A comet passes overhead, rumored to absorb complaints. People shout grievances into the night. Traffic disappears. Rent stabilizes. Phone batteries last longer. The comet glows brighter with each gripe. Scientists worry it will explode under the weight of annoyance. When it returns to darkness, silence feels strange. People must solve problems without celestial venting. Some miss the catharsis. Others notice the stars shine clearer when the sky is not clogged with their own voices.
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