A microorganism happens into favorable enough conditions to
A microorganism happens into favorable enough conditions to

duplicate its DNA and multiply. In an instant, an entirely new
duplicate its DNA and multiply. In an instant, an entirely new

microorganism is rendered into existence. This new microbe looks out at an array of
microorganism is rendered into existence. This new microbe looks out at an array of

colors and objects. Confused, it turns to its parent
colors and objects. Confused, it turns to its parent

microbe and asks, “What am I?” “Alive.” The parent microbe
microbe and asks, “What am I?” “Alive.” The parent microbe

says matter-of-factly, and then swims off, leaving the new microbe
says matter-of-factly, and then swims off, leaving the new microbe

to itself. The new microbe is hungry and confused. It
to itself. The new microbe is hungry and confused. It

swims out across the vast landscape of its surroundings, pulled
swims out across the vast landscape of its surroundings, pulled

by things it doesn’t understand; instructions written
by things it doesn’t understand; instructions written

into its DNA passed down from a lineage of 3 billion years of
into its DNA passed down from a lineage of 3 billion years of

prior parent microbes. Compelled by its genetic code, the new microbe
prior parent microbes. Compelled by its genetic code, the new microbe

begins eating and adapting to its circumstances,
begins eating and adapting to its circumstances,

graduating through the ranks of its community, and engaging in a
graduating through the ranks of its community, and engaging in a

system of trillions and trillions of other microbes, all providing
system of trillions and trillions of other microbes, all providing

their own roles. Every day, the microbe works, eats, and communicates
their own roles. Every day, the microbe works, eats, and communicates

with other members of the system it’s associated
with other members of the system it’s associated

with, making changes in itself and trying to maintain order of
with, making changes in itself and trying to maintain order of

its surroundings. As the microbe ages, though, it becomes increasingly
its surroundings. As the microbe ages, though, it becomes increasingly

curious of what it is and what it’s doing. It was only ever told
curious of what it is and what it’s doing. It was only ever told

that it was alive, and then it just started doing stuff. It
that it was alive, and then it just started doing stuff. It

wonders what alive even means. And why so little an explanation?
wonders what alive even means. And why so little an explanation?

It questions why it just goes around all day, working to survive
It questions why it just goes around all day, working to survive

and surviving to work. “For what? It wonders. “What’s the point
and surviving to work. “For what? It wonders. “What’s the point

of it all?” The weight of these thoughts increasingly
of it all?” The weight of these thoughts increasingly

bares down on the microbe’s motivation, but something in it,
bares down on the microbe’s motivation, but something in it,

or out of it, keeps it going. It struggles through a period of
or out of it, keeps it going. It struggles through a period of

apathy, but the microbe soon becomes somewhat fueled by its
apathy, but the microbe soon becomes somewhat fueled by its

desire to resolve these thoughts, counterbalancing the negative
desire to resolve these thoughts, counterbalancing the negative

effects of its confusion with intrigue and curiosity. It’s
effects of its confusion with intrigue and curiosity. It’s

almost as if the microbe basically has no choice in the mater;
almost as if the microbe basically has no choice in the mater;

whether it cares to know what it is or isn’t, and how this
whether it cares to know what it is or isn’t, and how this

affects it. In all cases, it’s desire to keep living and carry
affects it. In all cases, it’s desire to keep living and carry

out its role seems to just adapt to it and find it all the same.
out its role seems to just adapt to it and find it all the same.

The microbe continues on, working and fulfilling its role,
The microbe continues on, working and fulfilling its role,

spending much of its life looking for answers. It talks with
spending much of its life looking for answers. It talks with

other microbes in its community about what they think. It
other microbes in its community about what they think. It

travels to other communities comprised of different microbes and
travels to other communities comprised of different microbes and

asks them. It looks around every corner, under every object,
asks them. It looks around every corner, under every object,

into everything. It studies. It learns. It offers itself to all
into everything. It studies. It learns. It offers itself to all

sorts of ideas, never quite finding one that seems to hold.
sorts of ideas, never quite finding one that seems to hold.

Every time it thinks it’s found an answer, the answer eventually
Every time it thinks it’s found an answer, the answer eventually

collapses in on itself and the microbe moves onto something
collapses in on itself and the microbe moves onto something

else. Trying to find the point of everything sort of becomes the
else. Trying to find the point of everything sort of becomes the

point of everything for the microbe.
point of everything for the microbe.

