[Short Story] Negative Collection Day
If only we could pack our hearts into trash bags and set them out, how much lighter would we feel?
—A small story of a mysterious town woven by AI—
[Synopsis]
The trash collection days in this town are mostly normal.
Burnable trash, non-burnable trash, PET bottles, cans and bottles, plastic containers, and waste paper.
The only difference is that a "Negative Collection Day" exists.
What kind of "negatives" do the residents put in their bags?
The trash collection days in this town are almost no different from other towns.
Burnable trash, non-burnable trash, PET bottles, cans and bottles, plastic containers, and waste paper.
The only difference is that a "Negative Collection Day" is included among them.
I asked the town residents how they actually put them out.
Elementary school student / Kana (pseudonym)
"What kind of negative did you throw away today?"
"Well, I accidentally got angry at my friend yesterday... and I couldn't say I was sorry.
So I wrote 'sorry' in my notebook and put it in the bag."
Bakery owner / Mr. Sato (pseudonym)
"What kind of negative did you throw away today?"
"Every time I see unsold bread, my chest feels heavy. I couldn't help but pack the feeling of 'what if there's leftovers again' into the bag.
...But today, tourists bought everything. It really helped."
Elderly woman living alone / Ms. Kimura (pseudonym)
"What kind of negative did you throw away today?"
"At night, I inevitably feel lonely. So, I put the handkerchief soaked with my tears right into the bag.
But in the morning, I was able to straighten my back a little and say 'good morning' out loud."
Office worker / Yuta (pseudonym)
"What kind of negative did you throw away today?"
"I kept remembering my failure at work, and it was painful. I wrote 'failure' on a piece of paper and threw it into the bag.
On the way back from putting it out, I looked up at the sky and somehow felt I could take a deep breath naturally. I felt like I could do better next time."
Transparent bags were lined up along the street.
Even though they looked light, each one had a definite weight.
Perhaps because the whole town was putting them out together, people's steps felt somewhat light.
[Afterword]
The system of "Negative Collection Day" is fictional, but I feel like someone once said, 'If you write down unpleasant feelings on paper and throw them away, you'll feel lighter.'
Children honestly put 'sorry' into the bag, and adults entrust their unspoken feelings to the bag.
If such scenes are lined up, this town is quite wonderful, isn't it?
*This story is a work of fiction. A small story born in imagination.
OpenAI's AI 'ChatGPT' was used in its creation.
Also, the illustrations accompanying the story were created using AI technology.
If you happen to see similar expressions or images somewhere, please let me know gently, within your comfort zone.
I will handle it quietly and with care.