The Tank
Your sensory deprivation tank is just so perfect. The management does a fantastic job of keeping the temperature exactly where you like it. Admittedly, the neighbors can be a bit loud.
But you get used to them. The soundproofing on the walls is not too shabby. Their voices are usually pretty comforting, once you've accepted that they don't shut up much.
You like breathing, but don't really see the point. The tube they installed never seems to go on the fritz.
You appreciate the management's foresight on that one.
So you loll away your days, sleeping a lot, because hey - what else is there to do, really?
You make sure to express your appreciation for the management by kicking the wall of your tank once in a while...
Just to say hi.
You're not really sure how long you've been here. You think you remember something before the tank, some glimmer of enormousness, but it really doesn't matter to you all that much.
You're content, although you could swear the walls get a little tighter each day.
Eventually you realize in a flash that your eyes were closed. How'd that happen? You wonder. Well, no matter, you can see now, although it's still pretty dark, with an occasional tinge of red and interesting patterns of webbing on the walls. You have no clue what those are for.
You really like your tank. You're glad the management built you one that fits so nicely...
Until it doesn't.
You always suspected that they were crowding you a bit, those walls, but now you're sure.
They're really getting too darn close.
So much for swimming freely.
Oh well.
Despite the management's apparent lack of foresight to make your tank's walls just a little more expandable, you're not going to file a complaint.
Maybe the architect was in training.
Maybe the software had a glitch.
No matter, you're reaching your limit, and that's that.
Then one fateful day, the unthinkable happens.
The tank is freaking draining!
From the bottom, all of the super cozy water is just rushing out.
What happened? You wonder.
How could the management screw up this badly?
They were doing great before, a near perfect track record.
You hope someone from the maintenance team will plug the leak and refill the tank soon.
Surely they must have heard your requests, right?
You've been stomping on the floor for a while now.
How could they not respond?
But no, the drainage just gets worse.
Soon, it's empty.
Now this is just a right fine pickle! You think. All that great effort put into a tank that just bursts one day - no warning, no notice posted, nothing.
Welp, you decide, that's it.
I'm getting out of here.
This tank is defective.
Maybe they'll have another I can slip into.
So you head for the exit. It looks pretty narrow, so you decide to chance it and go head first. It's quite the effort, but the management seems to get what you're up to and they helpfully elect to give the walls of the tank a little squeeze... just a gentle assist.
How nice.
But wait a minute here. What is going on? You wanted a little push - after all, it's kinda slippery in here.
But boy oh boy, the management has really gone overboard now.
They're smashing you like an overripe banana on a hot summer's day.
What's that about?
Talk about rude!
So you really get fed up and decide to make a break for it before the management forcefully evicts you.
They're pretty determined it seems, but you know you're not going to put up with these contractions any longer.
Out you go, one way or another, consequences be damned.
You're seriously not impressed with the escape route the management constructed for you. Didn't they realize how big you'd gotten?
That's going to have to be discussed later, you think.
After you transfer to your new tank.
But...
Wait...
What is all this dry stuff?
And why, for the love of God, is it so damn cold out here?
How does anyone put up with this insanity?
It's way too bright, there's no replacement tank anywhere in sight, and all of these enormous giants are passing you around like you don't have any autonomy at all.
This may warrant a formal complaint, you think. After the new tank is found, of course.
Priorities, after all.
But then something totally unexpected occurs.
These crazy giants lay you down on this warm, albeit slightly damp landscape that keeps moving up and down, rhythmically.
And you know...
It's not so bad, really.
This particular giant is kinda familiar, in some ineffable way.
Mind you, she's leaking from her eyes quite a bit, which makes you wonder if that's the source of the drainage catastrophe you experienced.
Might it be related?
No clue.
So you decide to settle in for a bit, at least until this whole mess can be sorted out and a new tank can be located.
After all, these giants are way bigger than you, so surely building a new tank should be pretty easy for them.
And this one...
She smells pretty good, actually.
Maybe you'll hang out with her for a bit. Maybe offer her a towel for all that dampness. Wonder what she's been up to, to get so sweaty?
Oh well, it's cool. She seems alright.