Each night, whenever it has the chance, the microbe looks
Each night, whenever it has the chance, the microbe looks

up at the seemingly unending darkness above it, sprinkled with
up at the seemingly unending darkness above it, sprinkled with

particles and various formations. It looks at the motion of
particles and various formations. It looks at the motion of

everything that surrounds it; the bodies of liquid infinitely
everything that surrounds it; the bodies of liquid infinitely

pushing and pulling all on their own. The air breathing back and
pushing and pulling all on their own. The air breathing back and

forth. The branches of something extending upward and swaying
forth. The branches of something extending upward and swaying

about. It considers all the ideas and explanations it has heard
about. It considers all the ideas and explanations it has heard

and learned. All the theories it has synthesized on its own. It
and learned. All the theories it has synthesized on its own. It

wonders, on and on, what it all must be. Because of its limited perception, however,
wonders, on and on, what it all must be. Because of its limited perception, however,

it never has nor ever will come anywhere close to knowing
it never has nor ever will come anywhere close to knowing

that it is a gut bacteria inside the intestines of a human
that it is a gut bacteria inside the intestines of a human

body named Aerial. Aerial, an incomprehensibly larger organism,
body named Aerial. Aerial, an incomprehensibly larger organism,

is but entirely dependent on this microbe as well as most
is but entirely dependent on this microbe as well as most

of the trillions of others inside and on her. She is, however,
of the trillions of others inside and on her. She is, however,

mostly unaware of this entire microbial universe that she houses.
mostly unaware of this entire microbial universe that she houses.

This one particular microbe, known as a bacteroides fragiles, is essential to Aerial’s food
This one particular microbe, known as a bacteroides fragiles, is essential to Aerial’s food

digestion. Her and the microbe persist in a feedback loop relationship;
digestion. Her and the microbe persist in a feedback loop relationship;

Aerial providing the microbe with its environment,
Aerial providing the microbe with its environment,

food, and life, the microbe helping Aerial stay alive, assisting
food, and life, the microbe helping Aerial stay alive, assisting

her health and mood regulations by digesting fibers, providing
her health and mood regulations by digesting fibers, providing

her nutrients, and communicating with her brain.
her nutrients, and communicating with her brain.

Essentially, without knowing, every time the microbe was
Essentially, without knowing, every time the microbe was

unhealthy, disengaged, or sedentary, Aerial suffered; and vice
unhealthy, disengaged, or sedentary, Aerial suffered; and vice

versa. Furthermore, if either Aerial or the microbes gave up and
versa. Furthermore, if either Aerial or the microbes gave up and

stopped entirely, the other could die, ending their particular
stopped entirely, the other could die, ending their particular

universe. In this moment, Aerial is sitting at the end
universe. In this moment, Aerial is sitting at the end

of a pier at a beach. It’s late in the evening on a Thursday.
of a pier at a beach. It’s late in the evening on a Thursday.

She had a long day at work. She’s been struggling to find
She had a long day at work. She’s been struggling to find

motivation, but something in her, or out of her, keeps her
motivation, but something in her, or out of her, keeps her

going. It’s almost as if she basically has no choice in the mater.
going. It’s almost as if she basically has no choice in the mater.

She eats some takeout as she looks up at the seemingly
She eats some takeout as she looks up at the seemingly

unending darkness of the night sky sprinkled with particles and
unending darkness of the night sky sprinkled with particles and

various formations. She looks at the motion of everything that
various formations. She looks at the motion of everything that

surrounds her; the ocean infinitely pushing and pulling all on
surrounds her; the ocean infinitely pushing and pulling all on

its own. The air ceaselessly breathing back and forth. The
its own. The air ceaselessly breathing back and forth. The

branches of the trees swaying about. Aerial looks out and
branches of the trees swaying about. Aerial looks out and

wonders what it all is. What it all must be for.
wonders what it all is. What it all must be for.

Because of her limited perception, though, she’ll never
Because of her limited perception, though, she’ll never

come anywhere close to knowing what she is inside of nor how
come anywhere close to knowing what she is inside of nor how

important she is to it.
important she is to it.