#neshama

Me: Okay.

Me: *Proceeds to get into near yelling matches with various Orthodox and Conservative rabbis about animals, if they go to heaven and have a neshama (soul) from age 8 or so onward, and eventually becomes a vegan for animal rights based on Jewish teachings of tikkun olam and mitzvot*

Haimmavet

Neshama, Mixed media, 2022

Help a girl out, and please join! If you go in and comment on things ill love you EVEN MORE. And if youre curious about wtf im talking about, i run a business sewing handmade clothes, heres a photo too!

Even if you dont join, PLEASE signal boost for me. The more people who lay eyes on this post the BETTER!

You were shooed away from the storage room hallway by force. As you waited for word from Nefesh and Ruach, Neshama soon joined you.

“It appears a dangerous gas was detected in the air within the storage room.” She crossed her arms, clucking her tongue. “It should be safe for you to enter soon enough.”

Chayah sidled up behind her soon after.

“Ooh, what’s going on, what’s going on?”

“Chayah, go downstairs.” But Neshama didn’t pay him any mind.

“Awww, fiiiine…”

He stormed off, pouting. Soon enough, Nefesh returned, looking dejected.

“It’s… It’s clear now. You’re… not gonna like this.”

The door, normally off-limits to clerks and employees alike, was unlocked, and slightly ajar. As you approached it, a wave of apprehension swept over you. Did you really want to see what was on the other side?

Were you really prepared to face this truth?

Hesitantly, you nudged open the door and slipped inside, one by one.

Inside, you found a larger room than expected, filled with what appeared to be assembly lines, as well as other machinery, too complex for you to comprehend. A putrid stench met your nose. Whatever this place was, it felt ungodly wrong.

You heard a familiar voice up ahead - was that Neshama?

“Now, now, it’s all going to be okay.”

“I don’t want to, I’m scared...” And… Chayah?

“Step back, Chayah.”

Aletheia arrived before Chayah could say anything else. She strode right past everyone, taking a seat at her desk.

“Good morning. I won’t try to indulge you with pleasantries today, no doubt you are in no mood, and frankly... I am in no mood to hear your protests. A new level of this facility has been opened to you, and as such, your work responsibilities will be expanded.”

Oh, it seems she’s not putting on airs quite as much.

“You can hate me if you wish, as long as you keep working to gather energy. Hate is such a narrow-minded emotion, you know. It blinds you to the truth around you. Like a fog, hanging over you. If you must use it as a motivator, then by all means, hate me. Do not hate the staff, though. Would you hate your direct supervisor for policies a room full of executives who make their yearly salary in an hour put into place?”

She falls silent for a moment.

“Precisely. So hate me if you must, but I only ask that you keep listening to what I have to say. And in response, I will try to be more forthcoming with you, as well. The more this facility grows, the more I am able to tell you.”

And yet she smiles.

“You’ve briefly met Neshama, the head of Central Command. While you’re working on that level, I expect you to follow her directives, and she has been known to be strict - the Discipline department falls under her purview, as well. So at this point, I’ll turn you over to her. Until we meet again.”

“Come along now, and I’ll give you a tour. Stay close, everyone!”

“Let’s go, let’s gooo! You’re gonna super love it!”

Chayah was the only one excited, it seemed. But alas, here you go.