Moleskine Pages - Hope Is A Mental Illness

Their intention was never to cause a continental drift, or a terminal breach in the planet's emotional defenses. But words can never be taken back, and deeds can't be undone. The rounding up and culling of Blue Birds was however an act of mercy; their promise of happiness was a cruel delusion. Hope was getting in the way of pragmatism. Hope was a mental illness to be cured.

New Shoes And Cleaner Dreams - Moleskine Art

In the area of Baghdad, where I lived as a 14 year old, a middle aged man with mental issues would wander the streets offering to show his bits in return for a few pennies. I never found it funny and I felt bad when I saw kids tormenting him. It was said he's been a successful business man until he had a breakdown.  Under Saddam's rule, social services were in their infancy, just beginning to take shape. People with mental problems would be taken care of by their families, but some slipped the net. I changed the sex of the main character because it changes the entire dynamic.