Every day, people wash their eyes in the shower. I am one of a kind because I wash my eyes when I witness something I shouldn't. It's the year 2300 and people still don't know this technique of eye cleansing. Just like many used to call it—"Wash it all away". It's that simple.

During this month, I witness excessively many things I shouldn't have. Murders, robberies, and other illegal activities I witnessed every day. My family knows the eye cleansing technique, it keeps us mentally stable. If we had witnessed all those things without washing them away, we would have been a pure mess by now.

I witnessed many killings, and some might ask: "How can you be so unemotional? People are dying in front of you, and you chose to unseen it." It is true, but I know today's world too much. It's a violent time for Earth, with a dictator in charge who allows killings when "necessary". That's the worst rule I could imagine. But who can blame the man in charge, right? No one dares to speak up about it or, worse, go against him.

I walked by the main road during the late hour and I witness something that wasn't seen for the longest time. I watched from afar, to keep my safe distance. Not only that, but I exactly calculated how far I need to be from a dangerous situation just to not be involved in it. Selfish of me, but I chose the role of a coward.

Most likely it was a killing. Very violent one judging from the two men holding two sharp knives. The person laying on the floor was a girl teenager. I gasped silently. In the stupid rule, it was said that killings are allowed in certain circumstances but only on adults, children are not allowed to be touched. Judging from the petite posture and clothing style, it clearly showed a teenager.

This was a crime. An actual crime that could put those two men behind bars. I wish for the entire life of misery in the prison cell.

I must do something. It is my chance to mentally get over all those murders I witnessed that I simply washed off. To keep my sanity in tact I run to the opposite side of the road. I didn't have anything on me, so I was harmless. I carefully thought through my every move.

The girl noticed me, but she quickly turned her gaze away not to reveal my presence. I rushed my hand through my small purse and found what I was least expecting. A knife.

I grasped it tight and quick, turning my emotions cold, just like I do every time I witness a murder. Keeping cold blood, I stand behind the two men. The girl starts to shut loudly so that they keep their attention on her and attempt to make her quiet.

I see my opportunity. I let go of fear and second thoughts, by the time the girl stopped shouting I have already stabbed one man. Watching him bleed from his neck made me proud. I finally did something, I helped a young girl.

The second man turns his face to me. He looked into my eyes and his gaze was terrified. I thought he will let it go and just run, but he thought me. He rushed his dagger to my side, but I quickly evaded it. I was able to do so because I learned all sorts of fighting techniques in my home. My parents were teaching me this because "I need to be able to protect myself because all people do is a witness but not help". It was an important lesson.

As soon as I evaded it, I rushed my dagger through his chest. It will be a quick and painful death. Moments after I killed both of them, I realized I wanted this situation to turn out differently. Putting them behind bars seemed more reasonable but not possible in this given situation. It was a matter of seconds before the girl would be killed. It was needed to act quick.

The girl looked around, shocked, and anxious. She let go of a deep breath, it seemed like she breathed out the entire fear out of her. I was glad I did what I did. No regrets. I took out a hand for her to stand up. She managed to stand up in a clumsy way. Not blaming her for any of that, I smiled at her.

"Thank you. Those were my brothers. They attempted many murders and attempted to kill me many times. I always came prepared but this one time they removed my purse away from me," she stumbles to the ground crying out loudly, "I am truly grateful you happened to be her in this tragic situation. How can I repay you?" the girl sobbed uncontrollably.

"No need to thank me, dear. It was the only way of handling this situation. I feel that you are in a lot of pain now. It appears to me, you have witnessed enough in your life you wish to forget," I replied calmly, just not to scare her away.

"Yes, I felt enough and saw enough of bad things happening in this world. I wish for it all to disappear," she turned her head down when she said it.

"You are lucky I found you today. I think I might have the appropriate way to help you with all the pain you have," I say calmly.

We continue to walk by the road, not sure which place it is leading to.

"I wish nothing more. Would you do it for me?" she asked with pleading in her eyes.

I agreed silently by nodding my head.

I was about to reveal the technique only I and my family know of. But I am sure I do the correct choice. I said to her that we need to find a place with water available. She nodded her head, listening to every word I say.

We walked to the nearest park I managed to find. It was empty, luckily. My routine is to wash my eyes off in the sink in my home, but I understand the current situation doesn't allow it.

When we are standing next to the lake, I started to explain all of it to her.

"This is a technique I was taught in my family. It is critical and the only thing I will ask you to do, please never tell anyone about it. Tonight I will cleanse you, but you need to do the cleansing yourself next time. This technique is called "Eye cleansing". It comes from an old legend that not many heard of and considered true. What you have to do is close your eyes and splash water over them. While you are doing it, you need to say out loud what are you cleansing today. You mustn't do it very frequently. Your eyes may start to hurt if you do it far too many times. Now try it." I talked her through the entire process.

Her hands were shaking, but I felt she was rather excited than scared. She closed her eyes and splashed the water over them. While she did it, she kept on repeating the same sentence, "Today I am cleansing my memories of my brothers". She opened her eyes after a few seconds.

I knew exactly what was going to happen next. She will forget me too like I never existed as we have never met. She will think I am a stranger. That's why I leave before she turns her gaze around. I was aware that the technique will stay with her. I made sure of it, just like my parents once taught me. She will have my words repeated every time she will wash her eyes in the shower, and soon enough she will solve the whole puzzle.

After that day, I felt like I was living full again. I didn't mind that I had to kill the girl's brothers to achieve my inner peace. It was needed to happen. They were forced to be removed. I lay peacefully on my bed, glancing at the stars through my window. I wonder, who is that girl?

—

When someone next to you dies, and you witness it, you are the same person the people warn you about. You do exactly the worst thing in this situation. You are a coward. Far too many people die because no one helps them. People who have witnessed it say: "Well, it's not my job to care about it" or "I was afraid I would get killed too". Be that one person who breaks the scheme of unfortunate events. Be like me, the one who helped the girl in need.

Be a hero.

Nothing else is needed than your action and your empathy.