All matter decays. Everything man creates will be eroded away by the forces of nature. Everything the universe has birthed will be disintegrated or swallowed through the harsh calculations of this never-ending physics engine.

Some floral parasite is feeding on my body, wreaking havoc on my nerves and airways. And while my victory against this invading horde is certain, the unnecessary war is taking too great a toll on the capacity of this body and mind to do work.

A story of personal triumph and perseverance against insurmountable odds or another case of being stuck in a wall with no escape? Life is a struggle. Some expend the maximal effort, others glide by on the breeze, riding the currents wherever they may lead. Through tragedy, success, survival, and death; we dance across the surface of this paradoxically immense speck of stardust, locked in the ultimate competition to which there is no end.

Tangled roots run deep. Nutrient starved weeds wilt and crack. There is no escaping Mendel’s Laws, the fates forged by the double helix and still, only the most fertile ground produces majestic trees.