The Freedom to be a human

    ---A short novel about utopian

      Ansel tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He got up and the radio, as usual, played automatically: “our people can have ample food and clothing, everyone can get employment, live in harmony with each other, that's because of our great system-- absolute public ownership……” He looked at the clock, February 16, 2018,4:23, it’s nearly the “free time ". What’s more, after few hours, he had to talk with his wife about the future of their relationship. In fact, he knows his wife had already prepared lots of reasons for the divorce. After this came up to his mind, he walked out of the house helplessly.

        Meanwhile, Fiona was on the way to her elder sister’s home with a heavy heart. In her hand is a fancy necklace with an enormous ruby. There is also a dagger pinned to her waist. Their mother asked her to give this to Linda, but she loved this necklace so much that she had thought for a whole night about how to get it. Since all the things in society can be allocated by comparing the importance and emergency of those who require them, once her sister is dead, she will have the priority to use this necklace.

        On this cold morning, the two-miserable people met by chance. Fiona said sorry quickly to Ansel after bumping into him accidentally, but he blocked her way and stared feverishly at her neck.

        “Nice necklace!” said Ansel, “how lucky you can have the priority to use this.”

“I apologize for using it before you” said Fiona, like all the people in the society do, with a proud smile.

“I’m sorry but I have an extremely important emergency that might be solved with this necklace. It is related to my whole life that my wife wants divorce me. So, praise for our great absolute public ownership, could you please lend me the necklace?” asked Ansel politely.

“I am truly sorry, but my late mother gave it to me to bless my sister and me. It’ s related to three people so I should have the priority to use it.” said Fiona unhesitatingly.

Ansel looked at his watch with a slight frown, and then a sneer appeared on his face. Fiona suddenly realized that it’s almost “free time”, which means during 5:00-5:30am, you can do whatever you want without legal sanction. It’s one of the rules set by government to release people’s nature. The tragedy which happened during that time were always use as a caution that the private desire is the root of evil and chaos. So the government can safeguard absolute public ownership better.

“Hand over the necklace or die.” said Ansel, staring at the watch which showed that is 5:00am now.

Fiona put her hand between her waist and her pocket. She can just push the button on the phone to tell her sister who lived a few kilometers to the west she was in danger, or she must fight against the bulky man with the dagger. She hesitated, then ran to the east, holding the dagger tightly.

      “That’s unfair! It’s mine!” A women’s scream pierced the silence.     

“Didn’t your teachers teach you? it’s everyone’ s.” In the deserted streets of the east, the last voice was lost in the wind.

A day later, When Ansel saw the news: "Praise for our great absolute public ownership-- a girl died for the desire of owning a necklace for herself." he kissed his beloved wife who is in his arms.

“Praise for our great absolute public ownership,” said Ansel.

The Freedom to be a human