Chapter 31: Situation of the Old World
— Meanwhile - ??? - 2024 —
A young woman frantically walked toward her car as a crowd of reporters surrounded her. Her blond hair was slightly disheveled from the stress she'd endured over the past few days - both from the court proceedings she had to attend and the sudden shift in public opinion against her.
This all began four years ago when she was robbed by a man. Another man - who looked like an ordinary office worker and somewhat of a pushover - had come to help her. At that time, she was a staunch supporter of the prevalent feminist and progressive movements.
In that moment, she felt insulted. Coupled with the humiliation and helplessness of being robbed by a man, she didn't even thank her rescuer out of spite. Later, safe at home in front of her computer, she vented her frustrations online, trashing the entire incident and even the man who had helped her. She accused him of sexism for assuming she needed help in the first place.
At the time... she genuinely believed this. To maintain her reputation among followers who saw her as championing a better world and fighting for women's rights, she doubled down on these views.
Now... she was guilty of all that hubris.
"Ms. Jones!" a reporter shouted as she pushed through the crowd. "When you left the man who saved you from a robber to die, how did you feel that day? Do you think he deserved to die because he was sexist, as you claimed in your video?" The young woman ignored the question and kept moving toward her car.
"Ms. Jones! What's your response to the wrongful death lawsuit and involuntary manslaughter charges? Ms. Jones!" She quickly entered the vehicle and slammed the door, blocking any further attempts at interviews.
How strange... Four years ago, before the incident, she would have welcomed this media attention - using the cameras as a platform to promote her movement and ideals. But now?
Now she saw them only as vultures, circling to pick her clean, baiting her for sensational soundbites that could worsen her legal situation. They were nothing but greedy scavengers!
And as that reporter had said... she had left that man to die. But she knew herself - she wasn't a saint, but she would never have done such a thing intentionally!