The Participating Bystander

Participating Bystanders have the responsibility of helping one of the two people on the card. They chose what area of the person's life to help them with. So if someone needed financial aid, the bystander could make it happen. If it's something specific, the bystander can put that in the “Further Information” box. They have full control over what happens to the person they help. However, the one not picked will get the opposite of whatever is decided. So if someone gets help to improve their health, the others' health will suffer. It's called Bystander because all they can do is watch as the results of their decision occur.

“You know the Trolley Problem? The thought experiment with the switch that dictates who gets killed by the trolley?,” Tyler nodded “Well it's like that.”

“Sorry do you want me to kill someone?”

“Well you could but it's a bit dramatic.” Eileen sat forward and explained.

Tyler had a feeling of clarity. The shame of lying his way into see Sarah was dissolving as he walked out the hospital and back towards town.

He exhaled, comforted knowing he was going to make the right decision. He thought about the relief Sarah would feel finding out she was finally getting the overdue transplant.

He didn't need to think about the other person. It wouldn't change his mind. He looked at the card, pen in hand ready to make his choice. He quickly glanced at the other side out of curiosity.

Lily Turner

Tyler’s stomach churned at the familiarity of the last name.

Turner

Against his better judgement and the gut feeling telling him to just drop it, he opened google and hit search.

His heart felt like it stopped and he thought he was going to faint as he looked through the results.

Young business owners of the year 2021 : Daniel and Lily Turner

The picture in the article shows Daniel Turner, Tyler’s childhood friend standing next to his very pregnant wife Lily Turner.

Tyler retreated to a nearby bench, crashing down into the seat, breaking the fall with his left arm. He sat there frozen, raking through his brain for a solution, where both parties came out unscathed.

If he helped Sarah with her health - aka a kidney - then Lily’s health will likely plummet, and so will the baby’s.

There has to be a loophole Tyler stressed, Come on think!!

He could set it up so that Sarah gets money so she can go private then she'll have a better chance of getting a kidney quicker.

But what about Daniel and Lily. Tyler would still have no control what kind of financial disadvantage his decision will put them in. What if they go bankrupt? Daniels did so much for Tyler and his family. He stood up for him at school against bullies, helped look after his sisters, Daniels own parents even helped with rent or debt payments when things got too much, and never asked for anything in return.

He has to help Sarah, it's the obvious choice but he can't stab Daniel in the back like that.

It's all too much.

I can't do it.

It wasn't until he looked down and saw the wet patches on the concrete that Tyler realised he was crying. That was when he crumbled. He couldn't handle the pressure.

The bench gently bends as someone sits down next to Tyler. He didn't raise his head, he knew who it was. He could see her boots in the corner of his eye.

Eileen cleared her throat, “Have you decided yet?”

Tyler glanced up at his supervisor, the grey haired woman was still looking forward, barely acknowledging him. A smug grin began to spread over her face, emphasising the faint wrinkles on her cheek. Tyler looked back, resting his head back into hands.

“Well?” Eileen nudged Tyler with her knee, knocking his head from his hands making him jerk forward. He sighs, straightening up folding his arms. “No, I can't and I won't.”

“You know they don't like that,” Eileen turned to face him, “You know better than anyone what the repercussions are Tyler”

Tyler bit into his cheek trying to suppress himself from screaming with frustration. He knew she was right. He had to choose.

There's a backup solution, to ‘maintain a balance’ Eileen said, in the event that a Bystander didn’t complete their task. It ensures that the Bystander and the people in their life will be at a significant disadvantage. So if Tyler doesn't pick a part of life to help someone with and hinder another, he and his family will be set back in all aspects of their lives.

Eileen called it a curse, which Tyler agreed was a fitting title for whatever it is.

He's lived with it long enough. Ever since his Grandad walked away from a job in the 80s, the family’s luck was shattered. The successful family business went bust, sending the family into decades of financial suffering.

Tyler knew what this ‘Curse’ was capable of, and he really didn’t want to find out what would happen with another dose of misfortune would result in.

Could he bear the shame of passing on this torch to Sarah who has gone through enough already? Or would he need to bite the metaphorical bullet and ruin Daniel’s life, could he hurt someone who's done so much for him? Could he consciously do it knowing he and Lily are about to bring a baby into this world?

Tyler knew what it was like to be born into misfortune, could he really do it to someone else?

“How am I meant to sleep at night knowing I’ve wrecked someone's life?” Tyler looked at Eileen through puffy eyes craving reassurance. She opened the notebook still in Tyler’s hands, she pushed something into his hand, standing up. “Just think about your family, it's all you can do Tyler.” Eileen squeezed his shoulder slightly before leaving him alone on the bench with his grandad’s note in his hands, holding back tears as he filled out the task.

Don't make the same mistake I did,

Grandad

The full effect of Tyler's decision didn’t manifest immediately.

He got a call a day later from Sarah, she seemed energetic as she rambled about the sudden donor match and Tyler ensured it would make it into the ‘article’ he was writing.

The feeling of pride didn’t last long, the nausea lurking in his abdomen reminded Tyler of the misfortune to come.

Whenever he was running errands, Tyler would make sure to walk past the bookshop/cafe the couple ran. Business was booming as usual, he never got too close though, he couldn't risk Daniel recognising him, having to look him in the eyes knowing what he's done.

One day Tyler swore Daniel look at him. Whether or not it happened, it was enough to make Tyler crumble. He caught a glimpse of himself in a shop window as he scurried away, shame and disgust was all he could think of looking back at his hollow eyes.

It happened on the seventh day. Exactly one week after Tyler made his decision. The shop was covered in a shade of black. The books on the shelves turned to ash. Apparently it was a gas leak, but Tyler knew obviously that faulty pipes weren't the culprit.

Thankfully the expecting couple only had minor injuries, plus the baby was fine. This won’t be the end of it Tyler thought as he walked away from the scene. He knew this was just the snowball rolling down the hill for them, but at least they survived the fire.

Tyler had to try and put all this behind him, it’s the only way he would be able to move forward.

Tyler entered the bank, sensing Deja vu as he was taken to the familiar deposit box that started all of this. He put the $20,000 cash back into the box, tossing the key in a nearby paper bin as he left. Yes the money would have helped him, but he couldn't accept it knowing where it came from. Since he completed the task, the ‘curse’ should no longer hang over his family, they would get on fine.

Besides, there’ll be more money coming his way, payments that don't remind him of Daniel that is.

Tyler looked at the passing faces as he continued to walk. He wondered if he’ll ever help/hinder them in his new position, their fate decided by a tick of a box.

Tyler grinned at the thought. Despite the disadvantages, a part of him enjoyed the fact he could help people.

His thoughts were interrupted when he turned the corner. Eileen was leaning against a black car with her arms folded, “You took your time” she exclaimed. Tyler simply shrugged. Eileen got off the car moving to let Tyler get into the passenger seat.

Once Eileen had got in and started to drive, Tyler took his black notebook out from the glove box. He flicked through the pages until he found the new card, enveloped by his Grandad’s note.

His finger traced over the letters, following his Grandad’s shaky writing as he looked out at the passing world.