony that I should choose that word. It was de-species-izing if that’s even a word, this alien didn’t even see difference between the various organism. This felt horrible for some reason, some reason I wasn’t able to explain, it made me uncomfortable in my own skin, it was like being bred for slaughter and somehow being aware of the end goal made it a lot worse.

The night took its course, calm and swift, outside my window the city slumbered, the world slumbered unaware of this travesty that would befall upon us very soon. Ignorance was true bliss, they slept comfortably unknowing and unaffected by this, while here I lay on my bed helpless and worried. Helplessness was the true hell, a cage, created by one’s own incapacity, what could I do to stop this alien take over I had no idea, it was truly hellish to know the end goal of these creatures, the ultimate subjugation of humanity, but there was nothing I could do about it. Such thoughts bare heavy on the mind and before I could think for long, I was asleep.

The alien was strangely respectful of my privacy, it did not interrupt me while I slept nor did it interfere with my melancholy about the impending alien invasion. Was it out of respect or apathy, one has his doubts, something tells me it was apathy, it just did not find anything interesting or worth querying and therefore didn’t feel a conversation was needed, and thus let silence prevail.

Not before long, my alarm was buzzing, it was already 7 30 am in the morning, this was a quick and short sleep, and somehow tiring, last nights events were vivid in my headspace still. A part of me hoped it was a weird dream, but it was real, the alien itself chose to make it clear, “oh you have woken up” it said, it sounded more observational than concerned. “I am very much alive if that’s what you wanted to know” I replied sarcastically to the alien, which responded by saying “yes your premature death would be problematic.” This aliens lack of tact sure hurt.

Mornings only meant one thing for me, getting ready for work, it was mostly peaceful until this alien decided to speak again, “why do you wear clothes and why do you have so many of them?” my only response to this awkward question was “what?”, the alien spoke again “allow me to clarify…”, cutting it short I said “I understood what you mean, why are you asking that, isn’t it obvious?”. “No, it, is not” the alien responded, “what part of it don’t you understand?” I truly didn’t understand what the alien found so strange about wearing clothes. It was quick to elaborate, “why must humans wear clothes, your kind has an exterior protective layer called the skin, but still, you choose to drown and drape yourself in cloth and cosmetics why?”

“You expect me to go naked to work?” I retort, “what’s the harm in being naked, aren’t you just proudly flaunting your skin and body in that way, then again only your species has managed to invent this idea of clothes not a single other species, I find it interesting" the alien replied.

“I can’t go to work naked; I live in a city, a society has rules and morality yk” I tried explaining to the alien, however it wouldn’t budge “rules and morality you say, rules and morality you came up with that run counter to your own ecosystem? An ape or a giraffe doesn’t wear clothes so why should you? Furthermore, as far I have seen the sole objective of clothing is appeal, you dress to project, wealth, power or sensuality. Clothes are seldom worn for protection or have other ergonomically prudent uses. It’s all just for show and to please potential mates. I wonder if it’s to attract a mate then don’t clothes hide what must be revealed?”

“Hey not everything is done to attract a mate, why are you so obsessed with reproduction” I cut the strain of thoughts that the alien was indulging in.

“It isn’t? From my perspective it does seem so, but however then tell me is their different reason, to drape oneself in clothing? Something more personal; your kind, human is known to judge briskly and decisively on the exterior, you disregard your fellow humans based solely on appearances, so is fashion an excuse to fit in, to conform to into a society that ostracizes upon the exterior?”

“Maybe, there surely might be a psychological reason why fashion is so important in the human world” I say with a hint of vulnerability.

The alien interrupts, uncharacteristically, never before was it so eager to put forth its point,” you and coddle your kind your kind by calling it psychological, but it is superficial that is what it is. Why do you indulge in this extravagant preening ritual is not the great question, the real question is, at what cost do you avail this false exterior?”

“Money…. yeah, I mean these clothes are not exactly cheap….” I was saying before being interrupted again.

