God does not play dice

A literary short story about decisions, fate, and the invisible connections between people.

NOEL

It is shortly before eight o'clock. The moon is shining brightly in the sky. There is hardly any traffic on the main road. There are no cars on the side streets. Only standing at the side of the road, empty. The gentle silence of the night secretly settles over the adjacent roofs, trees, and bushes. The red supermarket sign fades into colorlessness. The shadows of street lamps can be seen here and there on the thick, gray stone walls. Every now and then, the shadows of leaves dance elegantly as they sway back and forth in the light breeze, illuminated by the glow of the streetlights. With each gust of wind, it gets cooler, and the cooler it gets, the less the city's residents want to be outside, so they stay at home.

But Noel is still out and about. He is sitting on his bike, cycling quickly along the road towards home. Today he had to work a little longer because there was a lot to do. Noel has this big project: the tree house, built by him and his best friend, has to be ready for the snow coming next week. Last year they didn't make any preparations, which is why they were both very sad this spring. He actually had plans for tonight; he wanted to watch a movie with his grandmother. Grandma understands that he has to work overtime because of the tree house. But Noel also knows that his grandmother will be disappointed. Grandma would never admit it, "because you can't change it now," as Grandma always says. Almost every day. Noel loves his grandmother, and she is also the only member of his family who is still alive apart from him. Grandma always says she won't go until she sees that he is happy and his life is going well enough that she can leave with a clear conscience. Grandma also says that he had to learn how to deal with loss far too early. "Children should never die before their parents," she told the pastor when his parents died. Noel doesn't remember what the pastor replied. That day, he hardly listened to anyone, except maybe his grandma.

Noel is still outside. He is sitting on his bike and pedaling quickly because the road is uphill—and it will stay that way for quite a while. His conscience tells him that he has to make up for it. Because this isn't the first time that movie night hasn't worked out. His grandmother can't do it alone because she doesn't understand the technology. This Netflix and how she can even access the program. It used to be easier, "there wasn't so much choice on TV. You just watched whatever was on. If it was stupid, you just fell asleep," his grandmother always says. Noel has tried to teach his grandmother before – but it worked just like when he tried to show her how a smartphone, made specifically for pensioners, works. Ultimately, this attempt ended with Grandma's delicious potato soup, because she preferred to cook rather than look at the small, glowing, square thing. I'll take two days off, Noel thinks to himself. I'll take two days off. My best friend will have to work on the tree house by himself, but I'm sure he'll understand. Maybe his dad will help him too. Then he can watch lots of movies with Grandma. A minute or two pass, but Noel still likes this idea. Why didn't he think of that before? His parents didn't have much time for him because before they could really have time for him, their time was taken away. But his mother kept a diary. Of course, she wrote less and less in it as she got older. But when his parents died, he found it in his mother's nightstand. In it, she wrote, a week before the big accident: "It's always give and take." In her context, it referred to her boss, but further down the page she made a note that said, "It's always like that. Don't forget, Nina."

Nina is no longer there, which is why Noel has never forgotten those words. His parents were taken from him, but he got his grandmother in return. He had his grandmother before, but their relationship was completely different then, far removed from what it was now. And because his grandmother gave him everything he needed and wanted—except when she really didn't think it was a good idea—it was now his turn to give something back to her. He had failed three times. "It won't happen again," he swears to himself. "I promise." Noel grins...

EVA

"Don't grin like that," says Eva. Her face is red, she is angry. "Just stop and calm down," replies her friend. "You love me." "Not right now," replies Eva, opening the front door. "I'm leaving. See you later." "Now..." – but Eva can't hear anything else because she has left the apartment, closed the front door, and pauses briefly.

