A man walks through the rain holding an umbrella.
The rain shows no sign of stopping.
If it were to stop, of course he would stop holding the umbrella.
But something about the rain was strange.
The moment he stopped holding the umbrella, the rain would immediately cease.
The unbroken clouds, the ripples spreading across puddles, the sound of raindrops striking the umbrella. All of it was an illusion caused by a distortion of perception.
And yet the man believed firmly.
“I cannot get wet right now. If I do, I will surely catch a cold. That must be avoided at all costs.”
Still, another thought crossed his mind.
“Come to think of it, how long has this rain really been falling?”
There was a feeling of unease. But it was not strong enough to push his thoughts any further.