#58

"selfishness is necessary to our very existence as a society." as he took a drag of his cigarette. "sine qua non." smoke escaped with every vowel.
"every business ever built was for personal economic gain. or social gain that leads to it. the very internet we all worship and adore for being ubiquitous, universal. all for someone to get ahead. nothing is linear. you need a car to get a job, you need a job to pay for the car." ash fell to the tray without prodding.

"what about aid workers? that's pretty selfless, don't you think." she brought another rum and coke.

"to look good. to feel good about themselves. there's no real compassion. aid workers, missionaries, all of them- the greatest paradox you'll ever see. maybe not the usual style, but it's about them." the extinguished cigarette lay crumpled in a sea of its own refuse.

he threw a dollar to her. "the most gratuitous thing in our world today."