The six primary emotions

[the author walks through a mountain path, surrounded by blue rocks]

FEAR

22 years old
Alone in the mountains
Lost between two bergschrunds
Bad weather, south winds rising
Cold piercing through clothes
Not a soul can be seen
I am afraid of death

[the author is sitting, sad and broken, can't look in the mirror where their reflection is horrifying]

DISGUST

32 years old
Professional burnout
Crushed by the capitalist machine
Lonely and isolated in my private life
I do my best to hide the exhaustion
Can't look at myself in the mirror
The reflection doesn't look like me

[the author is blank, has no face]

SURPRISE

29 years old
My friend died
Epileptic fit during an overdose
He had just cleaned up his life
Was about to get married

Can't believe it
Must accept it
Have to go to work
I put on my mask
Feeling so cold

[the author, muscular and bearded, is contracting their fists in anger while a beam pierces their chest at heart level and draws blood]

ANGER

24 years old
Life doesn't feel real
My father is slowly dying
He claims I'm trying to kill him
While I'm helping him live
Dementia destroyed his mind
I will never see him again
He will die a month later
My anger outlived him
Too young to understand

[a silhouette of the author sits in the dark, looking down]

SADNESS

34 years old
She committed suicide
It only happens to other people
Until it happens to you
The police showed zero empathy
I am in charge of the burial
Leaves no time to be sad
It will come later, brutally

[the author, now older and with white strands of hair, is looking content, surrounded by a circle of light repealing the darkness]

HAPPINESS

35 years old
She said yes

It won't last
But for a moment
I forget the rest
And enjoy my life