“Money is again an artificial concept, created by your kind. Currency is not found in this world anywhere beyond. It gives a sense of false sense of ownership on what you don’t know, it legitimizes your stolen lordship, I meant the cost of the environment.”

The alien paused, before resuming “you are not the first host I took, I have worn this ‘human cloth, this shell’ in plenty other hosts and acquired knowledge and experience far and wide. Still your kind perplexes me the most, you surely know the grave penalty you exact at the environment to amass this pile of clothing, don’t you? Forests are felled far and wide to make more space for farmland, to cultivate cotton and other fibres, animals are reared and bread only for what can be harvested such as their hair or fur, and if they cannot be domesticated then they are hunted, be it the foxes for their sheen or whales to make perfumes and crockets sometimes to the point of extinction, all so that you can make a bolder appeal to a mate.”

The alien didn’t stop there, “it doesn’t end there either, plain cloth is not appealing either, I am aware of the concept of dying and the use of other chemicals in this, what happens of that, your kind has no solution to that either other than, letting all the waste run into the rivers and other water bodies killing both life and the ecosystem. This is not a once off occurrence either, it done in abundance and almost daily, its not that you all wear one cloth for the whole of your lives, you keep acquiring new sets at great frequency, only so that you don’t fall behind in this artificial society you have constructed, how ironic. This artificial ladder, a hierarchy of looks that you ascend only via purchased confidence is hoisted at the peril and steady destruction of the environment.”

The words the alien spoke was profound and wholly true, but I couldn’t go naked to work, however it struck me odd that why was this alien a species not native to our planet be concerned about the environment so much, despite that I couldn’t deny its words left an impression on me.

For the next few hours the alien didn’t speak, was it silently observing me work, was it trying to understand work ethic or did it think it was not worthy of observation at all, I don’t know, nor did I mind the silence was a welcome reprieve. The silence wasn’t natural, it felt forced and awkward, for the rest whole day my mind wasn’t entirely mine own. I knew the alien would break the silence soon and pose a question, I just knew it would come, sooner or later.

It did come, sooner than later, during the lunch break, due to all that transpired in the morning I wasn’t able to pack lunch and hence I was out alone to grab a quick meal, as I was about to sit for lunch the alien spoke again.” I don’t know which of the two human inventions is more ridiculous, currency or names, earlier I thought names but I am leaning towards currency.” Its tone proactive and assertive, and I was in no mood for a philosophical debate, “I am in no mood for another Socratic debate alien” I said dejected as I only wished to enjoy my meal while it was warm.

“You say you don’t have time yet your whole life is pegged around getting money, money somehow seems to have become the corner stone of your kind. An artificial creation that somehow has now become the most important resource in all of human civilization. I find it ridiculous, don’t you human?”  The alien didn’t even bother pausing to get a reply, it kept going “your planet has limited resources to give, be in of food or shelter or even your gaudy fashion, yet it is gate kept by a system you have invented, currency, isn’t this ironical. Since money is not of the ecosystem, then theoretically it is infinite, or at least their is shall exist no upper cap of wealth, then does it implicitly imply that there will come a day where, your kind has more money than what the earth can provide.”

“Why are you wondering about this alien, do you want to go and establish a currency system in your kind as well” I ask nonchalantly, promptly replying the alien said “no this system is contradictory to logic and the natural principles, however the system of currency allows you to sell and buy what you rightly never own. What appears to be sillier in my perspective is that your kind is consuming endlessly from the earth which has finite resources, but you measure that consumption, that in theory is infinite. How does that make sense, as long as your kind has money, you shall consume and as long as you consume you will extract, so what will you do when there is nothing left to extract, human?”

“The notion of money also seems cater to greed more than need, while I may still understand that your kind uses currency to communalize food and ensure its availability, money apparently seems to cater to greed, because if you have an abundance of this artificial creation, then you can avail the real resources endlessly, would that tip the scales of power tremendously?”

