To Be Taught, If Fortunate

by Becky Chambers

It’s not their fault, the good scientist in me feebly argued. They meant no harm. This is a terrible death. They don’t deserve this. I don’t care, the raw spite in me replied. And I didn’t. For all my impartiality, for all my trying to set aside anthropocentric biases and see the beauty in all forms, I truly didn’t care. I watched them burn, and felt a twisted gratitude.