Three stories and a reflection

The artist Sommers kills herself because of a single careless critique. It shows how easily a stranger can snap someone's fragile sense of worth.

“The world is petrifying. It is becoming a shell.”

Mussard discovers the whole world is slowly turning into cold shells. It feels like a fever dream about how we all eventually harden and die.

The chess player wins by doing absolutely nothing. Everyone else projects their own brilliance onto his total lack of skill.

That young girl is a gifted painter until she hears she lacks depth. One small comment makes her burn every canvas she ever touched.