The Mozaic resident was sketching a map of Havana's old neighborhoods — not for sale, not for a report. Just to understand the city, its flow, its soul.
A man with Oakley sunglasses, Nike shorts, and a portable speaker blasting trap music stopped in front of him.
"Hey man," he said in a broad American accent. "You got Wi-Fi?"
Rafael looked up. "No. But I have a map." He smiled and held it up.
The American laughed.
"A paper map? What is this, 1998?"
Rafael shrugged. "Paper doesn't ask for a subscription."
The American sat next to him uninvited, sipping from a massive cup of Coke.
"You local?"
"No. I'm visiting."
"But you're not American."
"No. Post-American, maybe."
The American squinted. "You mean Canadian?"
"No. I mean — I live in a system where value isn't measured in dollars. We earn credit through contribution. Through service. Reputation."
"Wait... so like, you don't get paid?"
He frowned. "You do stuff for free? Man, that sounds like a scam."
Rafael chuckled softly.
"I get compensated. Just not in currency that turns into yachts and NFTs. I get shelter, food, time off, travel — based on my usefulness. Based on how I help others thrive."
The American leaned back, confused and defensive.
"That's not freedom. Freedom is I choose what to do, I keep what I earn."
"Freedom," Rafael said gently, "isn't hoarding. It's choosing what kind of impact your time leaves behind. In our world, even rest and joy are earned not by outbidding others, but by feeding the system that sustains you."
"So like... socialism?"
"No," Rafael replied, calm as the sea. "Not redistribution of money. Redistribution of meaning."
The American stared blankly. "Dude, that's deep... but I just want to get a beer and hook up."
Rafael nodded. "And you can. In your system. Ours just believes you shouldn't have to sell your soul for it."
The American stood up, pulling on his backpack. "Yeah, good luck with that. I'll stick with the green, thanks."
Rafael watched him walk away, a little sad. Not because he disagreed — but because he hadn't yet suffered enough to ask for more.