The Cycle of the Spider
"What are you looking at, son?" Rabbi asked his only child, Hasan.
"The spider is eating an ant, Dad."
"Oh, I see. But aren't you going to save the ant, Hasan?"
"No, Dad. He told me not to save him."
"Alright then, let it eat. Let's go out; we'll have dinner tonight."
"Again? We just traveled so far to buy Mom's medicine."
"It's okay, let's go. I'll show you something fun this time."
"Really, Dad? Okay, let's go."
Before leaving, Hasan stopped at the door, turned around, and asked his father, "Should I go say goodbye to Mom, Dad?"
"No, stay back. Your mother has a cold; if you go near her, you'll catch it too."
"But Mom's bedroom door is open. The germs are coming from there."
"I'll close it. You go to the garage and take the car keys, Hasan."
"Okay, Dad."
Hasan took the keys from Rabbi and headed toward the garage. As Rabbi pulled the bedroom door shut, he took one last look inside at his wife's hanging corpse.
Hasan sat by the car window, eating a burger and watching the scenery pass by. He wondered why his father wasn't crying, even though his mother was dead. It was a rainy night, yet a faint moonlight pierced through the clouds.
After a while, the car stopped. The clouds had vanished, leaving a clear sky and a massive moon. They had reached a tourist spot on a cliff overlooking the sea. Without the railing, a single moment of carelessness would send anyone plunging into the surging waves below.
"Look, Hasan, look at how beautiful this place is."
Hasan leaned against the railing, trying to see the ocean. Rabbi sat beside him, reading a letter. The handwriting was beautiful and neat. It read: "Why is our child like this? I can't take it anymore. I'm going crazy."
"Hasan, do you want to get on my back? You'll be able to see the sky more closely."
"Okay, Dad."
He lifted his son onto his back one last time.
"I want to stand on the railing, Dad."
Rabbi stood Hasan up on the railing. There was no fear on Hasan's face, only curiosity. Rabbi gave him a small push. There wasn't much of a splash in the roaring sea—just the sound of a small stone hitting the water.
Rabbi got back into the car. He had no plan, only an uncertain future. He began to drive aimlessly through the forest highway, feeling as though he were intoxicated. The car's speed was immense. Suddenly, a truck appeared in front of him. In an attempt to swerve past it, he slammed into a lamp post at high speed. Everything went black.
Rabbi opened his eyes. Everything around him was white, with occasional white mounds. He looked around in shock. When he looked at his hands and feet, they were red. He had no fingers—only long, segmented limbs. He had multiple legs.
With horror, he realized he was an ant, clinging to a wall. The room looked familiar. Moments later, he realized it was his own home. Someone opened the door. He saw his son and his past self enter. His past self went into the bedroom and locked the door from the inside, telling his son, "Stay outside for a bit, son."
Hasan suddenly spotted an ant staring at him.
"Dad, how did you become like this?"
Rabbi was stunned. I am an ant... how does he know it's me? he thought.
Suddenly, a spider's web ensnared him from behind. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't break free.
"Dad, should I save you?"
"No, son... just forgive me."
Hasan watched as the spider wrapped the ant in silk and began to move in for the kill.
"What are you looking at, son?"
Rabbi asked his only child, Hasan.