“Scales of power between, people you mean….” I was promptly cut off again “no I meant the scale of power between your kind and the ecosystem, if the ecosystem can no longer produce or provide that what your currency can buy, you will eventually disregard it and, maybe even destroy it, ultimately hastening yourself to peril.”

“Okay tell me Socratic alien from beyond why do you care so much about how we humans are ruining the environment?” I finally ask getting frustrated at the heavy ideas this alien seemed to enjoy talking about.

“Tell me human, if you were to rear sheep in a pen or try to culture some microorganisms in a crucible, wouldn’t you as the master seek to ensure that the environment they inhabit remains intact and conducive? I am no different, if my kind were to rear and domesticate you humans for consumption, I must understand why do you and your fellow kinsman so promptly destroy the only small crucible you inhabit.” The alien declared, was it mocking me or was it sneering at me or was it cold and calculative as ever, I had no way to know. However, once I heard these words I was beyond scared, I didn’t know what to speak or reply to this alien. What was left to say, this was no sermon on the need to be environmentally aware, this was cold estimation of the human behaviour, it was scrutiny, and scrutiny was something we humans never liked.

I didn’t reply to alien further, and I did my best to not think about what it said, I did my best to focus on my job and get on with the day. So did the day rest of the working hours , in silence the alien did not speak, and this time I was not even curious to know why or what it thought, I wanted it out of my brain.

All I could do was wait, it was 7:34 pm now, I was on my way back home, just another few hours and I would be free of this parasite, the thought alone kept me going, and based on what I had seen of the alien I didn’t have any reason to doubt it, cruel its words might have been, it did respect my privacy and autonomy all throughout the day so I hoped it would keep to its end of the deal to depart my body at today midnight.

As they say, the big cities never slow down, my day might have ended but countless others yet worked, some sat crouched in front of their screens while others drove around the city, ensuring freight and enger movement alike. There always a warm buzz in a city that works hard, different people from different walks of like all, in their own rushes seeking to make their ends meet. As I walked iring the city and its life and rush, I ed by a building under construction, the men on the field duty were clocking out for the day, some laughing, some more stern than the others, but all satisfied after a long day of honest hard labour. As I crossed the building the alien spoke again.

“While honest labour is appreciable, an edifice like this is built on dishonesty” the alien now spoke in riddles. “What do you mean dishonesty, those men have really worked hard…and if any disputes are there, then blame the higher ups not them.” I asserted strongly, I was getting tired of dismissively the alien spoke of us humans.

“A dispute amongst humans is hardly worth merit, the building is erected by being dishonest to the environment. Tell me human does your kind really need to live in such lavish and gaudy homes? You may say, those that have worked hard, do deserve the right to comfort, but what how much does human comfort value when it comes at the compromise of nature.  All that lumber, stone and sand you stole from the forests and the rivers, what of them, and what of the animals that depended on it?  The soil and sand that hold the waters when they surge now lie here as a dead foundation to your gaudy lifestyle human. What of the waters that were used to cool this edifice, your kind poetically said that water sustains all life, but here I see that it sustains more rock than life.” The alien paused its, long monologue tinged with the slightest ounce of despair, strange was human life, whose errored ways, make even an alien worry.

It spoke again, “your kind shall grow unchecked, thus so too shall your plunder, you may claim that you own the land, because you purchased, but how you purchase or sell that what you inherently do not own at all?You may claim that you only take to shelter your own, but yet you bear a discrete definition of who is your own, you may build countless such edifices but you know very well, that its doors are open only to a select few. All life seeks to shelter themselves from the rain and thunder yet only yours chooses to make a spectacle out of it.”

I had no reply to that, I knew very well what the alien said was true, but I just didn’t like it I had to bear a few more hours, and I would be free of this, but yet the truth in its words rung loud and repeated in my ears. A part of me was also rejecting its ideas, the alien constantly spoke of humanity as the problem, it was dismissive but was its perspective correct, and even if we were the fount of all that was bad then what could be done, it’s not like all humans could disappear.