She is close to tears, but does not feel like crying. "Not again," she thinks to herself. She tries to calm down. It does not really work. Eva starts running. It has gotten cold, and she is wearing the wrong jacket. Again. She rummages around in her right jacket pocket for her cigarettes, but cannot find them. So she reaches into her left jacket pocket and luckily finds the cigarettes there. She smokes one while walking down the street. She really can't stand this stupid street anymore. How many times has she walked down here in anger? She's lost count. Maybe she should just become straight, then everything would be easier. No, of course not. She would just walk down another street just as often and just as angrily. Her smartphone rings; her friend is calling her. Eva ignores the call. She doesn't feel like talking right now. With every step she takes, she calms down a little more. She thinks about how her relationship should continue. What would be right, what would be wrong—but she has no answers to these questions. Her thoughts revolve around this the whole time, when suddenly a car pulls up next to her and the windows roll down. Three wannabe gangsters are sitting in the car, the driver probably only got his license yesterday. "Hey sweetheart, what's up?" "My legs. Have a nice evening," Eva replies curtly, ending the conversation. But the three guys don't get it. "Where are you going?" asks another. "Out alone at this late hour?" he continues. "Yes, I'm braver than the three of you put together," Eva replies. She had actually expected outrage and insults, but instead one of them says, "Oh, sexy. I like self-confidence. I've heard women like that are the best in bed." Disgusting," Eva thinks to herself. "Stay cool," is her next thought. "You'll have to find out for yourself when you're old enough," she says. "Can I find out with you?" one of the young men asks. "Do you have a vagina?" Eva asks. "Huh, no, why?" he asks in surprise. Eva looks over at the car. She sees the three young guys acting all macho. "The city isn't what it used to be," she thinks, and then says, "I'm a lesbian. It's not going to happen between us." The three guys look at each other, each more disgusted than the last. Only one laughs and says, "Nice, I can have sex with two women!" How many times has Eva had to hear that? Yes, society had evolved. At least technically speaking. But in many more important ways, society had come to a standstill at some point. "No, thanks," Eva replies. Then silence. None of the three guys say anything, they just look at Eva. Eva ignores the boys. Her mood had just improved, but now it was back at a new low. This city would be her downfall. She has to get out of here. Eva hears two doors slam and before she can turn around, she is lying on the ground. She feels kicks to her ribs, to her face. Fists to her stomach, to her right and left cheeks. Someone stands on her legs. Someone grabs her legs and drags her along the sidewalk. She looks to the left, but her vision is blurry. Eva sees a foot kicking her directly in the face. She hears laughter, "Fucking lesbian," the car drives away. She is unconscious.

PAUSE

Bad driving. Slightly swerving. Loud music blaring. The three boys feel cool. They think the world belongs to them. But can you blame them? Where they grow up, different rules apply. They weren't as lucky as others their age. They learn from their environment. They act this way based on their experiences. Experiences that others their age didn't have to go through. "You always have the choice to decide. Just because it is the way it is, doesn't mean it always has to stay that way," a cop once said to the boys. But he probably had no idea how difficult the whole process is. "How she lay there on the ground, that lesbian," says one. Two laugh, one doesn't. One of them has a guilty conscience and can't explain why he did it. He had promised his mother he wouldn't do it again. "Otherwise your future is screwed," his mother told him. And she's right, because he sees it with his brother. Or with his brother's best friend. Or with his brother's second-best friend. He wants to go to college someday, once he's finished high school. He wants to become rich, start a family, and live in a nice house. What he did tonight doesn't bode well for that. His mother will be disappointed when the cops show up at the door again. Now he's of legal age, and this time no one provoked him. He just went along with it because he always used to go along with it. And because he always went along with it, he didn't think about it tonight. But now he's thinking about it. But now it's too late. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" his buddy asks him, still laughing. "I think we screwed up." "Because of the lesbian?" "Yes." "Oh, she wanted it that way. She provoked us." He remains silent. Did she really? "Are you sure?" he asks. "We can still tell the cops, but she won't dare anyway. She'll keep quiet." Then silence in the car. He doesn't believe his buddy. Tonight they went a step too far. Again.

GOD DOES NOT PLAY DICE – ALBERT EINSTEIN

Eva is lying down.
Noel is cycling.
The three boys are driving.
Eva is bleeding.
Noel is cold.
The three boys are laughing.
Sirens.
The three boys are no longer laughing. Sirens.
The three boys are silent.
Noel is cold.
Eva is bleeding.
Sirens.
The three boys are driving. Sirens.
Noel is cycling. Eva is lying down.
Eva is still lying down. Noel is still cycling. Loud sirens.
The three boys are driving faster. Loud sirens.
Eva is bleeding more.
Noel is freezing more.
The sirens are very close.
The three boys are shouting.
The three boys are riding even faster.
The police car is driving even faster.
The three boys are riding much, much faster. The police car is driving much, much faster. Very loud sirens.
Eva is still lying down.
Noel is still flying.
The three boys are no longer driving. The police car is no longer driving. The three boys are crying.
The police officers are rushing.
Eva wakes up...
... little Noel is no longer cold.

Frequently asked questions about decisions, fate, and responsibility

What is the short story "God Does Not Play Dice" about?

History shows how small decisions can have big consequences. Several lives are connected by chance, violence, and moral responsibility.

What does "God does not play dice" mean?

The title refers to Albert Einstein's famous quote and raises the question of whether events are coincidental or part of a larger context.

What is the butterfly effect?

The butterfly effect describes how small actions can have far-reaching consequences—similar to how several decisions in this short story lead to a dramatic night.

What social issues does the story address?

The story deals with violence, homophobia, moral responsibility, and the question of individual decision-making in a social environment.