Ladious

四大字典選出他們的word of the year: AI, Authentic, Rizz, Hallucinate。

我也選出我的word of the year: Pain.

This is a year full of pain, especially the latter half.

In June, two tragedies happened. First on the way from Pingtong to Taichung, our car was bumped by another car. 

Two days later, Terry had a bike accident on his way to school. This accident got an old lady injured with head trauma and bone fractures.

She had surgery in the head and had to stay in hospital for almost two weeks. Luckily, she got home and was doing OK.

The first accident was settled eventually, despite some uncertainty in the process. 

We experienced three months without the big car, and paid a lot for the damage repair. 

The man who was to blame for the accident paid us the money, around $280000, and let the thing come to a closure.

The second tragedy, however, is something still paining us now.

We had a meeting with the old lady's son the other day, and he asked for $1130000 for the compensation.

$1130000?! That's outrageous!  I hate him!!!! He played the two face trick. 

On one hand, he said something nice like he and his mother didn't want us to blame our son for the accident.

On the other hand, he asked for such a substantial amount of money from us.

The real medical cost is less than 160000, and he demanded we pay 420000 for the daily care of his mom for the entire six months.

And, he also asked us to pay health damage compensation for 500000.

Are you crazy? You mother is unfortunate, and so are we. 

I know the assessment says that my son should take the full responsibilty for the accident, but do you know what really happened?

To be honest, the result is not fair to us.

There is no video tape which can fully show what happened at the moment. 

My son was riding on the legal bike path, with a helmet, without running a red light. 

We feel sorry for your mother, for her suffering, and we would like to do something and pay for her loss.

But you're asking for something CRAZY! Do you have a clear conscience? Do we look like an idiot that you can take advantage of?

Are you trying to benefit from the accident? Your mother has insurance, and we have to pay all the money ourselves because there is no insurance for bike riders!

Damn! Fuck! 

Ever since the day we met, I have been devastated. I hate people in the world. I'm disappointed with humanity.

I cried and cried, thinking about the horrendous sum he asked, which was more than what I earned a year.

I am angry, very angry with the son, who pretends to care and understand but actually has no shame at all.

I am actually thinking about bring the case to the court, and I believe the judge should give us fair judgement.

I don't think we should pay as much as $830000, which he seems to compromise and offers the amount.

No, I don't wanna take that. It's unfair. 

It pains me every second to think of this accident and the unfairness. 

I lose the trust in people, and I don't want to be nice to people.

What's good in being a nice person? What do I get in return with all the money I donated to the charity throughout the years? 

I called and stopped making the donations yesterday. Yes, that's what I want to do. I hate being nice and being a fool.

God or whatever in the heaven doesn't watch out for me, so I'm gonna defend myself.

All the mental and psychological pain and trauma, not to mention the pain in the foot.

The pain in my foot is nothing compared to my anger and distress at this moment.

Yes, word of the year 2023 for me is Pain. How I hope it will go away.