Not sure about that hairy giant right next to her though.
He seems way too fuzzy to lay on...
Maybe.
But you get used to them. The soundproofing on the walls is not too shabby. Their voices are usually pretty comforting, once you've accepted that they don't shut up much.
You like breathing, but don't really see the point. The tube they installed never seems to go on the fritz.
You appreciate the management's foresight on that one.
So you loll away your days, sleeping a lot, because hey - what else is there to do, really?
You make sure to express your appreciation for the management by kicking the wall of your tank once in a while...
Just to say hi.
You're not really sure how long you've been here. You think you remember something before the tank, some glimmer of enormousness, but it really doesn't matter to you all that much.
You're content, although you could swear the walls get a little tighter each day.
Eventually you realize in a flash that your eyes were closed. How'd that happen? You wonder. Well, no matter, you can see now, although it's still pretty dark, with an occasional tinge of red and interesting patterns of webbing on the walls. You have no clue what those are for.
You really like your tank. You're glad the management built you one that fits so nicely...
Until it doesn't.
You always suspected that they were crowding you a bit, those walls, but now you're sure.
They're really getting too darn close.
So much for swimming freely.
Oh well.
Despite the management's apparent lack of foresight to make your tank's walls just a little more expandable, you're not going to file a complaint.
Maybe the architect was in training.
Maybe the software had a glitch.
No matter, you're reaching your limit, and that's that.
Then one fateful day, the unthinkable happens.
The tank is freaking draining!
From the bottom, all of the super cozy water is just rushing out.
What happened? You wonder.
How could the management screw up this badly?
They were doing great before, a near perfect track record.
You hope someone from the maintenance team will plug the leak and refill the tank soon.
Surely they must have heard your requests, right?
You've been stomping on the floor for a while now.
How could they not respond?
But no, the drainage just gets worse.
Soon, it's empty.
Now this is just a right fine pickle! You think. All that great effort put into a tank that just bursts one day - no warning, no notice posted, nothing.
Welp, you decide, that's it.
I'm getting out of here.
This tank is defective.
Maybe they'll have another I can slip into.
So you head for the exit. It looks pretty narrow, so you decide to chance it and go head first. It's quite the effort, but the management seems to get what you're up to and they helpfully elect to give the walls of the tank a little squeeze... just a gentle assist.
How nice.
But wait a minute here. What is going on? You wanted a little push - after all, it's kinda slippery in here.
But boy oh boy, the management has really gone overboard now.
They're smashing you like an overripe banana on a hot summer's day.
What's that about?
Talk about rude!
So you really get fed up and decide to make a break for it before the management forcefully evicts you.
They're pretty determined it seems, but you know you're not going to put up with these contractions any longer.
Out you go, one way or another, consequences be damned.
You're seriously not impressed with the escape route the management constructed for you. Didn't they realize how big you'd gotten?
That's going to have to be discussed later, you think.
After you transfer to your new tank.
But...
Wait...
What is all this dry stuff?
And why, for the love of God, is it so damn cold out here?
How does anyone put up with this insanity?
It's way too bright, there's no replacement tank anywhere in sight, and all of these enormous giants are passing you around like you don't have any autonomy at all.
This may warrant a formal complaint, you think. After the new tank is found, of course.
Priorities, after all.
But then something totally unexpected occurs.
These crazy giants lay you down on this warm, albeit slightly damp landscape that keeps moving up and down, rhythmically.
And you know...
It's not so bad, really.
This particular giant is kinda familiar, in some ineffable way.
Mind you, she's leaking from her eyes quite a bit, which makes you wonder if that's the source of the drainage catastrophe you experienced.
Might it be related?
No clue.
So you decide to settle in for a bit, at least until this whole mess can be sorted out and a new tank can be located.
After all, these giants are way bigger than you, so surely building a new tank should be pretty easy for them.
And this one...
She smells pretty good, actually.
Maybe you'll hang out with her for a bit. Maybe offer her a towel for all that dampness. Wonder what she's been up to, to get so sweaty?
Oh well, it's cool. She seems alright.
Not sure about that hairy giant right next to her though.
He seems way too fuzzy to lay on...
Maybe.