These thoughts were honestly overwhelming, my mind scattered, a part of me was burning in rage, I don’t know why, a part of me hoped that the aliens would just come and finish us off while a part of me was afraid. In the many emotions I felt, relief and happiness were missing, the midnight grew closer and the fated hour when I was free of this cursed would soon be upon, yet all I felt was this strange despair. All through out the dinner the alien didn’t speak, it stayed silent, but my mind wasn’t able to stay silent. This time it was my turn to ask a question.

“Hey alien, you still there” I said, trying to sound more casual and not hesitant, I did not know would the alien even respond, based of its behaviour the whole day, I really wasn’t keeping my hopes. Did it even consider humans worthy enough to ask questions to it, was this the moment it would choose to end me, I didn’t know.

“Yes human” the alien replied, sounding distant as ever. “I have a question for you alien” I say, waiting eagerly to hear its response. “What do you wish to ask” the alien said.  Without much delay I replied, “you said your objective, was to study human behaviour, so after spending 24 hours in my brain what do you think of humans?”

The alien paused, the reply was not instant like how it used to be, surely spending a day with me wouldn’t have given the alien to appreciate nuance now would it. The pause was long, it was painful, the curiosity was killing me, then they reply came.

“Arrogance.”

“Arrogance” I snapped in protest.

“Yes, arrogance describes your kind the best is what I have learnt.” The alien declared coldly.

“Human arrogance is what is the most characteristic feature of your kind to a neutral third perspective like myself. You and your kind have elevated yourself to a higher pedestal but in reality, that elevation you so speak of is just a short jump, your kind is a slave to its base desires just as much as any other species is. You seek food, shelter and a mate, just your methods are different, you lack claws or talons or feathers and fur, so you invent divisions to secure resources that sate your base needs. Yet you assume that you are somehow superior to all that walks this little planet of yours”

“One reason you may believe your sense of superiority is justified, is your intellect you may say, but humans are hardly wise. To me your intellect is analogous to the colourful feathers of a peacock or the tusks of an elephant, developed either to attract a mate or to prove a point. It is ultimately a mating ritual, you grow only to demonstrate that you are better, but just as the colourful feathers of a peacock cannot enable flight or how tusks can’t chew, your so-called intellect fails it ordained purpose. Tell me human how can kind that takes endlessly from its finite world and gives back none, be called wise.”

“When my kind first came to this world you called us parasytes if I correctly, oh the irony. As I see it, humans are the greatest parasite to walk this planet, not us. Tell me human, our kind kills only to consume or to defend, as ordained by natural law, not out of greed or ideal. We don’t take what we don’t need, one of us can sufficiently and healthy thrive in one human host, we don’t horde humans to switch hosts at fancy, and ultimately when we die, natural law takes over us, even in death we are bound to the natural order that created us, can you say the same? In the wild when a beast dies, scavengers consume its rotting carcass, soon the microbial activity decomposes what’s left and the soil absorbs what it can. When a human dies, he is buried again going contrary to the way nature, even in death your kind does not contribute to this ecosystem and yet you dare claim for yourself the title as the saviours of the environment? You are no saviour, you are the ultimate threat, the real parasite.”

The alien had said its bit, and I had no protest, I didn’t even have a thought or a reply, every word it spoke was truer than the previous, human activity of late has been a slow poison on the environment and we barely acknowledge it, let alone unite to solve it.

The words of the alien weighed so heavily on me that before I knew it, I had fallen asleep sometime at night, barely ing what thoughts kept me up last night. I woke up to a fresh new morning, with a sense of peace in my mind, the alien was true to its word, my mind was mine own now, no more squirm in my skull or an awkwardly watchful silence.

Who would believe me if I were to narrate this tale to them, my mind was colonized by an alien for 24 hours, and it would debate with me about environmental awareness, most would assume I was dreaming. That was not the case however I know, this alien parasite was real, I knew it would come back one day possibly stronger, but as one parasite departed this world last night, in the morning another parasite now awake, begins to partake in it.

#EarthDay2025